The Cheapest Way To Like-New V8 Power In 2026 Is A Chrysler Nobody Wants

V8s are disappearing from showrooms like tigers in the Sundarbans. Instead, small crossovers, EVs, and turbocharged four-cylinders are increasingly taking their space, rolling off forecourts and dominating the market. With shifting market trends and new priorities for manufacturers, enthusiasts are left with fewer options. Luckily, if you’re open to checking out leftover 2023 stock or gently-used options, there’s a full-size sedan from America that still offers V8 excitement which won’t cost the earth.

Despite delivering Earth-moving torque, rear-wheel drive theatrics, and a raucous soundtrack, dealers have been struggling to shift them, and sales have been falling for years. In a market where fewer V8 sedans now exist, it’s an overlooked choice which deserves some recognition.

The Chrysler 300 V8: A Smart Used Or Dealer Inventory Choice

This underappreciated four-door waving the flag for V8 power is the Chrysler 300 V8: one of the last full-size American sedans that still offered a true eight-cylinder experience on a reasonable budget. It features an appealing mix of luxury, comfort, and power, yet has now become nearly invisible to buyers.

The 300’s V8 options start with the 5.7-liter HEMI, which produces 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque, and a more limited 6.4-liter HEMI in the 300C trim, which delivers 485 hp and 475 lb-ft. Its rear-wheel-drive setup (or optional AWD), heavy curb weight, and deep exhaust note provide a classic Mopar feel, and remains a promising alternative to more popular rivals.

While the 300 is hardly a lightweight, nimble car, it can still launch from 0 to 60 mph in the low-5-second range – impressive figures for the price, and competitive with more expensive cars, too. Then there is the 6.4-liter HEMI V8, which packs a greater punch, increasing power to 485 hp for a quicker sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. For buyers looking for a “cheap V8” though, the 5.7 is a great baseline to start from.

Gone, But Not Forgotten

The car’s design and engineering have not changed much in recent years, which is part of why it has struggled in the market. Sales data highlights its decline: from 7,197 units in 2023, deliveries dropped to 3,604 in 2024 and just 569 in 2025, a fall of over 80 percent year-over-year. To put these figures into perspective, the Dodge Charger has historically sold in the thousands annually, with 80,000 of them exchanging hands as of 2022, and 75,900 in 2023 in the U.S. market — significantly outperforming the 300 for demand and popularity.

With a focus on a future of electrification, and a smaller, more streamlined Chrysler lineup, Stellantis later pulled the 300 from production in 2023. The remaining unsold Chrysler 300s in dealership inventories today represent the only way to still get your hands on a new Chrysler 300 C8, though supply is extremely limited.

And even though its popularity is declining (or perhaps because of it), the Chrysler300 V8 remains one of the most affordable ways to get V8 power in 2026 overall. Whether you hunt for leftover new inventory or a lightly-used example.

The Charger 300 Is Now A Like-New Bargain

As of early 2026, a few leftover new 2023 Chrysler 300s with the 5.7 and 6.4L V8 still remain in dealer showrooms. We found this 6.4L V8 example listed on Cars.com without a price. However, interested buyers may have room to negotiate to potentially secure a reasonably example as new.

While finding a brand-new 300 in 2026 depends entirely on leftover stock, the used market makes an even stronger and far more realistic case. Kelley Blue Book data shows clean 2023 Chrysler 300 V8 models typically valued at around $34,600 for the 300S V8, with higher-spec 300C 6.4-liter variants averaging about $40,400 on the retail market. J.D. Power confirms this, putting an average retail value of a 2023 Chrysler 300C V8 at $37,000, and for the 300S with the 5.7-liter V8 at just $28,750. That makes this 2023 V8 sedan cheaper than a new Mazda Miata or Honda Civic Si.

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Looking at current, real-world listings, near-new, lightly-used 2023 V8-powered Chrysler 300s all reflect these aforementioned pricing averages, coming in at around $37,000 at the time of writing. Meanwhile, high mileage examples from 2019 (base 5.7-liter) start from just $14,000.

Because the 6.4‑liter 300C was discontinued and then briefly brought back for a limited 2023 run, examples on the second-hand market are less common. At the time of writing, CarGurus has a 23-plate priced at $49,995, making it a lightly-used though rare performance bargain, rather than a mainstream option from new. As they get further from their original MSRP and gain some mileage over time, depreciation will likely make the 6.4-liter cars more affordable, strengthening their appeal as one of the cheapest options for a V8 sedan.

Why Buy A Like-New Chrysler 300

The Chrylser 300’s 5.7 and 6.4-liter HEMI powertrains may be archaic, but they also represent an approach that automakers are now moving away from. Large engines are costly to certify, hard to justify with stricter emissions rules, and increasingly difficult to sell to buyers who have become more environmentally mindful and want improved efficiency.

The Chrysler 300 V8 is one of the last naturally aspirated, rear-wheel-drive American V8 sedans you can still buy nearly new — a throwback in a market obsessed with turbos, hybrids, and downsizing. Other V8 sedans and muscle cars, meanwhile, have progressively had their interiors, infotainment systems and platforms which underpin them improved and modernized. The 300’s design and technology, however, have stayed mostly the same, giving it a dated look and feel.

For enthusiasts, its old-school V8 may be enough to tolerate the rest, but for many buyers, the lack of progress makes it feel almost abandoned compared to newer performance sedans, and it’s that perception that’s directly attributed to much lower demand and price.

The Few Remaining V8 Sedan Options… At A Price

To put the market in perspective, what remains of the V8 sedan in 2026 is far more expensive than a lightly-used Chrysler 300, making it one of the few naturally aspirated eight-cylinder sedans that’s reasonably priced. The Lexus IS 500, for example, is the most affordable V8 sedan available in 2026. It remains one of the few naturally aspirated V8 compact sedans available on the market, featuring a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 472 hp and starts at around $60,000. Should you wish to stick with American muscle, the Cadillac CT5‑V Blackwing is the obvious choice, but with its 6.2-liter V8 making 668 hp, it costs significantly more at $95,000 and is supercharged.

German V8 sedans are even more expensive. BMW’s latest-gen M5 features a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, but starts in the six-figure range, as does the Audi S8. While the Chrysler 300 is significantly less desirable and modern than these cars, it remains one of the last reasonably priced full-size V8 sedans on the used market or as leftover new stock.

2026 Dodge Durango GT HEMI V8: The Affordable V8 SUV

If sedans are not your thing, or you want a cheap V8 car that’s actually brand-new with zero miles, the 2026 Dodge Durango GT HEMI V8. With a starting MSRP of just $44,690, the 2026 Dodge Durango V8 GT is currently the most affordable V8 vehicle on sale, bar none.

For someone who may be tempted to go for something with a much greater ride-height, the Durango combines classic American V8 performance with family-friendly space and utility. It adopts the same 5.7-liter HEMI V8, and produces 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, enough to launch the Durango from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.2 seconds, and for a strong towing capacity of up to 7,200 lb. Prices start around the mid-$40k range, making it another great example of an attainable new V8.

Sources: Chrysler, CarBuzz, Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power.