Australia’s new-vehicle market is becoming increasingly more efficient, as carmakers downsize the scale of their engines – each in capability and cylinder count.
Advancements in turbocharging has resulted within the variety of naturally aspirated 12-, 10-, eight- and even six-cylinder models on sale dwindling.
Within the case of the latter, non-turbo six-cylinder engines are actually scarce, reserved just for a handful of massive SUVs and people-movers, plus some sports cars.
A whole lot of latest automobile deals can be found through CarExpert without delay. Get the experts in your side and rating an awesome deal. Browse now.
While 10 years ago there have been 18 brands selling naturally aspirated sixes, now it’s just five – and three of them are pulling not less than one model from showrooms.
Listed below are the one remaining N/A six-cylinder cars you’ll be able to still buy in Australia.
Hyundai
Amid a lineup of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines – plus a handful of hybrids and electric vehicles – Hyundai continues to sell two naturally aspirated six-cylinder cars in Australia, but not for long.
The Hyundai Palisade large SUV and Staria people mover share the identical 3.5-litre V6 petrol engines, powering only the front wheels.
In each models, you might have to go for a dearer 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel to get all-wheel drive.
Nonetheless, soon it’ll only be the Staria sold with a V6, because the new-generation Palisade will exclusively be powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, available with hybrid assistance.
While the Staria V6 might be under threat from a hybrid version available in South Korea, Hyundai has yet to lock on this powertrain for Australia.
Jeep
Just five years ago, you may get Jeep’s ‘Pentastar’ petrol V6 in 3.2-litre guise within the Cherokee mid-size SUV, or as a 3.6-litre within the Wrangler, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee, but now only the latter pair offer the non-turbo bent-six.
The twin-cab Gladiator pickup has exclusively been available with N/A V6 power in Australia since its local launch in 2020, despite US examples having previously been offered with the choice of a V6 turbo-diesel – arguably a greater fit for our market, given the demand for diesel utes here.
A 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain will probably be offered within the Gladiator within the US, but stays unconfirmed for Australia.
The identical PHEV powertrain may be had here in latest generation Grand Cherokee, marketed because the 4xe, however the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 powers the remaining of the range.
Nonetheless, you’ll should be quick to purchase one, as last month the American off-road brand announced the death of the Grand Cherokee in Australia, on account of the present model’s slow sales.
The present WL generation launched here in 2022, initially only in long-wheelbase, three-row L guise – the primary Grand Cherokee to supply seven seats.
But while it offers greater practicality, the WL isn’t available globally with the turbo-diesel V6 of its WK2 predecessor, which accounted for around 57 per cent of Grand Cherokee sales in Australia.
Australian examples also haven’t been available with the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 offered within the US.
If you might have a hankering for a Pentastar V6, Jeep is heavily discounting stock of the Grand Cherokee.
Kia
Like its parent company Hyundai, Kia only offers two N/A V6-powered models in Australia, where a 3.5-litre petrol engine is accessible within the Carnival people-mover and the Sorento large SUV.
The Carnival is the cousin to the Hyundai Staria, and in addition offers the identical turbo-diesel engine in addition to hybrid power, which is off-limits within the Hyundai for Australians.
Though the Sorento also offers seven seats just like the Palisade, it’s based on a special platform, and might not only be ordered with the V6 (also only in front-wheel drive guise) but additionally the turbo-diesel, plus a series hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
Kia is looking to herald more stock of the hybrid variants, on account of the Recent Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) – which becomes punitive from July 1, 2025 – which penalises carmakers for exceeding emissions targets, though it’s unclear what this implies for the Korean brand’s V6.
Nissan
The Nissan Pathfinder is one in every of the Japanese brand’s slowest-selling vehicles in Australia, and though it’s the carmaker’s only model with a V6, the massive SUV is on borrowed time locally.
Nissan’s current-gen Pathfinder was revealed in 2021 and initially on account of arrive here in late 2021… then early 2022… before finally reaching showrooms in late 2022.
In-built the US and powered by a 3.5-litre V6, the brand new Pathfinder was meant to represent a marked improvement on its predecessor, nevertheless, it’s sadly been a sales flop, accounting for just 523 deliveries last yr, making it the least popular Nissan aside from the Z sports coupe and the outdated Leaf electric hatch.
Things aren’t a lot better in 2025, with just 51 examples delivered in the primary quarter of this yr.
The Pathfinder also wasn’t included in Nissan’s 2027 roadmap for Australian showrooms, because the embattled carmaker focuses on the products which might keep it afloat.
Porsche
Unlike the remaining of the brands on this list, Porsche doesn’t make V6 commuter cars, as an alternative reserving its flat atmo sixes for its most driver-focused models.
With production of the petrol-powered 718 sports automobile (Cayman and Boxster) ending for Australia in September last yr, and only limited stock remaining available across Porsche’s dealer network, the German performance brand now only offers an N/A boxer engine within the 911 – and even then it’s limited access.
Following the transition to the facelifted 992.2-generation, the 911 GT3 RS is not any longer available to order, nevertheless, the updated 911 GT3 is.
Its big-bore 4.0-litre flat-six is now the one non-turbo engine on offer across the 911 lineup, and it’s able to howling all of the technique to a 9000rpm redline.
Overseas reports have claimed the next-generation GT3 will finally grow to be turbocharged, joining 911 GT variants just like the lesser GTS and the upcoming GT2 RS flagship.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
