These Are The 12 Most Powerful Inline-6 Engines Ever (2024)

With modern technology helping increase the output of more than just 10, 12 or 8-cylinder engines, you will find some cars with far fewer cylinders and far greater horsepower. For example, Toyota just released the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine that outputs an outrageous 300 horsepower. That's 100 horsepower per cylinder! Mercedes-Benz makes a two-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a similar amount of power to the GR Corolla does at 100 horsepower per cylinder, equating to 400 horsepower.

Six-cylinder engines have always been a secondary go to for accessible power from cars like Chevrolet Camaros, Ford Mustangs and the like. These aforementioned vehicles use V6 engines, but that's not the only configuration of six-cylinders. Inline six-cylinder engines are quite popular among performance vehicles for a few reasons: they're easier to balance, and they are often easier to maintain. As you'll see from our list, inline six-cylinders, by themselves, can output an impressive amount of power nowadays. Indeed, some of the world's most iconic cars are powered by inline-six engines.

Technology has advanced so much in the last decade that now automakers are implementing mild and regular hybrid powertrains to even further increase overall powertrain output. We're only going to be covering turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines in this article, but they are equally if not more impressive without electrical help. Interestingly, BMW engines flood the list.

12 BMW N54B30: 302 HP

Specifications

(Source: Fastest Laps)

Here's a BMW straight-six engine with a complicated name badge, the BMW N54B30, and it's next in line for the most powerful. The N54B30 is the tamer out of all the versions of this engine, but it still has some noteworthy applications, like the BMW Z4 from 2009 to 2016 and the base engine for the 2007 5 Series. It outputs 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque at 3.0 liters of total displacement.

11 Volvo B6304T5: 325 HP

Specifications

(Source: Edmunds)

Believe it or not, Volvo used to make an incredibly powerful turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine. Most of their products currently come with either a turbo 4-cylinder or an electrically assisted turbo 4-cylinder in the Volvo S60 Recharge model. But in recent history, the Volvo S60 used to have a badass 3.0-liter that outputted 325 horsepower with 354 pound-feet of torque. The specialty badged T6 AWD S60s used this engine to get up to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds flat and could do the quarter mile in about 14 seconds, close to 100 mph.

10 BMW S54: 338 HP

Specifications

(Source: Fastest-Laps)

The first (but certainly not only) BMW on our list is the S54. This twin-turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine is next in line to the M52 engine. The "S" moniker denotes that it is the higher performing version of the originator's badge, the M54.

While the more tame M54 can be seen on a variety of BMW products like the 3 series, the S54 is featured on their more monstrous versions, like the M3 and the blisteringly fast Z4 M Roadster. The engine itself outputs 338 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, being able to keep up with a lot of sport-tuned vehicles today.

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9 Mazda CX-90 3.3T: 340 HP

Specifications

(Source: Edmunds)

Mazda's main focus is on high-powered turbo and non-turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. The only time they've used a six-cylinder in recent memory is the CX-9. Now with them hitting the market with a larger, more capable three-row SUV, they decided to implement their first ever inline six-cylinder engine.

It's a 3.3-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder that outputs a venerable 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of total torque. It is tied to an 8-speed automatic which is also new(er) territory for Mazda. This engine can get the all-new CX-90 up to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds.

8 BMW N55B30T0: 365 HP

Specifications

(Source: Fastest Laps)

Another modular BMW engine has made it to the list, but this time it's featured in two specific M-powered cars. The 2016 BMW M2 and the X4 M40i. It makes approximately 365 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque and gets the M2 up to speed in just 4.3 seconds. Meanwhile, it gets the X4 M40i up to speed in 4.7 seconds. The X4's 0 to 60 is more impressive, especially as it is much bigger than the M2.

7 BMW B58: 375 HP

Specifications

(Sources: Automobile Catalog, BMW)

The B58 is the "base" model version of the German brand's most impressive inline 6-cylinder to date. It is a modular engine that you'll be able to find in many of BMW's current offerings. The 375 horsepower version is the second to the highest output available, with their 382 horsepower version being offered in non-BMWs like the Toyota Supra. This version can be found in base model 7 series, all-wheel drive X5s and X7 SUVs. It outputs 383 pound-feet of torque and helps SUVs like the X5 tow up to 7,200 pounds.

6 JLR Ingenium I6: 395 HP

Specifications

(Source: Land Rover)

Talk about a modular, do it all kind of inline 6-cylinder, the Jaguar/Land Rover's Ingenium I6 is one of their staple engines used across a vast swath of their products. From the Jaguar XE and XF to the Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover Sport, this inline 6-cylinder really does do it all.

This engine in the XF can get up to speed in just 5.8 seconds. Meanwhile, the Ingenium inline-six in the Land Rover Discovery helps it tow up to a very impressive 8,200 pounds and takes it off the beaten path. It made our list thanks to its near 400 horsepower total power.

5 TVR Speed Six Engine: 395 HP

Specifications

(Source: Fastest Laps)

If you don't know anything about TVR, just know that they make a great inline 6-cylinder engine. TVRs have included other engines like four and eight cylinder ones, but the TVR Speed Six is by far their most famous engine. Outputting 395 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque, getting the TVR Sagaris sports car up to 60 mph in just under four seconds. This engine is so well-made that they actually put two of them together to form a mighty 12 cylinder.

4 Mercedes-Benz M256: 429 HP

Specifications

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

The Mercedes-Benz M256 is an engineering marvel in its own right. It has forgone the use of a traditional alternator and instead employs the use of a 48 volt electrical starter alternator that powers everything a typical alternator would. You can find this engine in a number of modern MB products, from their flagship S-Class (used in a PHEV variant) to their most popular mid-size SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. It makes our list for a lack of subtle power, producing 429 horsepower.

3 Ford Barra 325T: 436 HP

Specifications

(Source: CarBuzz)

Unfortunately, this insanely powerful Ford inline 6-cylinder engine was never offered here in the US market. This engine can be found mainly in countries like Australia and New Zealand. It's a generously sized 4.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder that outputs an incredible 436 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque, making the Ford Falcon a bit of a sleeper car.

2 Stellantis Hurricane: 510 HP

Specifications

(Source: Stellantis)

Fans of the HEMI V8 were sad to hear their beloved (and iconic) 8-cylinder engine leave Stellantis' plans for the majority of their products. In its place you'll find an engine that has been engineered to a T. The newest Hurricane engine is a 3.0-liter twin turbocharged powerhouse that outputs an unbelievable 510 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Currently, it's being utilized in body-on-frame products like the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, but there are plans to include it in the revitalization of the Charger Daytona Six Pack.

1 BMW S58: 543 HP

Specifications

(Source: BMW)

If you are a fan of all things BMW, you could probably have guessed that the inimitable S58 was going to top our list for inline six-cylinder engines with the highest amount of power. At base level, this engine is an engineering marvel and at best it's a pavement crushing terror. Every component has been carefully treated from the forged steel connecting rods to the heat-treated steel crankshaft. BMW thought of everything to crank up the horsepower from the base version's 286 horsepower to this version's amazing 543 horsepower.

Sources: BMW, Stellantis, CarBuzz, Mercedes-Benz, Fastest Laps, Land Rover, Edmunds, Automobile-Catalog