Having a supercharger might seem like an outlandish notion, but it's certainly more common than people realize. Turbochargers are more efficient at making power, but superchargers are relatively cheap and simple in comparison.
While a turbocharger requires different exhaust headers, an intercooler, and lots of plumbing, a supercharger only needs a belt and a specialized intake manifold. Superchargers are belt-driven compressors designed to shove as much air as possible into the engine. With a tune, superchargers can be formidable, but the catch-22 of this system reveals itself as an eventual drivetrain loss. Even with this in mind, the mere mention of superchargers among enthusiasts carries weight.
10 1989-1995 Ford Thunderbird
Ford's 10th generation Thunderbird came equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 that could be upgraded with a supercharger, as part of the Super Coupe version. The supercharged V6 sent 210 horsepower and a staggering 310 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels and could be mated to a Mazda-made 5-speed manual transmission.
The car's redline sat at 5,600 but the supercharger generated 12psi of boost at the low end, which is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, the car weighed over 3,500 pounds, which could have contributed to its lazy 0-60mph time of 7.2 seconds.
9 1984-1989 Toyota MR2
The first-generation MR2 came with either a 1.5-liter or a 1.6-liter inline-four, delivering 82 and 112 horsepower respectively. Neither of these numbers is very impressive, even for a car that weighs just 2,282 pounds, so Toyota had to do something.
For the 1986 model year, it introduced the supercharged 1.6-liter inline-four, which produced 145 horsepower. A slight improvement at best, the MR2 could get to 60mph in as little as 6.5 seconds. With all the reliability issues and structural complexity, this car may be hard to justify.
8 W211 Mercedes E55 AMG
Mercedes once produced the fastest sedan in the world in its W211 E55 AMG. Equipped with a 5.5-liter supercharged V8, the E55 sprinted to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds thanks to 476 horsepower roaring under the hood.
It's electronically limited to 155 mph, but owners have reported their cars being able to reach 200 mph after removing the restrictions, which is staggering supercar territory. AMG also fitted specially tuned air suspension, 18-inch wheels, and sports seats. Mercedes somehow took the already perfect W210 and made it even more perfect.
7 R53 Mini Cooper S
Mini Cooper S models are known nowadays for having a little turbo churn out 192 horsepower from a 2.0-liter BMW inline-four. However, when the car was first revamped and then sold in North America in 2002, it had the option of a supercharged 1.6-liter inline-four that produced 163 horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission.
Mini Coopers are extremely versatile, nimble, and fun little cars that can be found traipsing through the mountain roads, and its stiff ride destroying the driver's back in the process.
6 2004-2005 Chevrolet Impala SS
Chevrolet had its own, much newer and more powerful answer to the supercharger-equipped Ford Thunderbird, but was worse in many other ways. Its supercharged 3.8-liter V6 made 240 horsepower which was an improvement, but the Impala had four doors, was front-wheel-drive, and only came with an automatic transmission.
It hardly seemed like a sporty alternative, even though its tested 0-60mph time was about a second quicker than the Thunderbird. Regardless, its supercharger was used in many more vehicles thus gearheads looking to upgrade their V6 with a supercharger could rig one up without too much monetary fuss.
5 1995-1997 Buick Riviera
Under the Buick moniker, GM released yet another front-wheel-drive car, this time in coupe form, equipped with its signature 3.8-liter V6. Naturally aspirated the same V6 made about 205 horsepower, the supercharged version pumping out 40 more additional horsepower.
It was slightly heavier than the Impala, at 3,788 pounds vs the Impala's 3,465. Once again this engine would only see an automatic transmission. This was the Buick Riviera's swan song, a far cry from its majestic genesis.
4 1991-1997 Toyota Previa
Minivans aren't exactly known for being suave and slick attention-grabbing vehicles, but the Toyota Previa cuts through that stigma with its own brand of vigilante defense of the long-lost platform. On the outside, it doesn't look like much, and in base form, the Previa wasn't very interesting, except for it being rear-wheel-drive.
However, if fortune smiled on a prospective owner, they could find themselves piloting an all-wheel-drive supercharged minivan, as the Toyota Previa S/C. It's even possible to find one with a manual transmission.
3 2003-2008 Pontiac GTP
Rounding out this shortlist of supercharged V6 cars from GM is the Pontiac GTP from 2004. Once again it used the same 3.8-liter V6, but this time the supercharger gave it 260 horsepower.
In coupe form it was significantly lighter than the Riviera, clocking in at just over 3,300 pounds. The GTP was a variant of the Grand Prix, which had a V8 option in the GXP, that produced 300 horsepower from 5.3-liters. The car only came with an automatic transmission and could hit the quarter-mile in 15 seconds.
2 Scion TC TRD
Toyota's Scion division targeted the younger drivers as its customers, and out came the TC, a front-wheel-drive hatchback coupe. The TC from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) came with a supercharged 2.4-liter inline-four that produced 200 horsepower and got the little-hatchback-that-could to complete a quarter-mile in about 14.2 seconds.
Scion developed this car until 2016 when the brand ceased operating and went belly-up, and although this car wasn't brought into standard Toyota circulation, it's still popular among the tuning community. If nothing else, the TC is certainly plucky.
1 1993-2002 Mazda Millenia
Mazda's attempted foray into the world of luxury vehicles with its Millenia was cut short but has proven the Millenia was a good try. It used a 2.3-liter V6 that made 210 horsepower, thanks to 28 psi of boost from a supercharger.
This got the car to 60mph in 7.5 seconds, and the quarter-mile in about 15.8, so it's not a Lamborghini but certainly not a Chevrolet Suburban. It leans toward but doesn't fall on top of the plus side of the scales, clocking in at just over 3,400 pounds, and is said to provide decent comfort, style, and impressive structure.