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In a world that’s going electric, sometimes you have to take solace in a V8. This universally beloved engine configuration can trace its origins almost to the very beginning of internal combustion, when power was all about displacement and gas was cheap. When increasing the size just wasn’t cutting it anymore, automakers came up with all sorts of fancy new ways to improve power and fuel economy, like fuel injection, variable valve timing, supercharging, and turbocharging.

Father Time comes for us all, however, and companies have realized that no amount of engineering is going to defeat the laws of physics. Due to this, we’ve seen V8 engines dropping like flies in the past few years, with forced induction and hybridization only helping to stop the bleeding temporarily. This means naturally aspirated (NA) V8 engines are becoming rare, very rare, with about a dozen models and only a handful of automakers still producing the most American of powertrains for MY2025. We see this list shrinking even more in the coming years, so here’s another reminder to go out and buy one while you still can.

1 GM (Chevrolet & GMC)

Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette is a quintessential American sports car, and so are its incredible V8 powerplants. Throughout the decades, Corvettes have been powered by some incredible engines, and the current ones are no different, with the company offering two naturally aspirated V8 options in the stable.

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The first is the LT2 V8 currently found in the base Stingray and the hybrid E-Ray Corvette. This unit produces a healthy 495 horsepower in the base Corvette and adds up to 655 horsepower in the E-Ray. It’s a potent powerplant that gives the model supercar numbers right out of the gate, but the real magic is when you move up to the Z06 and its high-revving flat-plane-crank DOHC V8. The LT6 is a monster making 670 horsepower, the most a naturally aspirated V8 has ever made in a production car, and helping to make the Z06 one of the greatest sports cars on sale.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL

These full-size SUVs combine utility with V8 performance, making them a great option for anyone looking for an old-school driving style in 2025. These body-on-frame SUVs are rugged vehicles, especially in their ZR1 and AT4 trims, and they’ve all received a nice refresh for 2025 that we think helped their looks.

As all of these nameplates are essentially the same vehicle with a few tweaks, they can be had with the same engines, which start with the 5.3-liter V8, and go all the way up to the 6.2-liter unit making 420 horsepower. There’s even a diesel option in there if that’s what you want, and what could be more awesome than a huge Suburban with a turbo diesel under the hood pulling your boat?

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Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500

These two full-size trucks are dealing with the same thing as their SUV brethren, but we don’t see that as a bad thing given how many full-sized trucks have decided to drop V8 engines in favor of smaller, turbocharged options. The Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 have started the transition, as they offer a turbocharged four-cylinder as their base powerplant, but you can also choose the 5.3L V8 for now, and you can always upgrade to the 6.2L V8 if you want the extra grunt.

From there, it’s just deciding if you like Chevy’s iconic ruggedness or GMC’s slightly more upmarket flair, and we must say, given the faces Chevy has been using on its vehicles the past few years, we’re inclined to go GMC.

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Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD

For those who need serious capability, the Silverado HD and Sierra HD are great options in the heavy-duty truck segment. These big rigs boast impressive towing and payload numbers, things that we usually associate with their available diesel engine options. While diesels are great, they aren’t always necessary, which is why these trucks come stock with a massive 6.6-liter V8 that makes 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque.

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While this doesn’t sound like a class-leading number, you have to remember these powertrains are optimized for carrying immensely heavy loads, so the torque curve and the gearing are much more important. HD trucks are keeping NA V8 engines alive, and for that, they have our respect.

2 Dodge

Dodge Durango R/T

The Durango is soldiering on for another year, but the lineup is shrinking, as are your options for grabbing a V8 version. Once boasting a bunch of different trims, the lineup has been cut down to three: GT, R/T, and SRT Hellcat. The Hellcat is the one you want if you’re looking for near-nuclear levels of performance in an SUV, but if that isn’t your jam, the R/T offers you a much more reasonable path to a V8-powered Durango, and it’s still naturally aspirated. The tired-and-true 5.7-liter V8 is still under the hood, and making 360 horsepower, it should be more than enough to scratch that performance itch as well as handle your towing needs.

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3 Ford

Ford Mustang GT

We don’t think we need to tell you about the death of the naturally aspirated V8 muscle car; just look at the evidence. In 2025, there will only be one left that still has an NA V8 powerplant under the hood, and it seems fitting it’s the one that’s been there from the very beginning.

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The Ford Mustang GT is an icon and the past two generations prove it transcends the belief that these cars can only function well in a straight line. It’s a genuine sports car, and at your disposal is a NA V8 cranking out 480 horsepower connected to either a 10-speed automatic or 6-speed auto. Plus, all its performance only costs $45,000, which blows away competitors in that price range and proves Ford still cares about its performance image. There is a 500-hp Dark Horse model as well.

Ford F-150

The F-150 has long been America’s favorite truck, and a big reason behind that is that it gives customers what they want. This starts all the way at the truck’s base trim, which starts at just $38,710 for 2025. At this price, you can get a single-cab truck with a 6.5-foot bed, steel wheels, cloth seats, and a naturally aspirated Coyote 5.0-liter V8 under the hood.

Yes, hidden at the bottom is a V8, because Ford understands that when fleet customers or a contractor is buying its pickups, they just want something they know that works well. But it’s not just put in the base trim; it can be optioned on the STX, XLT, and Lariat trims too, allowing you to grab a pickup with some style and a few extra goodies if the base model isn’t your jam (though the base pickup is the perfect starting point for a street truck build).

Ford Super Duty

Of course, if you’re looking for something with a little more pull (literally), you move up to the Ford Super Duty lineup, and its myriad of chassis and cab options that allow you to create the perfect tool for your situation. Need a two-door, long bed? Ford’s got you covered. Four door dually? There’s one for you. Just want a single cab with a box delete? Again, Ford has on in the lineup.

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F-250, F-350, F-450; the company also knows that with so many uses for its Super Duty line, it needs to offer powertrains that can cater to your needs, and this includes two different NA V8 options. The first is a 6.8-liter option that makes 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque, while the second is the optional “Godzilla” engine, a massive 7.3-liter unit that produces 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. No matter what you pick, you’ll likely have more than enough power to tow whatever you need.

4 Lexus

Lexus IS 500

If you want a naturally aspirated V8 sedan, Lexus probably isn’t the first brand you’d look toward, but it’s quietly become the last bastion of raw V8 power in a sedan in the industry, with the IS 500. The brand’s tiniest (and perhaps best-looking) sedan comes in many different configurations, but sitting at the top is the IS 500 variant that packs a 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, producing a solid 472 horsepower.

Now the looks, comfortable interior, and powertrain all live up to sports sedan standards, but the model is let down by a 10-speed transmission that isn’t suited to the car’s sporty nature. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that it probably isn’t going to be as quick or confident as the units from European brands. Don’t let that scare you away, however, because the IS still offers plenty of thrills, and won’t break the bank.

Lexus LC 500

If the IS 500 is too plain for your tastes, the brand also offers a V8-powered coupe that sits as the pinnacle of Lexus luxury and performance. The LC is a gem, one of the best-kept secrets in the industry. It’s a grand tourer as it should be comfortable, graceful, powerful, and drop-dead gorgeous, and it is. You can enjoy it in either a coupe or convertible version.

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There are two powertrains to choose from: the V8 or a hybrid V6. The V6 is fine, even great if you’re looking for fuel economy, but the V8 is the engine the car deserves. Sure, it’s not going to be able to stand up to the higher-powered variants of the Mercedes-AMG GT or Porsche 911, but with 472 horsepower on tap, you’ll never feel slow, and it’ll be the perfect cruising companion that can sharpen it up when the road tightens up.

Lexus RC F

The final vehicle in the Lexus stable to utilize the brand’s excellent V8 is the RC F, a car that’s equal parts thrilling and disappointing. What makes it so thrilling is the V8, coupled with things like dynamic suspension, a speed-activated rear wing, and plenty of carbon fiber bits if you can still find a Track Edition.

But plenty of other coupes offer similar performance upgrades, and comparison is where the car falls apart. It’s good-looking, but definitely not the brand’s best design, the transmission leaves a lot to be desired and that’s less forgivable in a true F performance model such as this, and the car is heavy, which hurts its driving dynamics. It’s definitely the most precise performance tool Lexus offers, but you can’t help but think there are better options elsewhere.

5 Ram

Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty

The final V8 option is the heavy-duty lineup from Ram, so sorry if you were hoping for something a little more exciting. Just like with GM and Ford, Ram (formerly Dodge) has made a name for itself by offering big, brawny pickup trucks that can move heaven and earth if necessary to transport something from here to there.

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While not as customizable as the other brands, there are still plenty of configurations from the Ram 2500 to the 3500 to choose from when kitting out your perfect pickup, and the base powertrain is the healthy 6.4-liter HEMI V8 producing 410 horsepower. It’s a great starting point for the pickups, and one we imagine many wish was still offered in the Ram 1500, but times are changing, so you better appreciate the HEMI while you still can. Preferably in a fun color.

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