# Why V6 Engines Are Hated

> V6 engines face a love-hate relationship with car enthusiasts despite their history and performance.
- Title: Why V6 Engines Are Hated · The Drive | Shortify
- Summary: V6 engines face a love-hate relationship with car enthusiasts despite their history and performance. V6 engines are disliked by car enthusiasts due to…
- Keywords: v6 engine, nissan gt-r, buick, general motors, v8 engine, turbocharging, car enthusiasts, downsizing, cars, technology, Engines, Hated
- Source: The Drive — https://thedrive.com/news/this-is-why-everyone-hates-v6-engines
- Author: Stephen Edelstein
- Published: 2026-10-18T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: v6 engine, nissan gt-r, buick, general motors, v8 engine, turbocharging, car enthusiasts, downsizing, cars, technology
## 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.
## Key takeaway

V6 engines are disliked by car enthusiasts due to engineering compromises and association with downsizing, not raw power.