12 Affordable V8 Cars You Can Buy Right Now

With hybrid and electric cars slowly evolving from a left-field choice to the industry default, it seems like the days of gas-guzzling V8 engines might be numbered. There are still plenty of new cars left on the market sporting V8s for now, and they can generally be broken down into one of two main categories: either vehicles for hauling, or old-school muscle cars. It's these two segments where the V8 engine is arguably most revered, but it's also where said engine is most affordable for buyers looking for a new car.

With rising prices caused by supply shortages, inflation, and the ongoing fallout from the pandemic, car prices have hit record highs in recent months. According to a report from KBB, the average price for a new vehicle in the U.S. hit $49,507 in December 2022, and the average truck price was even higher, with many vehicles selling for more than $60,000. While the days of truly cheap V8 power might be gone, at least if you're shopping for a new car, these are the 12 cheapest ways to get a vehicle with a V8 under the hood right now.

The current generation Nissan Armada was introduced for the 2021 model year, and when SlashGear reviewed the car at launch, it possessed a level of old-school SUV charm that's missing from many rival SUVs today. The Armada makes no attempt to feel sporty or futuristic, instead focusing on offering as many premium features as possible while still keeping the price down. For the 2023 model year, that price clocks in at a minimum of $50,700 for the 2WD Armada S.

It's powered by a 5.6L V8 engine making 400 horsepower, with plenty of grunt at both ends of its rev range. It doesn't feel very athletic to drive, with a noticeable body roll if you dare to take a corner too fast, but its squishy suspension does make it very comfortable for all passengers, even those in the third row. Opting for a fancier trim can push the price up closer to traditional luxury rivals, but in its base form, the Armada is currently the cheapest V8 SUV you'll find.

After a long production run that's seen it remain on sale largely unchanged since 2005, Chrysler is finally giving the 300 a proper send-off for 2023. A limited run of 300C cars will be made with a Hemi 6.4L V8 under the hood, plus some visual extras like commemorative badging and red brakes. After 2023, the 300 will be no more, with no immediate successor planned for the veteran sedan.

However, for the remaining months that the 300 is on sale, there's also a cheaper way to buy a V8 version without having to resort to the limited-edition model. The 300S V8 is available for a starting MSRP of $46,000, and it packs a 5.7L Hemi V8 engine that's shared with the Dodge Charger and Challenger. However, both of the Dodges are available slightly cheaper than the 300S V8, so in terms of pure value for money, the Chrysler doesn't quite cut it.

The cheapest way to get a V8-powered Ram 1500 is by equipping it as an option with the Big Horn trim, which retails for around $43,000. Like Ford with its F-150 Lightning, Ram is looking to capitalize on improving EV technology to offer an electric version of the pickup within the coming years. It unveiled the new truck at the 2023 New York International Auto Show, with one particularly impressive trick up its sleeve: a 500-mile range. However, the truck is a couple of years from hitting dealerships, and even when it does, it doesn't necessarily spell the end of the V8, at least not immediately.

Speaking to SlashGear at the New York show, Stellantis' head of RAM 1500 Product Marketing confirmed that "we'll continue to offer [a] range of trims. The power of choice is gonna be a big thing for us, as we add to the lineup. We want to continue to give people the options they're expecting from us." Whether that means the traditional lineup of V8 trucks will continue to be sold alongside electric versions in the future remains unclear, but for now at least, there's still plenty of chance to get an affordable Ram V8 truck.

It might not be the most refined or tech-heavy car out there, but the Dodge Challenger R/T still packs a punch. The Challenger hasn't undergone any major transformations since its debut in 2008, which is a testament to the original design. It does mean, however, that things like the interior can look a little dated compared to more frequently-updated models, so if the latest tech and infotainment are a consideration, then it's best to look elsewhere. Where the Challenger R/T really shines is as a straightforward, old-school muscle car, and one that's reliable and comfortable enough to make a great daily driver at that.

The R/T is the cheapest of the V8-powered 2023 Challengers, with a starting price of just over $40,000. That price leaps to around $47,500 for the R/T Scat Pack and continues climbing until it reaches close to six figures for a fully-loaded SRT Super Stock. While the top-tier trims attract the most headlines for their outrageous power outputs, the R/T still produces a very respectable 375 horsepower.

The iconic Ford Mustang has a long and storied history, dating all the way back to the first generation's release in 1965. V8 engines have played an integral part in the Mustang's appeal since its earliest days, and the cheapest way to get a V8 today is to opt for the GT trim. Excluding fees, the GT starts at around $38,000, and for that, you'll get a 5.0L engine making 450 horsepower.

The current, sixth-generation car has been around for a few years now, and it's due for an upgrade very soon. Pricing was recently announced for the 2024 seventh-generation Mustang and, excluding any dealership markups, buyers can expect to pay around $42,000 for the V8-powered GT. If you're fussed about getting your hands on the latest iteration then you'll have to wait a while for the order books to open, as there's no official launch date at the time of writing.

The cheapest new V8 car in America is the Chevrolet Camaro LT1, which sports a 6.2L engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. It's available for just under $38,000, but if you want an automatic 'box, that price will rise to at least $39,390. Much like its biggest rival, the Ford Mustang, the Camaro has been in production for a number of years now, with relatively few changes being made over the years.

One of the key changes introduced with the 2019 model year was quickly reversed — that being the controversial front-end redesign of the SS trim that made the car look like it had a gaping mouth. After an overwhelmingly negative reaction to the new look, Chevy reverted back to a more traditional grille design a year later and has kept every Camaro trim with its original look ever since. The LT1 slots in below the SS in the Camaro lineup, with the SS adding around a $3,000 premium, which still puts it among the cheapest V8 cars on the market.