If you’re looking for a car to attract people’s attention, you should put the industry’s best V8 sedans on your shopping list. The unmistakable roar of their upsized powerplants is sure to get heads turning. Nowadays, new V8 sedans also stand out for their rarity. That’s because mainstream cars that meet our qualifications are a thing of the past. The only remaining examples by the time this story was published were driver-focused sport sedans, luxury models, and vehicles that combine both qualities — from just a handful of automakers. Of course, that’s still a pretty nice mix of benefits, and it’s only the starting point for today’s fantastic four-doors.
2020 Dodge Charger
The 2020 Dodge Charger leads our list of the best V8 sedans when it comes to power. In fact, Dodge claims that the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody is the most powerful and the fastest mass-produced Sedan in the world regardless of engine. At the heart of the matter is the Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, which delivers 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Turn loose that unit and you can run from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds, clock an elapsed time of 10.96 seconds in the quarter-mile, and go on to reach 196 mph. Only slightly less extreme is the naturally aspirated version of that motor. It makes 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque for the Scat Pack models.
2020 Chrysler 300
Hemi power can actually be found in two of the best V8 sedans of the year. The 2020 Chrysler 300 — which is the corporate cousin of the Dodge Charger — carries the 5.7-liter version. This unit kicks out 363 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. Like the Charger, the 300 also provides standard rear-wheel drive for a traditional high-performance driving experience. Chrysler’s full-size Sedan supplies traditional luxury cues, too. Consider the 300C model. The range-topper for the lineup, it has standard features like natural-pore Mocha wood trim, heated and ventilated front seats, quilted and perforated Nappa leather upholstery, heated rear seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and that potent V8 engine. You can also order the Hemi as an option with the more athletically inclined 300S trim.
2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The best V8 sedans for luxury start with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. And the S-Class offers serious performance to go with its incredibly lavish range of content. So the S 560 may showcase ultra-lux seating with climate control and massage functionality for both front and rear rows. But while you’re ensconced in royal comfort, a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 can transform 463 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque into a 0 to 60 time of only 4.6 seconds. For next-level performance, there’s an S-Class AMG model with a hand-built version of that V8. The S 63 boasts 603 horsepower, 664 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-second sprint time. That means it’s quicker — though with a lower top speed — than the 2020 Charger Hellcat.
2020 BMW M5
The pendulum swings back toward pure performance with the 2020 BMW M5. This is the most powerful M5 ever, thanks to a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that’s good for 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. You’ll be able to teleport from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.1 seconds with that engine on board. The M5 Competition Sedan raises output to 617 horsepower — and shaves another tenth of a second from the M5’s sprint time. The final rung on the performance ladder is the optional M Driver’s package. It raises the M5’s top speed to 189 mph. BMW then bolsters its luxury credibility with standard features such as heated 20-way power-adjustable front sport seats, a heated steering wheel, and a Harmon Kardon audio system.
2020 Lexus GS F
If you’re shopping for the best V8 sedans that focus on driver assistance, we can recommend the 2020 Lexus GS F. Although better known for its track-friendly tuning, the GS F comes standard with the brand’s Safety System+ technology. The package includes adaptive cruise control, automatic forward emergency braking, automatic high beams, a forward collision warning, a lane departure alert, lane-keeping assistance, and pedestrian detection. A blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and a rearview camera aren’t part of the bundle, but they’re standard anyway. As for the car’s capable V8, the GS F is equipped with a 5.0-liter engine that can unleash 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque. The result is a formidable sport Sedan that can fly from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds.
2020 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
Let’s say you like the basic idea of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, yet it’s still a little too basic for your tastes. In that case, the best V8 sedans from the same company include the 2020 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. The Maybach S-Class revives a legendary luxury name from Germany’s past and reimagines it for the 21st century. Bigger and better equipped than the S-Class, the Maybach S 560 coddles all passengers with climate-controlled massage-function seats in the softest leather. You can also dress up the cabin with handcrafted touches ranging from carefully selected wood trim to silver champagne flutes. For a range-topping ride, a 621-horsepower V12 is available. The standard engine for the Maybach S 560, however, is the same 463-horsepower twin-turbo V8 as in the regular S-Class.
2020 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S
Yes, we’ve added one more Mercedes product to our list of the best V8 sedans, and it has something familiar beneath the hood. The 2020 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S is the most extreme example of the C-Class sedan for the current model year. And despite its compact size, the C 63 S manages to fit the proven 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 beneath its hood. The difference-maker here is that the engine has been hand-built by AMG engineers for maximum performance. Upgraded to 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, that motor can push the car from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds. Many high-end Mercedes features are available as well, such as high-comfort seating, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a Burmester surround-sound audio system.
2020 BMW 7 Series
As you may have noticed by now, many of the best V8 sedans for 2020 have a distinctly German flavor. This includes our next choice, the 2020 BMW 7 Series. It’s the flagship sedan for the BMW brand, so we’re once again dealing with a car that’s both large and luxurious. The 750i even counts BMW’s “Gesture Control” technology as standard equipment. With this feature, you can adjust key vehicle systems with hand gestures — and without touching a screen or physical switchgear. BMW also makes it easy to control the car’s 4.4-liter turbocharged V8. Simply press on the gas and you’ll gain access to 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. You’ll then be able to fly from 0 to 60 in a brisk 3.9 seconds.
2020 BMW 8 Series
Fans of German cars won’t be surprised to find a coupe among the best V8 sedans. After all, a number of brands from Germany now use the “coupe” designation for four-door models. Which brings us to the 2020 BMW 8 Series. The 8 Series lineup was originally anchored by a true two-door coupe. Since then, it’s grown to include the four-door Gran Coupe. That model — in its M850i xDrive configuration — relies on the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 as the 750i. The M850i set itself apart with M Sport enhancements for a more athletic driving experience. The former shaves 0.2 seconds from the latter’s 0 to 60 time, lowering the bar to 3.7 seconds. The M850i also blends its explosive performance with a more expressive design.
2020 Bentley Mulsanne
The German influence also extends to the last car we’ve selected as one of the best V8 sedans of the year: the 2020 Bentley Mulsanne. Sure, Bentley is an icon of upper-class British motoring with English roots that stretch back more than 100 years. But the brand is now part of VW’s collection of luxury marques, along with the likes of Audi, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Porsche. The Mulsanne fits right in as an ultra-luxurious sedan that offers bespoke features and a twin-turbo V8. It’s a 6.8-liter engine with 506 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque on tap. With that output, the Mulsanne can move from 0 to 60 in 5.1 seconds — not bad for a car that’s bigger and heavier than some full-size SUVs.
