Best V6 SUVs Reviews & Ratings

V6 SUVs have V6 engines as a standard which are more powerful than a four-cylinder engine but not as powerful as a V8. A V6 engine has become one of the most popular engines for automobile makers in America as they do provide good power for many vehicles and are quiet and light in weight and sufficiently compact to fit into most car and SUV designs.

These days, a V6 engine SUV has equivalent fuel ratings and lower emissions levels to those of four cylinder engines but with better performance. Although V6 SUVs can cost as much as $1,000 more than a four-cylinder engine, they make up for it in fuel savings and cost of ownership. An SUV with a V6 engine also has reasonably good acceleration. A V6 engine SUV can be found in either a compact or mid-size SUV, lacking the power to drive a larger SUV, with displacements in the 3.0 liter range.

The Ford Explorer 4X4 is one the V6 SUVs with a 3.5-liter V6 that can produce 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. The four-wheel drive capabilities do not include low-range but do include Ford's own system for optimizing traction on different terrains. Average for the class are acceleration at 8.3 seconds going from 0 to 60 mph and fuel economy at 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

The Jeep Commander is another V6 SUV with a 3.7 liter V6 that can produce 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. This engine is available on the Sports model yet is somewhat underpowered for its class. This is reflected in a poorer fuel economy of 15 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg combined.

Another of the best V6 engine SUVs was the Ford Taurus X, a versatile and driver-friendly crossover SUV. Its engine was a 3.5 liter V6 that was able to produce 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. It provided swift acceleration and a fuel economy rated at 16 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg combined.

The Mercedes-Benz M Class Diesel is another of the best V6 SUVs powered by a 3.0 liter turbo diesel V6 engine that can produce 210 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, somewhat more powerful than other V6 engines in its class. Its fuel economy is good, rated at 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined with an acceleration of 8.5 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

Another Mercedes-Benz that is a V6 SUV is the Mercedes Benz GLK Class with a 3.5 liter V6 that can produce 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Its acceleration is standard for the class with the ability to go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. Fuel economy is also in line with other V6 SUVs at 16 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg combined.

The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is another V6 SUV with a V6 engine similar to those in its class. The engine displaces 3.5 liters and can produce 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Its acceleration is in line with vehicles of its class going from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. Fuel economy is also comparable at 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. One drawback is that it requires premium gasoline.

New in the lineup of V6 engine SUVs is the Saab 9-4X, a mid-size crossover SUV. It offers two V6 engines, one that is turbocharged and the other that is naturally aspirated. The latter is a 3.0 liter V6 that can produce 265 horsepower with variable valve timing and direct fuel injection. The turbocharged engine is a 2.8 liter V6 that can produce 300 horsepower and does not use direct fuel injection but twin-scroll turbocharging.

Another of the V6 engine SUVs is the Saturn VUE. Depending on the model, the engine was either a 3.5 liter V6 that could produce 215 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque or a more powerful 3.6 liter V6 that could produce 257 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. The latter had good acceleration at 7.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

The Jeep Wrangler is another V6 SUV with a standard 3.8 liter V6 that can produce 202 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque. Also standard is a six-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drive. The Wrangler is somewhat slower than other vehicles with V6 engines, going from 0 to 60 in 9.7 seconds. Fuel economy is also somewhat lower at 15 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg combined.

The Volkswagen Touareg is a luxury V6 engine SUV with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The base model of vehicle has a 3.6 liter V6 which can produce 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. It has a fuel economy comparable to other models in its class with a rating of 16 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg combined.