Despite being labeled as 'gas-guzzlers' by some folks, there is still a lot to be said for owning a capable V8-engine SUV. On top of plentiful passenger and cargo space, a midsize SUV with a V8 under the hood gives you enough power to tow, accelerate from 0-60 in record time and take on any tough jobs you throw at it. With most automakers offering at least one option from this segment across a wide range of prices, it can be difficult to zero in on the right vehicle. We narrow down the list to these 8 powerful, spacious and comfortable V8 SUVs that offer serious bang for your hard earned buck.
1. 2019 Dodge Durango SRT
If we had to describe the 2019 Dodge Durango SRT in one word, it would be "powerhouse". The 6.4-liter V8 engine gives this muscle SUV 457 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque along with some serious acceleration. To put this into perspective, the 0-60 of 4.7 seconds is nearly as fast as a Porsche 911 Carrera. For something of this size (5,359 lbs to be exact), the handing is confidence-inducing, even outperforming many sports cars on the market. With a towing capacity of up to 8,700, a trailer or camper is no big deal for the Durango SRT. As long as you don't mind the reduced horsepower, going with the Dodge Durango R/T instead of the SRT gives you a lower starting MSRP of $43,995 and a 5.7 HEMI V8 engine for a respectable 360 horsepower.
2019 Dodge Durango SRT Starting MSRP: $62,995
Find Local Discounts on the Dodge Durango
2. 2019 Infiniti QX80
The 2019 Infiniti QX80 offers drivers a comfortable ride, excellent handling, and impressive acceleration thanks to the monstrous 5.6-liter V8 engine good for 400 horsepower. and 413 lb-ft of torque. For an SUV of this size, the 0-60 of just over 6 seconds is impressive. Accelerate a little too quickly in the QX80, and you'll be thankful for the strong and powerful brakes which are able to halt this big guy in record time. Towing power won't be a concern for the QX80's V8 with a plentiful 8,500 lbs worth of towing capacity.
2019 Infiniti QX80 Starting MSRP: $65,500
Find Local Discounts on the 2019 Infiniti QX80
3. 2019 Nissan Armada
The sole engine option for the 2019 Nissan Armada comes in the form of a 5.6-liter V8. Luckily, it is a capable one producing a healthy 390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque. Although lagging behind the Dodge Durango's acceleration, the Armada has a respectable 0-60 of just under 6 seconds. The controlled handling for this large 3-row SUV is an added bonus. The Armada's sole powertrain option can be paired with either 2WD or 4WD depending on the conditions you plan to drive in and gives you 8,500 lbs of towing capacity to be used for work or play.
2019 Nissan Armada Starting MSRP: $47,100
Find Local Discounts on the Nissan Armada
4. 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe
The 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe presents drivers with a quiet, controlled and comfortable ride along with two V8 powertrain options. The base engine for the Tahoe is a 5.3-liter V8 for 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Upgrading to the Chevy Tahoe RST will take things up a notch with a 420 horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine. The 6.2-liter V8 gives this SUV a 0-60 in just over 5.5 seconds, outperforming the standard engine by nearly 1.5 seconds. The Tahoe can be had in AWD or rear-wheel drive. Going with rear wheel drives gives you the max towing capacity of 8,600 lbs while the AWD has a max capacity of 8,400 lbs.
2019 Chevrolet Tahoe Starting MSRP: $48,000
Find Local Discounts on a Chevrolet Tahoe
5. 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
We wouldn't be exaggerating if we called the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk a hot rod SUV.It gets this moniker thanks to the monstrosity of a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that produces 707 horsepower. Although falling behind some of the other vehicles on this list in towing capacity at 7,200 lbs, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk makes up for it in a startlingly fast 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds. If you're wondering how you'll manage all this power, we're happy to report that the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has precise steering along with controlled handling. If the starting MSRP of $86,900 for the 2019 Jeep Grand Trackhawk is too steep, the Jeep Cherokee SRT with a 6.4-liter V8 for 475 horsepower can save you some cash with a starting MSRP of $68,395.
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Starting MSRP: $86,900
Find Local Discounts on a Jeep Grand Cherokee
6. 2019 Chevrolet Suburban
The 2019 Chevrolet Suburban sports vast passenger space, power, and an upscale interior. The Suburban can seat anywhere from 7-9 passengers and has plenty of space even in the third row. The standard powertrain option includes a 5.3-liter V8 with a six-speed automatic transmission for 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The Chevy Suburban also gets a new powertrain option for 2019 in the form of a 6.2-liter V8 with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This bumps up the horsepower to 420 and the torque to 460 lb-ft. An estimated 0-60 of under 6 seconds and a generous towing capacity of up to 8,300 lbs cap off the benefits of this larger-than-most SUVs.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban Starting MSRP: $50,800
Find Local Discounts on a Chevrolet Suburban
7. 2019 Lexus GX 460
If a powerful V8 engine, excellent reliability, and a premium interior are must-have features for your next SUV, the 2019 Lexus GX 460 checks all these boxes and provides a great value for the money. The 2019 Lexus GX 460 offers one engine option which is a 4.6-liter V8 that produces 301 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 7.8 seconds. Despite having less horsepower than other SUVs on this list, the Lexus GX 460 will surprise you (in a good way) with its off-road chops. This is thanks to a rugged design and available features like crawl control, traction control and hill-start assist. Although the Lexus GX 460's towing capacity trails behind its competitors, the 6,500 lb maximum will suffice for lugging a small camper or the boat to the lake house.
2019 Lexus GS 460 Starting MSRP: $52,505
Find Local Discounts on a 2019 Lexus GS 460
8. 2019 Toyota Sequoia
Although it's awaiting some updates for its technology and styling, the 2019 Toyota Sequoia remains a good choice for a V8 SUV thanks to the capability offered by the powerful engine and nearly endless cargo space. The Sequoia is a large vehicle with space to accommodate passengers and their cargo without any sacrifices. The Sequoia can seat up to 8 with an optional second-row captains chair configuration that accommodates 7. When it comes to cargo space, the Sequoia lands towards the top of the list with up to 120.1 cubic feet of space with all seats folded and 66.6 cubic feet behind the 2nd row. The sole engine option for the Toyota Sequoia is a 5.7-liter V8 for 381 horsepower which moves the Sequoia briskly for its size and allows it to tow up to 7,400 lbs.
2019 Toyota Sequoia Starting MSRP: $49,050
