From The Drive · Stephen Edelstein · · 1m
Why V6 Engines Are Hated
V6 engines face a love-hate relationship with car enthusiasts despite their history and performance.
In brief
V6 engines face a love-hate relationship with car enthusiasts despite their history and performance. V6 engines are disliked by car enthusiasts due to engineering compromises and association with downsizing, not raw power. Originally reported by The Drive.
V6 Engines in 1990s
V6 engines were popular in 1990s cars like the Backstreet Boys, but now they inspire less passion.
GM's Cost-Cutting V6
General Motors created a cheap V6 by cutting two cylinders from a V8 in 1962 to save engineering costs.
V6 Engineering Compromises
Adapting a 90-degree V8 block to a V6 caused roughness, but 60-degree V-angles became the standard for smoother performance.
V6's Market Failure
The 1980 Chevrolet Citation, a space-efficient compact car, failed in the market and linked V6s to downsizing.
V6's Modern Challenges
Turbocharged V6s like the R35 Nissan GT-R's VR38DETT are powerful but V6s remain uncool in the automotive industry.
In short
V6 engines are disliked by car enthusiasts due to engineering compromises and association with downsizing, not raw power.
