It’s no secret that Cadillac is an expert when it comes to V8 engines. Being American, it’s only right that they would have a diverse spread of models with gas-guzzling, oil-burning, glorious-sounding eight-cylinder powertrains. In fact, the first mass-produced car with a V8 engine was a Cadillac, so the company has been doing this for a while, to say the least. In the last twenty-five years, the brand has continued to provide the masses with increasingly powerful options like the CT6-V through to the Escalade. While the most recent are quite pricey, it’s not too hard to get your hands on a V8 Cadillac if you can shop for an older model. Here are the ten most powerful models, and the most powerful versions of each model’s V8 from the last quarter-century.

There have been a multitude of Cadillac models with V8 engines in the last 25 years – these are the ten most powerful models, ranked according to their horsepower outputs. In cases where certain models were equipped with V8 engines for a longer period of time, only the model years with the highest output were included.

10

2000–2005 Cadillac DeVille

300 Horsepower

If you’ve ever wondered “what Cadillac has a V8,” the answer is most of them. In fact, this list barely scrapes the top off of most models since many we talk about have other V8 engines as well. In the case of the 2005 to 2009 Deville, you had the fortune of a 4.6-liter naturally aspirated V8. It might not have as much character as the 425 Cadillac engine that came in previous generations, nor does it have the Cadillac 8.2-liter engine like the DeVille IV Coupe, but this version still had enough power to get around. This particular engine made 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and could stretch its legs before running from 0-60 mph in about 6.6 seconds. Cadillac has since changed its naming scheme to dub the new Deville the “DTS,” but this model can still be seen around from the doctor’s office parking lot to your local thrift store.

9

2009 Cadillac SRX

320 Horsepower

When the SRX was launched, it was the brand’s intention to begin a new chapter. Cadillac’s main clientele was and still is aging, so it needed to appeal to younger audiences. The early 2000s began a new era for Cadillac, in which it dubbed its new design language “Art and Science.” The SRX was first sold for the 2004 model year. While its standard engine was a 3.6-liter V6, you had the option to upgrade to a Northstar V8. This 4.6-liter V8 engine was good for 320 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. That might not sound like a ton, but it was pretty good for the era. For an early luxury crossover SUV to get from 0-60 in just 6.6 seconds is impressive as well. These days, you can generally find them fairly cheap.

8

2025 Cadillac Escalade

420 Horsepower

Escalades are a dime a dozen in much of the country as the go-to luxurious family-hauler. Why buy a six-figure fully-loaded Chevrolet Suburban when you can spend just as much on a near-base-level Cadillac? That’s actually not too tough to answer, because the Escalade is a status symbol like no other, and the current generation comes with a powerful standard V8 engine. We’ll get to the latest and greatest Escalade-V later, but even the base model has a powerful enough V8 to make the ranks. To be specific, the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft, which is enough for a maximum tow rating of 8,100 pounds in rear-wheel-drive models.

7

2006–2009 Cadillac XLR-V

443 Horsepower

Have you ever stepped into a Corvette and thought to yourself “huh, it could be better…” Well, the Cadillac XLR-V was a halo car in its own right for the brand. It unfortunately didn’t last nearly as long as the Corvette reigned over Chevy’s sports cars. However, from 2006 to 2009, the XLR-V was among the most powerful V8-engined Cadillacs. It’s one of the handful of models from this era with a supercharger equipped, and boy did that mean something. The base model XLR was plenty of fun with its 4.6L Northstar that we’ve mentioned a few times now, but 320 horsepower wasn’t enough for a car like this. That’s where the 4.4L supercharged V8 comes into play, with all 443 hp and 414 lb-ft of wonderful torque.

6

2005–2009 Cadillac STS-V

469 Horsepower

Everybody is familiar with the popular CTS-V, which we’ll talk about later, but the STS-V is a bargain of a forgotten V sedan with big power and real luxury. After Cadillac discontinued the Seville, it needed something to fill the place in the lineup. It didn’t take long for the STS to comfortably fill that void. There were a variety of engines, including a four-cylinder, multiple six-cylinders, and a range-topping 4.6L Northstar V8, but that still didn’t come close to the performance of the STS-V.

Under that model’s hood was a 4.4L supercharged V8 that makes 469 horsepower and 439 lb-ft of torque. Enthusiasts today might be disappointed to discover it only had an automatic transmission, but fret not, because this RWD sports sedan is still one of the most powerful V Series cars. Some people might still have a sweet spot for the old Seville’s 425 Cadillac engine specs, but this STSis plenty powerful.

5

2019–2020 Cadillac CT6 Platinum

500 Horsepower

The Cadillac CT6 was a brilliantly luxurious sedan for many years. It topped the brand’s lineup with plenty of interior space, comfort features, and a reasonable amount of power. As the model wound down in its final years, though, it wasn’t ready to leave without a fight. The CT6-V made its mark on the world with just under 1,000 units produced, but we’ll get to that one next. For another impressively premium and powerful special trim, look no further than the CT6 Platinum. This extremely limited version of the CT6 only saw 285 units roll out through the factory doors from 2019 to 2020. If you were somehow lucky enough to buy one when it was new, it should have held its value over the last five years. Its 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged V8 has enough power to make anyone smile.

4

2019–2020 Cadillac CT6-V

550 Horsepower

Yes, we swear this is a separate car from the last entry. The CT6 had a couple of high-powered models to mark its send-off, and the more powerful of the two was the CT6-V. It used the same engine as the Platinum – a 4.2L twin-turbocharged V8 – but it was tuned even hotter for better burnouts and lap times. Those who snagged one of these could sprint from a dig to 60 miles per hour in just 3.8 seconds while basking in premium luxury. The interior was indicative of the highest quality Cadillac could provide for their top-of-the-line sedan. Of course, the powertrain is why you’re all here today, but you would be equally impressed with this flagship’s overall driving experience, interior space, and features.

3

2019 Cadillac CTS-V

640 Horsepower

We talked about the STS-V earlier, mentioning how it’s somewhat forgotten. Well, that’s partially due to the CTS-V overshadowing it. Long after the STS died off, the CTS continued its reign as one of the most fun four-door sports cars. While the first generation was perhaps its most well-known, it wasn’t until later that it really reached for the stars with unreal power figures. As far as Cadillac V8 models go, the third generation of the CTS-V was one of the best. The later years, in particular, pulled 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque out of a supercharged 6.2L V8. When paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel-drive, you can launch from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

2

2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

668 Horsepower

When our road tester found himself behind the wheel of a CT5-V Blackwing, one way he described it was blisteringly quick. As one of the brand’s most expensive sedans to date, and the most powerful sedan with a V8 engine, the CT5-V Blackwing is nothing short of an incredible experience to drive. For a base price just shy of 100 grand, buyers should only expect Cadillac to deliver the most comfortable ride possible in conjunction with its intense power. This version of the CT5-V has been around since 2022, and continues to knock socks off and blow minds with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 making 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. While you can launch it from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, it’s also a blast around the track.

“What impresses most about the CT5-V Blackwing is not its tremendous power, which is thoroughly jaw-dropping; it’s the comfort. Thanks to reasonably-sized wheels and Cadillac’s excellent MagneRide dampers, the Blackwing floats like a… well, you know the saying. It’s amazing what a well-sorted chassis, some excellent suspension, and a smart engineering philosophy can do for a car’s ride.”

– Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz

1

2025 Cadillac Escalade-V

682 Horsepower

Finally, the most powerful Cadillac V8 model of the last 25 years is the Escalade-V. This absolute unit is the first SUV from the brand to be bestowed a V badge. The Escalade has been around for decades, but this version was just recently introduced for the 2023 model year. There might be more powerful electric SUVs with even more power, as Cadillac demonstrates with their own lineup, but not much beats the sound and feeling of carrying the kids to soccer practice in a 682-horsepower behemoth. Its 6.2L supercharged V8 is the same as the CT5-V Blackwing, but this time, it’s tuned for a higher output. Being a heavy SUV, though, it’s a tad slower with a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds; that’s obviously nothing to scoff at.

FAQs

Which Cadillacs have a V8?

There are 13 Cadillacs with V8 engines produced for the last 25 model years. The most powerful include versions of the DeVille, SRX, Escalade, XLR, STS, CT6, CTS, and CT5.

Which Cadillac is the fastest?

The fastest Cadillac is the latest CT5-V Blackwing, with a top speed of over 200 miles per hour.

Does the CTS-V have a V8?

While the CTS-V was discontinued and replaced by the CT5-V, it did have a 6.2L supercharged V8 in its later years.

Sources: Cadillac