10 of the Best V-6 Sedans For 2015

Some of the best V-6 sedans available for 2015 are also some of the most overlooked.  In certain cases it's because there's another engine configuration that has proven more powerful, or sexier with the buying public.  In others, it might be because these vehicles haven't enjoyed the same notoriety as some of their rivals and have remained 'best kept secrets' to the chagrin of their manufacturers.  Finally, there's those V-6 sedans where it's hard to understand why they haven't caught on as strongly as they should have. 

We decided to put together a list of the best V-6 sedans that hail from the more obscure side of the four-door equation.  Let's take a quick look at what they have to offer.

We know what you are thinking - in what universe is the 2015 Chevrolet Impala an 'obscure' automobile?  Move past the ubiquitous rental car special that you've seen sitting in the lot at every airport, however, and consider the Chevrolet Impala that was redesigned last year (and which is sold alongside the 'classic' edition of the car that exists purely to satisfy fleet demand).  This full-size four-door sedan is now a legitimately stylish and roomy family option, and it has the advantage of offering not just an updated feature set but also a powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine.  This unit is rated at 305 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque, and matched with a six-speed automatic transmission it returns 19-mpg in city driving and 29-mpg on the highway.

The 2015 Jaguar XF gets a lot of press when equipped with its range-topping 5.0-liter V-8 engine, and with good reason.  However, the mid-tier version of the Jaguar XF is definitely worthy of your attention despite dwelling in the shadow of its more potent peer.  The 3.0-liter V-6 that it has to offer is supercharged in order to provide 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque and comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission (you can also choose to equip the sedan with all-wheel drive).  In addition to its luxurious confines the XF 3.0 delivers fuel mileage of 17-mpg in city driving and 28-mpg on the highway (with all-wheel drive models dropping only a single mile per gallon from the highway measure).

The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is one of the most 'American' vehicles in the VW line-up, as this full-size sedan provides exemplary rear seat room as well as an insulated yet still satisfying cruising experience on the Interstate.  Most Volkswagen Passat buyers opt for the base four-cylinder or thrifty turbodiesel edition of the car, but there's a mighty 3.6-liter V-6 lurking at the top of the food chain that's good for 280 horses and 258 lb-ft of twist.  Another advantage of selecting the Passat and its V-6 is the dual clutch automated manual transmission that comes with it, a six-speed unit that helps the car achieve 20-mpg around town and 28-mpg on the highway.

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ is handicapped by the years of middling performance and appeal that preceded its refresh in 2013.  Nowadays the Lincoln MKZ is a genuine premium competitor for anyone more interested in being coddled than setting lap records behind the wheel of a mid-size sedan.  A lot has been made of the MKZ's affordable hybrid model, but we find the 3.7-liter V-6 that's available as an option with the car to be an appealing choice as well.  This motor's 300 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque are routed through a six-speed automatic transmission, and you can choose either front-wheel or all-wheel locomotion.  Fuel economy for the former checks in at 19-mpg in city driving and 28-mpg on the highway.

The 2015 Buick LaCrosse rides on a platform similar to that used by the new Impala, but it's a more luxury-oriented offering that also features its own distinctive styling.  One of the Buick LaCrosse's impressive qualities is the quiet calm of its cabin, which has been thoroughly insulated so as to keep the outside world at bay.  It also offers a high degree of active safety equipment by way of various options packages.  When ordered with its 3.6-liter V-6 engine the LaCrosse comes with a unique high performance suspension system to match with its 303 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic transmission is also along for the ride.  Fuel mileage for the Buick shows as 18-mpg around town and 28-mpg during highway cruising.

The 2015 Toyota Avalon is exclusively available with a V-6 engine under the hood, yet it’s not often a first choice when considering a full-size sedan.  The Toyota Avalon has been nudged closer and closer to the premium side of the automotive spectrum over the course of the past few years, as evidenced by a recent re-styling that gave the car considerably more visual verve than it had in the past.  The Avalon is a big, comfortable vehicle that counts on 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque from its 3.5-liter V-6, and a six-speed automatic transmission helps it deliver a very competitive 21-mpg city and 31-mpg highway.

The 2015 Jaguar XJ is another British luxury cruiser that is more typically identified with its eight-cylinder model rather than its entry-level V-6 edition.  Available with both standard and long-wheel base (XJL) models, the Jaguar XJ's 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 matches the output of the unit found with the smaller XF - 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.  An eight-speed automatic transmission shepherds the V-6's output to either the rear or all four wheels if optional all-wheel drive has been selected at ordering time, and fuel economy for the XJ is listed at 18-mpg in stop and go driving and 27-mpg during highway cruising.

The 2015 Dodge Charger is a seemingly-everywhere full-size sedan, so how can it be classified as 'obscure?'  Dodge heavily accents the Hemi-powered Charger's performance cred, and your local constabulary are most likely driving an eight-cylinder Charger on a daily basis, but little mention is made of the excellent V-6 version of this aggressive-looking family car.  Dodge has given the automobile a 3.6-liter V-6 as its standard mill, and it produces 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.  An eight-speed automatic transmission helps the Charger achieve solid fuel mileage figures of 18-mpg city and 27-mpg highway, and you can also pick one up with all-wheel drive in place of rear-wheel drive.

The 2015 Nissan Maxima represents the final bow for what was once one of the best-driving affordable V-6 sedans on the market.  Overshadowed in the status department by most of its full-size competitors at this point in its life, the Nissan Maxima is still notable for its premium feel and above-average handling.  If you want to fly under the radar but continue to enjoy a respectable level of luxury features, the Maxima is a decent choice, especially given the 290 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque produced by its 3.5-liter V-6.  A continuously-variable automatic is the only transmission available with the Nissan, and the sedan offers 19-mpg in city driving and 26-mpg on the highway.

The 2015 Hyundai Azera is another stealth V-6 sedan luxury contender.  Soft-launched by its Korean manufacturer, the Hyundai Azera is aimed squarely at Buick and Acura customers looking for better value without having to give up any features.  Equipment such as dual automatic climate control, heated leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, and even a refrigerated glove box are all standard with the sedan.  All versions of the Azera, whether fully-loaded or not, come with a 3.3-liter V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission.  The sedan provides 293 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque, and fuel mileage is listed at 19-mpg around town and 29-mpg during highway cruising.

Best V-6 Sedans

Since fuel economy has become an important statistic when it comes to car buying, V-6 powered sedans have become few and far between. Here are a few 6-cylinder sedans that should be on your shopping list.

• Chevrolet Impala
• Jaguar XF
• Volkswagen Passat
• Lincoln MKZ
• Buick LaCrosse
• Toyota Avalon
• Jaguar XJ
• Hyundai Azera
• Dodge Charger
• Nissan Maxima