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I always wonder why these big V6 engines are still so common in the US. I'm driving a 2 liter diesel in a BMW X3 (a heavy car, 4wd, automatic) and still get 34

I always wonder why these big V6 engines are still so common in the US. I'm driving a 2 liter diesel in a BMW X3 (a heavy car, 4wd, automatic) and still get 34 mpg. The 2 liter engine is plenty powerful for this big car. Too powerful maybe, looking at the speeding tickets I got with this car since I have it. A modern 3 liter TDI is crazy powerful. I really see no practical use case for those engines, other than engaging in speeding contests between Audi's, BMW's and Mercedeses in the leftmost lane of the autobahn. And since there is no autobahn in the US, why do they buy them? I think for normal cars, 1.6 - 2.0 liter 4 cylinder is enough.

lechevalierd3on 13y ago
Pissing contest mostly. And also some thinks it help with erectile dysfunction.
sliverstorm 13y ago
V6 engines are typically smoother and produce more torque down low in the powerband, which is the range most people drive. So even though the peak capabilities are overkill, basically, an engine capable of 160mph is nicer to drive at 65mph than an engine capable of 85mph. As a result, they are desirable to many consumers. Tiny 4 cylinders are catching up, but that's the thing- it has always been a game of catchup for the 4 cylinder. Oh, and further in defense of the V6- remember not everyone has the same needs as you. I have recently come to own a 4.0L V6. Ridiculous, right? Twice as many liters and twice as many cylinders as I ought to need. Except, at 12,000ft you've suddenly got a lot less engine. My old 2.2L H4 at-speed required pedal-to-the-metal to gain speed, and 4k+ RPM just to maintain speed.
- jfb 13y ago
  I just prefer flat six to a V6. Smoother power delivery.
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    An H6 definitely has some upsides over a V6. A V6 has never been the "best" engine in any specific regard; it strikes a nice balance in the spectrum of the many, many compromises an engine makes. For example, a V6 can be used in a transverse mount vehicle, which is the majority of vehicles available today. It does this with minimal sacrifices in performance compared to an H6, which is much too wide to ever be considered.
- Maarten88 13y ago
  Diesel engines have lots of torque, at low rpm. My 2.0d has 280 lb-ft, the same as a 3.7 V6 mustang, at half the rpm.
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    Certainly! But for better or worse, America's cars are still mostly gasoline-powered. Diesel isn't just a simple add-on like satellite radio, it is a paradigm shift. Also remember that the V6 is a compromise of many factors. Besting a V6 in one specific regard doesn't mean much, because a V6's strength is that it achieves many different goals, all at the same time- even if it isn't the best at any one thing. I don't mean to say a gasoline-powered V6 will always be the only option, or anything like that. But it is interesting to learn the various reasons they are as popular as they are, and it is instructive in how the auto industry operates.

lechevalierd3on 13y ago

Pissing contest mostly. And also some thinks it help with erectile dysfunction.

sliverstorm 13y ago

V6 engines are typically smoother and produce more torque down low in the powerband, which is the range most people drive. So even though the peak capabilities are overkill, basically, an engine capable of 160mph is nicer to drive at 65mph than an engine capable of 85mph. As a result, they are desirable to many consumers. Tiny 4 cylinders are catching up, but that's the thing- it has always been a game of catchup for the 4 cylinder. Oh, and further in defense of the V6- remember not everyone has the same needs as you. I have recently come to own a 4.0L V6. Ridiculous, right? Twice as many liters and twice as many cylinders as I ought to need. Except, at 12,000ft you've suddenly got a lot less engine. My old 2.2L H4 at-speed required pedal-to-the-metal to gain speed, and 4k+ RPM just to maintain speed.

jfb 13y ago
I just prefer flat six to a V6. Smoother power delivery.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  An H6 definitely has some upsides over a V6. A V6 has never been the "best" engine in any specific regard; it strikes a nice balance in the spectrum of the many, many compromises an engine makes. For example, a V6 can be used in a transverse mount vehicle, which is the majority of vehicles available today. It does this with minimal sacrifices in performance compared to an H6, which is much too wide to ever be considered.
Maarten88 13y ago
Diesel engines have lots of torque, at low rpm. My 2.0d has 280 lb-ft, the same as a 3.7 V6 mustang, at half the rpm.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  Certainly! But for better or worse, America's cars are still mostly gasoline-powered. Diesel isn't just a simple add-on like satellite radio, it is a paradigm shift. Also remember that the V6 is a compromise of many factors. Besting a V6 in one specific regard doesn't mean much, because a V6's strength is that it achieves many different goals, all at the same time- even if it isn't the best at any one thing. I don't mean to say a gasoline-powered V6 will always be the only option, or anything like that. But it is interesting to learn the various reasons they are as popular as they are, and it is instructive in how the auto industry operates.