- High horsepower vehicles may not currently be trendy, but the need for raw power never disappears completely.
- You can get many different vehicles types — coupe, sedan, SUV, or EV — with incredible amounts of power.
- EV technology actually produces more powerful cars, compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles the same size.
In case you haven’t noticed it yet, we are living in the golden age of horsepower. Automakers aren’t just turning the knob up to 11 for sports cars or muscle cars, either. There are quite a few SUVs, sedans and electric cars that produce an eye-popping amount of ponies. Long story short: If you are shopping for a new car and put power above all else, you’ve got options.
We’ve compiled a list of the most powerful cars you can buy (or dream of buying) in 2022. This list has been split into four car types: coupes, sedans, SUVs and electric cars. No car costs more than $200,000, so don’t worry about seeing only supercars here. Even though no Lamborghinis or Ferraris made the cut, no car on this list has less than 600 horsepower. Even better: The most powerful car has over 1,000 horsepower. Okay, let’s get to the list.
The Most Powerful Coupes You Can Buy In 2022
1. Dodge Challenger Hellcat SRT Super Stock/SRT Jailbreak
Horsepower: 807 hp
If you are surprised to see the Dodge Challenger Hellcat here, you haven’t been paying attention. The Super Stock and Jailbreak have a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 making 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. Both are pretty affordable for making that much power, too. The SRT Super Stock has an MSRP of $84,080. The SRT Jailbreak has an MSRP of $82,170.
So, what’s the difference between the two? Well, the SRT Super Stock does 0-to-60 mph in 3.25 seconds. The SRT Jailbreak does it in 3.4 seconds. However, the Jailbreak has a top speed of 203 mph. Dodge claims that makes it the fastest muscle car ever. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
Source: Dodge/Stellantis2. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Horsepower: 760 hp
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is an animal. Its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is rated at 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. All that power might make you think it was built solely for drag races. Yes, the GT500 can hold its own on the strip, but it can also clock incredible lap times, too.
Car and Driver recorded quicker lap times in this ‘Stang than the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and Lamborghini Huracán Evo. That’s quite an accomplishment, especially considering the Mustang stickers at $72,900.
Source: Ford3. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Horsepower: 650 hp
What, did you think Chevrolet was going to let Dodge and Ford hog all the horsepower? The Camaro ZL1 boasts a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. This unit produces 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. That’s much less power than both the Shelby GT500 and Hellcat SRTs. However, the Camaro offers something those two don’t: a manual transmission.
Actually, make that two things. The Camaro ZL1 can also be had as a convertible. Like the Shelby GT500, the ZL1 has been lauded for its poise on the race track. Edmunds even said it might give Corvette buyers a reason to think twice. All of this power and capability starts at $64,195 for the coupe and $70,195 for the convertible. Optioning the automatic transmission ups the cost by $1,595.
Source: ChevroletThe Most Powerful SUVs You Can Buy In 2022
1. Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Horsepower: 710 hp
Surprise, another it’s another Dodge! The Durango SRT Hellcat is basically a family friendly version of the Challenger Hellcat. It has the Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8, rated at 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. However, the Durango SRT Hellcat comes standard with all-wheel drive. This helps it put down all of that power and rocket from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
Along with being fast, the Hellcat SUV is also practical. It fits six people, offers up to 85.1 cubic feet of cargo space and can tow 8,700 pounds. Like the Challenger Hellcat, the Durango version is a performance bargain. Its MSRP is $81,390. It could also become a collector’s item, since it will only be built for the 2021 model year.
Source: Dodge2. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid/E-Hybrid Coupe
Horsepower: 670 hp
There was a time when hybrids were seen as boring. That time is long gone. The second-most powerful SUV on the market today is a hybrid that makes 670 horsepower. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid has a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. It also has a 14.1kWh battery. Combined, those two make 670 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque.
Regardless of body style, both Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrids are capable of doing 0-to-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Both have a top speed of 183 mph. What’s more, the E-Hybrid can run solely on electric power, albeit for only 10 miles or so. All-wheel drive is standard. As you probably expected, the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid isn’t cheap. The standard body style stickers at $165,300. The Coupe has a base price of $167,800.
Source: Porsche3. BMW X5 M Competition/X6 M Competition
Horsepower: 617 hp
BMW does not play around when it comes to horsepower, and the X5 M Competition/X6 M Competition prove that. Both body styles come equipped with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. All 600 horsepower is sent to all four wheels. An additional 17 horsepower can be had with the optional Competition Package.
Although it’s an SUV, the X5 M is actually BMW’s most-powerful car. Okay, it actually shares that distinction with the M8 Competition. Still, that’s pretty impressive for an SUV! The X5 M starts at $105,900. The coupe-styled X6 M has a base price of $109,400. For both cars the Competition Package adds $9,300 to the final bill.
Source: BMWThe Most Powerful Sedans You Can Buy In 2022
1. Dodge Charger SRT Jailbreak
Horsepower: 807 hp
You had to have seen this coming, right? Dodge’s tuned Hellcat engine gives it both the most-powerful coupe and sedan money can buy in 2022. Like the Challenger Hellcats, it doesn’t take all that much money to buy this super sedan, relatively speaking. The Charger SRT Jailbreak starts at $84,140.
Unlike the Challenger, the Charger SRT Jailbreak is actually somewhat livable with its seating for five. Despite being able to carry the kids and groceries this sedan is still insanely fast. It can do 0-to-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and the quarter mile in 10.6 seconds.
Source: Dodge2. Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
Horsepower: 690 hp
The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is the future of muscle sedans. It pairs a twin-turbo V8 engine with an electric motor to crank out 690 ponies and 641 lb-ft of torque. That electric oomph gives the Panamera an edge off the line. Despite weighing 1,000 pounds more than the entry-level Panamera it can still do 0-to-60 mph in 3.0 seconds. If you have the courage and enough concrete you can hit a top speed of 196 mph.
Unlike most other super sedans, the Panamera can also run on electricity alone. You won’t get far as the Panamera has a range of just 17 miles. That said, its max electric top speed is 87 mph. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid comes in three flavors, and none of them are cheap. It starts at $189,800. The “Sport Turismo” pushes that price to $193,800 and the “Executive” trim gets into supercar territory at $193,800.
Source: Porsche3. Cadillac CT5-V Series Blackwing
Horsepower: 668 hp
Top Gear called the Cadillac CT5-V Series Blackwing “America’s answer to the M5.” That’s high praise, but it’s also not entirely correct. You see, the CT5-V Series Blackwing might actually be better. Its supercharged V8 makes 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. All the power is sent to the rear wheels. Unlike the Panamera and Charger, it can be had with a manual.
The CT5-V Series Blackwing has a top speed of 205 mph and will do 0-to-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. According to Top Gear, it’s also a devil through the corners too. All of this power and performance starts at just $84,900.
Source: CadillacThe Most Powerful EVs You Can Buy In 2022
1. Tesla Model S Plaid/X Plaid
Horsepower: 1,020 hp
For years now, Teslas have been humiliating supercars and muscle cars at the drag strip. Nothing has changed for 2022, either. The Tesla Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid SUV offer the most power of any EV on the market. The Model S does 0-to-60 mph in 1.99 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph.
The Model X is right behind it with a 0-to-60 time of 2.5 seconds. Also, you get that performance and over 300 miles of range. The Model X Plaid has a max range of 311 miles. The Model S Plaid can go 348 miles on a full charge. Performance comes at a premium, of course. The Model S Plaid costs $124,490, $35,000 more than the base model. The Model X Plaid is $121,190, which is just a $21,500 markup over the entry-level Model X.
Source: Tesla2. Rivian R1S/R1T
Horsepower: 800 hp
Rivian may be the new kid on the block, but it’s gotten the memo: EV buyers like horsepower. Both the R1S SUV and R1T pickup offer 800 horsepower. They are also both designed to do “real” truck and SUV things, too.
For example, both models can drive through over three feet of water. The R1T has 14.9 inches of ground clearance and can tow up to 11,000 pounds. The R1S has the same ground clearance and can tow a max of 7,700 pounds. The pair’s max range is nearly identical. The R1S can go 316 miles on a full charge and the R1T 314 miles. Bargain hunters (and we use that term loosely here) will be happy to hear that Rivian has priced its EVs well below the Model S and X. The R1S starts at $70,000 and the R1T’s can be had for $67,500.
Source: Rivian3. Lucid Air Grand Touring
Horsepower: 800 hp
Lucid is yet another upstart EV company following Tesla’s playbook. It’s not a hard play to run, either, as people love electric luxury sedans with power to spare. The Lucid Air Grand Touring is certainly that. It has 800 horsepower, which is 320 more than the base Air Pure model. The Air Grand Touring’s projected max range is a whopping 516 miles.
The Air will do 0-to-60 mph in 3.0 seconds, which isn’t “Tesla fast” but is still plenty quick. It’s also incredibly luxurious, too. MotorTrend had high praise for the Air Grand Touring. The outlet said it was “an impressive rethink of what a luxury sedan should be.” As you might have guessed, that rethink doesn’t come cheap. The Air Grand Touring has an MSRP of $139,000. Less luxurious (and less power) versions of the Lucid Air do come in under $80,000 though.
Source: Lucid
