If there’s one type of engine that’s usually associated with American cars, it would be the V8. This particular motor design became popular in the US, as its simple layout made it easy to produce incredible amounts of power. Similarly, the V8 could be configured to provide smooth, effortless propulsion for luxury applications. Even a fuel crisis that caused long gas-station lines and soaring oil prices wasn’t enough to kill Americans’ lust for eight thumping cylinders. This engine design rarely found such wide use in other parts of the world, given that many countries lack the cheap gas prices and wide open roads that are common in the US. However, that doesn’t mean every V8-powered car comes out of the United States.

While American car companies will fit this thirsty type of engine into moderately priced vehicles, the rest of the world usually reserves this large powerplant for more exotic and luxurious applications. Even though there are plenty of European and Asian cars that use this smooth and powerful motor, there are also brands that don’t employ this engine layout whatsoever. These brands don’t see the need for a V8 when there are more efficient alternatives. As a result, the limited number of V8-powered cars built by non-American companies are usually special vehicles that offer something unique to the market. However, sometimes, the impressive powerplant doesn’t quite make up for an otherwise lackluster car.

19 Toyota Land Cruiser – The Best

Via Flickr/Toyota

If there was one vehicle that made consumers gravitate towards large SUVs instead of luxury cars, the Toyota Land Cruiser would be the culprit. Despite being from a non-luxury brand, the Land Cruiser remains a high-end SUV that competes with generally more prestigious models like the Range Rover and the Mercedes G-Wagen. Given how refined this Toyota is, it’s hard to believe that the Land Cruiser started out as a competitor to the Willys Jeep. Being a Toyota, it’s expected that the Land Cruiser will be more than reliable. While most of this SUV’s parts are unique to it, the Land Cruiser does share its 381-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 with the Tundra pickup, allowing this large luxury SUV to be as capable as it is comfortable.

18 Lotus Esprit – The Best

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Lotus is known for producing tiny sports cars that are designed to be the best-handling vehicles on the road. These diminutive mid-engine sports cars often have a Spartan and cramped interior. A Mazda Miata is a luxury SUV in comparison to a Lotus Elise. One of the company’s more ambitious models was the Esprit, a turbocharged, mid-engine supercar.

This stylish machine was fast and dashing enough to star in a James Bond movie.

However, while Bond’s car was powered by a tiny four-cylinder motor, the final generation could be equipped with a twin-turbocharged V8 that sent 350 horsepower to the rear wheels. While this British V8 supercar is probably about as reliable as one may expect, it’s still an amazing car that provides impressive performance.

17 Lexus RC F – The Best

Via Flickr/Karlis Dambrans

The V8 is dying. It’s unavoidable that the engine will eventually disappear altogether. Even today, we’re seeing many turbocharged V6 motors where eight-cylinder engines used to reside. Currently, the most at-risk type of V8 is the naturally aspirated variety. There are few remaining examples of V8s that don’t require a breathing apparatus like a turbocharger. While these motors are dwindling in numbers, they've found an unusual ally for the time being. Lexus currently offers the RC F and other performance models, which is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. While this coupe’s styling may be divisive among car enthusiasts, it’s hard to deny that the RC F is an impressive machine. Its wild looks and bright color options allow it to redefine what a Lexus is.

16 Morgan Aero 8 – The Best

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British cars are normally associated with old-fashioned and traditional styling. This is due, in part, to the country’s history for building certain models for many decades without significant changes to the sheet metal. Cars like the original Mini Cooper and the Land Rover Discovery managed to find buyers for decades despite their increasingly primitive designs. Morgan, however, takes this design philosophy to the next level.

Besides its older models having been produced since the 1930s, the brand’s latest car, the Aero 8, started production in 2000.

The Aero 8 was the first Morgan to use an aluminum frame instead of a wooden one. This neoclassic machine has a modern BMW V8 under that long hood. As this car weighs very little, it can fly to 60 in under 4.5 seconds. Given Morgan’s usual product lifetime, the Aero 8 should be around for a long time to come.

15 BMW M5 – The Best

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When someone talks about a vehicle with a 189 mph top speed and a zero-to-60 time of under three seconds, the car in question is usually an ultra-expensive supercar. However, Motor Trend found that the comparatively humble BMW M5 could produce these figures. It’s incredible that such numbers come from a practical four-door sedan. Even though the M5 has lost its manual transmission and is no longer rear-wheel drive only, this car is still one of BMW’s best models. The latest version is the most powerful M5 ever, as its twin-turbo, 4.4-liter V8 sends 600 horsepower to all four wheels. Despite its many changes, the new car is still worthy to bear the ‘M’ logo on its trunk. While it does feature an eye-watering price tag, this M5 is one of the best V8 cars on the market today.

14 Toyota Tundra – The Best

Via Flickr/M 93

If there’s one thing that’s more American than the V8, it would be the pickup. Trucks are incredibly popular in the US. It’s almost compulsory to buy one in America, whether or not you actually need one. And, of course, a V8 will almost always be found powering these behemoths.

Given that these vehicles frequently find themselves at the top of bestseller lists, it’s no surprise that companies like Toyota have decided to cut into American truck sales with the likes of the Tundra.

As to be expected, Toyota decided to employ either a 4.8-liter or a 5.7-liter V8 to haul whatever is thrown into the Tundra’s bed. While this model hasn’t seen a full redesign in years, it’s still a capable pickup that can be had with the impressive TRD Pro off-road package.

13 Infiniti FX50 – The Best

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Despite the rising demand for SUVs and crossovers, V8 motors are becoming less common in such vehicles. This is likely due to these cars being used less often for towing and hauling. Buyers now prefer fuel economy over horsepower and torque. This is especially true when it comes to car-based crossovers, as they're often based on cars that lack a V8 option. One of the rare exceptions to this rule was the Infiniti FX, which was available with a 4.5-liter V8 at launch, but that motor was replaced with a more impressive 5.0-liter engine that produced 390 horsepower. While most motors are used in multiple applications, this V8 was used only in the FX50, at least for production cars. The only other time Nissan used this motor was for race applications, potentially making the FX50 the only crossover to share its motor only with a race car.

12 HSV GTS – The Best

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While Americans like to think that they have the muscle car market all to themselves, there’s another former British colony that has a love affair with the V8 motor. Australia is so obsessed with the engine, it has competitions completely based around doing burnouts, usually employing a V8 to transform tires into smoke. Of course, the local car companies have offered tire-burning cars like the V8-powered Holden Commodore. While this four-door sedan was often offered with a V8 option, Holden Special Vehicles, or HSV, would make the Commodore even more potent in the form of the GTS model. In 1998, the HSV GTS had a 300-horsepower Holden V8 under the hood that could be paired with a manual transmission—an impressive car for the time. After that year, Holden sourced its V8s from Chevy.

11 Porsche Panamera – The Best

Via Flickr/Alexandre Prevot

If there’s one thing that Porsche is widely known for, it’s the 911, which is noteworthy for having its engine in the wrong place. While the company took a detour from the 911 during the ‘80s and the ‘90s, the rear-engine sports car returned to its rightful place as Porsche’s halo model by the 2000s. However, front-engine cars wouldn’t permanently leave the company’s lineup, as the Panamera was released in 2010. While the first-generation Panamera was a rather homely machine, it received a much-needed facelift in its second generation.

Not only can this sedan be equipped with a twin-turbo, hybrid V8 that produces 671 horsepower, but European models can also be equipped with a twin-turbo diesel V8 that can still accelerate to 60 in under 4.5 seconds.

Regardless of engine, this front-engine V8 sedan still offers true Porsche performance.

10 Jaguar F-Type – The Best

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While Jaguar has created many different luxury and performance sedans, it also builds some incredible two-seat sports cars. One of its most well-known examples is the gorgeous E-Type. Then there were the XK sports cars, which provided impressive performance when equipped with a supercharged V8 powerplant. Jaguar’s modern entry into the sports car market is the F-type. This beautiful coupe can be equipped with a variety of motors, but the most powerful option is the supercharged 5.0-liter V8. While this car is shockingly heavy for its size, weighing in at around two tons, the 575-horsepower R model can still accelerate to 60 in under four seconds and will top out at 195 mph while being accompanied by an intoxicating baritone V8 soundtrack. The F-Type is truly a worthy successor to the E-Type.

9 Range Rover – Not Worth It

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Even though SUVs are ruling over everything else in today’s luxury car market, that wasn’t the case until recently. One of the cars that caused this shift was the Land Rover Range Rover. While the brand previously made basic, Jeep-like off-roaders in the form of the Defender, the luxurious Range Rover offered a different experience from the Mercedes S-Classes and Rolls-Royces of the time. Despite being designed for a higher-end market than Land Rover’s previous models, the Range Rover retained the off-road capabilities that one would expect from the brand. Even the brand-new model can still dominate the trails. However, these V8-powered SUVs have typical British reliability and poor resale value, leading to them to being a poor choice for a buyer who wants a luxury SUV that’s also dependable.

8 Maserati Quattroporte – Not Worth It

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Maserati creates some of the most exotic crossovers and sedans in the world. While many will overlook 200 mph BMWs and high-end AMG Mercedes-Benzes, a Maserati has that extra eye-catching flair that only an Italian car has. Even its four-door sedan, the Quattroporte, is an impressive-looking machine with a Ferrari V8 under the hood.

While the current model is generally a good machine, the same can’t be said for the earlier 2003-08 models.

This fast executive sports sedan was quite a handsome car, but there were many problems underneath the attractive skin. Primarily, the semi-automatic DuoSelect transmission had a reputation for being jerky, and the clutch could wear out in as little as 12,000 miles, according to Evo. It wasn’t even a normal automatic, as it still required the driver to change each gear via the paddle shifters.

7 Mercedes G-Wagen – Not Worth It

Via Flickr/M 93

The most prevalent producer of V8 engines outside the US is Mercedes. Their large AMG models are frequently powered by large V8s, often accompanied by two turbochargers in newer applications. One of Mercedes's oldest models, the G-Wagen, is frequently powered by one of these incredible motors, both in its standard and its AMG form. Even the most ‘basic’ trim of the six-figure SUV is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 416 horsepower, at least in American models. However, while this may sound appealing, the G-Wagen is a very basic SUV that hasn’t changed much over its many decades of production. It was originally a military vehicle powered by various small motors and was never intended to have a giant V8 placed under its hood. These SUVs simply have more power than anyone will ever feel safe using.

6 Ferrari F355 – Not Worth It

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Even though the best Ferraris have a big V12 lurking under the hood, the V8-powered models are still amazing vehicles. One of the brand’s last old-school mid-engine supercars was the F355. This beautiful Ferrari was powered by an incredible 3.5-liter V8. This lightweight supercar produced a healthy 375 horsepower, allowing it to hit 60 in under five seconds. While that’s not extremely quick by today’s standards, it was highly impressive for the ‘90s.

Unfortunately, this beautiful Ferrari’s motor required a lot of upkeep, even for a supercar.

Every F355 has a header defect that’s expensive to fix. Further, it requires a regular belt service that requires dropping the motor, a procedure that can cost up to $10,000 according to Jalopnik. It may be an incredible car, but it'll be an expensive one to keep running.

5 Toyota Sequoia – Not Worth It

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There are few segments of the automotive industry that are growing faster than the SUV market, as the new buyers are willing to pay a premium to drive a higher-riding vehicle. Toyota’s entry to the full-size, truck-based segment is the Sequoia. This huge SUV has an equally large V8 under the hood that’s ready for towing duty.

While its 5.7-liter V8 produces a decent 381 horsepower, the rest of the Sequoia is horribly outdated.

This generation was launched in 2008 and has had few revisions over its decade of production. During that time, competitors like the Chevy Tahoe and the Ford Expedition had vastly evolved while staying similarly priced to the Sequoia. Even the closely related Tundra pickup has seen more updates in that time span and is offered with the capable TRD Pro package.

4 Mercedes-Benz S-Class – Not Worth It

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Mercedes has a long history of making some of the best luxury cars in the world, with the S-Class sitting near the top of the pile. Being such a significant car in the luxury market, the S-Class frequently offers state-of-the-art equipment that won’t be seen on lesser cars until years later. As far as powertrains go, the S-Class can be had with several different motors, with the 4.0-liter V8 sitting in the middle of the car’s range, and that’s part of the problem. The S-Class is meant to be one of the best luxury cars in the world, and it can either have a powerful motor or a somewhat economical one. Its V8 stands out as the option you get when you can’t afford the V12 car, something that stands out in such a prestigious vehicle.

3 Jaguar S-Type – Not Worth It

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Jaguar had a few rough years at the time it was owned by Ford. This ownership resulted in some rather unfortunate models in the brand’s history, such as the X-Type and the S-Type. While the latter isn’t based on a miserable Ford platform like the X-Type is, the S-Type had plenty of other problems. When it was new, performance wasn’t one of its problems, as it could be equipped with either a V8 that produced 280 horsepower or on that could make 390 horsepower in its supercharged setup. This Jaguar’s biggest issue was its styling. This model was meant to be a homage to the original S-Type, and Jaguar did a terrible job recreating the handsome classic. The new car’s old-fashioned bug-eye headlights and round grille completely clashed with the car’s otherwise modern design. It doesn’t help that these cars, unsurprisingly, have below average reliability, according to U.S. News.

2 Nissan Titan – Not Worth It

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America’s obsession with full-size pickups has resulted in the truck market becoming highly competitive. As a result, the domestic brands have created plenty of innovative features, such as aluminum bodies and hybrid powertrains. Nissan’s current contribution to the pickup market is the diesel-powered Titan XD that offers the capabilities of a heavy-duty truck and the drivability of a light-duty model. This is a competent pickup that serves an otherwise ignored niche market. However, the first-generation model wasn’t quite as appealing.

While this Titan was a competitive truck when it was first released, the model lost a lot of its appeal after 12 years of production without any significant updates.

By 2015, this truck produced a mere 317 horsepower. By then, competitors were producing at least 50 more horsepower and had seen at least one revision since the Titan’s launch.

1 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG – Not Worth It

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AMG creates some incredible cars that are often powered by equally amazing powerplants. There aren’t many companies that can build a motor that sounds better than an AMG V8. Perhaps, one of the brand’s best performance models was the CLK63 AMG. This car could either be a luxury performance model in its standard AMG form or a canyon-carving machine in its Black edition, the latter of which became the starting point for AMG’s track-ready ‘Black’ models. Powering this Mercedes was a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 (badged as a 6.3-liter) that produced up to 500 horsepower. As a result, this heavy coupe is shockingly quick. Unfortunately, this motor had a chronic head-bolt issue, which could cause a head-gasket failure, potentially hydro locking and destroying the motor.

Sources: Car and Driver, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jalopnik