What’s the difference between V6 and V8 engines, and is a V8 better than a V6? As the names suggest, both engines are V-style engines, with two banks of cylinders arranged in a V shape, and which is better depends on the application. In a V-style engine, each bank has an equal number of opposing cylinders arranged in a row, and each bank is joined together by a common crankshaft. For a V6, that means two banks of three cylinders; in a V8, the engine has two banks of four cylinders, and each layout offers unique properties, from size and weight to tone and performance. Let’s dig deeper to see how they differ.
V6 Vs. V8: Is a V8 Better than a V6?
GWM
The answer to that question depends on the application. A V6 is shorter and therefore more compact, as well as lighter and typically more fuel efficient, but a V8 can be more powerful, produce more torque, and sound better. One of the benefits of the smaller engine is that it makes packaging easier, allowing more space for ancillary components. In the most recent Ford GT, for example, this smaller engine footprint gives the supercar more space for turbochargers and aggressive aerodynamic design, but it has benefits in front-engined vehicles, too. A shorter V6 can enable designers to shorten the front end of the vehicle, and the V6’s lower weight also means that the front wheels are less prone to understeer. Overall, this improves efficiency.
However, in V6 and V8 engines of equal displacement, a V6’s cylinders will be larger and heavier, which can mean a lower rev limit. Because the firing order is repeated sooner with fewer cylinders, of which there are an odd number on either side, and because V6s’ rows of cylinders are typically arranged at a 60-degree angle (most V8s are 90-degree engines), a V6 can also sound less smooth and less refined than the inherently better-balanced V8 and its more natural firing order.
While modern V6 engines are more than capable of towing heavy loads, a V8’s increased cylinder count means each cylinder’s piston, connecting rod, and valves do less work, like for like. Therefore, the V8 will typically be capable of producing more power and more torque, and reliability can be greater. In turbocharged applications, this added performance means smaller turbos can be used to achieve the same outputs, but it also means a bigger pair of turbos can be used without severely increasing lag.
In a nutshell, a V6 is typically lighter, more economical, and better for handling than a V8, while a V8 produces a little more power, can run more smoothly, and is often more reliable than a comparative V6. What’s faster, V6 or V8? It depends on the application — a drag race, where power is prioritized, would better suit a V8, while a V6’s lighter weight would mean better handling on a twisty track.
V6 Vs. V8 Engine: Pros and Cons
Porsche
The V8 vs. V6 debate comes down to preference and how the engine will be used, since both configurations have a number of benefits and drawbacks.
V8 engine advantages:
- Better low-RPM torque allows a V8 to haul greater loads and tow heavier trailers than a V6.
- V8 engines typically produce more power, whether naturally aspirated or turbocharged, than a V6.
- All other things being equal, V8 engines are usually smoother and less noisy than V6 engines.
- V8 engines can be more reliable due to the stresses of operation being shared across more cylinders.
- V8 engines can rev higher and sustain high revs better due to inherently better balancing (four cylinders per bank rather than three), as seen in Formula One.
V8 engine disadvantages:
- Increased weight over the front axle can induce understeer, compromising handling.
- V8 engines are typically less efficient at low RPM than V6 engines.
- V8 engines require more space, making them incompatible with smaller vehicles.
- V8-equipped vehicles typically cost more than those with V6 engines.
V6 engine advantages:
- V6 engines are typically more fuel-efficient than V6 engines.
- V6 engines take up less space in an engine bay, improving vehicle packaging.
- A V6’s smaller footprint allows it to be mounted transversely (sideways), enabling fitment in front-wheel-drive vehicles.
- V6 engines are lighter than V8 engines, positively impacting handling.
- Modern V6 engines are nearly as capable for towing and hauling as V8s.
- V6-powered vehicles are usually more affordable than V8 options.
V6 engine disadvantages:
- V6 engines have a lower power ceiling than V8 engines.
- V6 engines can be noisier than V8s due to the combustion cycle being repeated more often and less evenly.
- V6s have three cylinders per bank, with the banks separated by a V shape that is typically 60 degrees, which makes them less balanced than 90-degree V8s.
- V6 engines cannot safely rev as high as equivalent V8 engines.
Conclusion
Chevrolet
The difference between V6 and V8 engines is more than just the cylinder count. A V8 is essentially two four-cylinder engines joined together by a common crankshaft, while a V6 is basically two three-cylinder engines, and that means the latter is noisier, has worse internal balance during combustion, is less capable of producing torque at low RPM, and cannot rev as high. But a V6 is lighter, cheaper, more compact, and, like-for-like, only a little less capable on paper than an equivalent V8. It also has a wider variety of applications (FWD, AWD, or RWD), while a V8 is seldom suitable for a front-wheel-drive vehicle. Ultimately, deciding which is better is a personal choice.
About the author
Sebastian Cenizo
Senior Editor, Autoblog