Australia’s 10 cheapest new V8-powered cars

There was a time when the roar of eight-cylinder engines could be heard across Australia.

In particular, a pair of quintessential Australian V8s dominate our roads: the Ford Falcon and the Holden Commodore.

But those days are gone, and both of the above models no longer exist. Instead, the Australian car market is now dominated by SUVs and pickup trucks, which feature low-displacement turbocharged powertrains with six cylinders or less.

While this won’t bother many people (and it certainly hasn’t stopped us from flocking to buy new cars), some enthusiast buyers still crave V8 power.

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The bad news is that by 2024, affordable V8 vehicles will be hard to come by. On the other hand, the country’s cheapest eight-cylinder car is a sports car icon.

Without further ado, here are the 10 cheapest new V8-powered cars you can buy in Australia right now.

Click on a car name above to jump directly to the information on the page, or continue scrolling to see the full list.

Ford Mustang GT

In the world of electric cars and SUVs, the Ford Mustang stands alone in the affordable segment as a V8 muscle car.

While four-cylinder versions are available, the V8 Mustang GT starts at $78,990 before on-road costs, while the track-only Dark Horse tops out at around $100,000 before on-road costs.

All eight-cylinder models are powered by a 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ V8 engine, which in the GT develops 347kW of power and 550Nm of torque.

Like old-school sports cars, the Mustang GT is equipped with a homemade manual transmission that sends power only to the rear wheels.

Nissan Patrol

The V8-powered Nissan Patrol has been living on borrowed time.

The next-generation twin-turbo V6 has arrived, marking the end of eight-cylinder power in this rugged family SUV.

Ahead of the model’s launch in 2027, you can buy a Y62 range Patrol for $88,900 before on-road costs, with the car powered by a 5.6-litre V8 engine producing 298kW of power and 560N of torque, sent through a seven-speed automatic gearbox to all four wheels.

With seven seats, the whole family can enjoy this characteristic rumble.

Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 is the first (but certainly not the last) full-size pickup truck on this list.

However, it’s the cheapest of the lot, with the outgoing Big Horn now priced at $114,950 and no on-road costs ahead of the introduction of the updated 1500 with a twin-turbocharged inline-six.

That’s right, if you want a V8-powered Ram, you need to get one ASAP.

The outgoing base model is powered by a 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine producing 291kW of power and 556Nm of torque.

If you’ve got the cash, the flagship 1500 TRX comes with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 producing 523kW and 882Nm… more than many supercars.

Ram claims the 1500 TRX can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Joining the Ram 1500 in the American pickup truck category is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, which also proudly represents V8 power.

Priced from just over $130,500, the range is powered solely by a 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine producing 313kW of power and 624Nm of torque.

All variants pair the powerful powerplant to a 10-speed automatic transmission, sending drive through a full-time all-wheel-drive system with 2H, 4A, 4H and 4L modes.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500s for the Australian market continue to be imported by General Motors Special Vehicles (GMSV) and converted from left-hand drive to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw in Melbourne.

Chevrolet Silverado HD

Wait, another Silverado? That’s right, there’s a bigger Chevy pickup on the market, and it’s got an upsized engine to match.

Under the bonnet of this behemoth is a 6.6-litre Duramax V8 turbodiesel engine producing 350kW of power and 1322Nm of torque. Before you ask, that’s not a typo.

Silverado HD starts from $163,000 before on-road costs and is only available in a single model.

Like the 1500, the HD was converted from left-hand drive to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw in Melbourne.

BMW X5 M60i

BMW offers petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options in the X5, including a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8.

It comes in range-topping M60i trim level and retails from $172,900 before on-road costs.

The engine produces 390kW and 750Nm, and accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 4.3 seconds.

In addition to the powerful V8 engine, the M60i also features an M Sport exhaust system, adaptive M suspension, rear-wheel steering and an M Sport differential.

Audi SQ7

The Audi Q7 range starts at $117,284 before on-road costs, but you’ll have to pay $174,815 before on-road costs for the V8 SQ7.

The SQ7 is equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder engine that accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds and can soar all the way to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

The SQ7 is the top model in the Q7 range and comes with a comprehensive suite of standard equipment, including adaptive suspension, rear-wheel steering and 22-inch alloy wheels.

Measuring 5067 mm long, 1970 mm wide and 1781 mm high, it is also a true seven-seater car.

Chevrolet Corvette

Finally another sports car!

In Australia, the Corvette range has expanded to include three different powertrains, but the most affordable 2LT and 3LT models are powered by a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 producing 369kW and 637Nm of torque. It comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the car is rear-wheel drive.

Prices start at $175,000 before on-road costs for the 2LT Coupe, but if you’re after the fastest lap times, the high-performance Z06 will set you back from $336,000 before on-road costs.

Instead of software tuning or forced induction, the Z06 is equipped with a bespoke 5.5-litre flat-plane crank V8 engine producing 475kW and 595Nm, enough to propel it from 0-100km/h in 2.6 seconds.

Audi SQ8

Like the Audi SQ7, the SQ8 is equipped with a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 373kW of power and 770Nm of torque.

In this application, however, the engine is hidden by sexier, sleeker bodywork, and the cabin seats five instead of seven.

The SQ8 is also more expensive than its SQ7 sibling, priced at $178,815 before tolls.

While it doesn’t have a third-row seat, it does have 605 liters of cargo space and a sliding second row.

BMW X6 M60i

Like the Audi SQ7 and SQ8 pairings, the BMW X5 and X6 share powertrains, including a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 390 kW of power and 750 Nm of torque.

All powertrains feature a 48V mild-hybrid system with an electric motor integrated into the gearbox, delivering up to 9kW and 200Nm of boost.

The standard equipment list also includes adaptive suspension, with adaptive air suspension available as an option. The M60i is equipped with BMW’s Integral Active Steering system.

In top-spec M60i guise, the X6 is $6000 more expensive than the equivalent X5, making it the tenth cheapest new V8 model in Australia.