Honda does not currently produce a V8 for its street-legal production cars. The brand’s lineup centers on four- and six-cylinder engines, with the high-performance NSX using a V6 hybrid rather than a V8. This article explains the current situation, why Honda avoids a V8 in its road cars, and what options exist for buyers seeking performance.
Current production engines: no V8 in road cars
Below is a snapshot of Honda and Acura’s current production road engines and where a V8 would typically appear if it existed in their lineup. The list focuses on mainstream models available in most markets today.
- Civic — 2.0L inline-4 (naturally aspirated) or 1.5L turbo inline-4; the performance-focused Civic Type R uses a 2.0L turbo inline-4.
- Accord — 1.5L turbo inline-4 or 2.0L turbo inline-4; no V6 option in recent models.
- CR-V — 1.5L turbo inline-4 or hybrid variants; no V6 option.
- Pilot — 3.5L V6; no V8 option.
- MDX — 3.5L V6; no V8 option.
- Ridgeline — 3.5L V6; no V8 option.
- NSX — 3.5L twin-turbo V6 with hybrid technology; not a V8.
- TLX (Acura) — 2.0L turbo inline-4, with the Type S offering a 3.0L twin-turbo V6.
Across the lineup, Honda and Acura have consistently relied on four- and six-cylinder configurations, with the NSX using a V6 hybrid and no current production model offering a V8.
Why Honda sticks to smaller engines and hybrids
Several factors influence Honda’s engine choices, including regulatory requirements, market demand, and the company’s performance strategy. The following considerations help explain why a V8 has not appeared in Honda’s production models:
- Emissions and fuel economy targets
- Weight and packaging considerations
- Performance strategy centered on turbocharged four-cylinders and hybridized six-cylinders
- Market demand and pricing for larger-displacement V8s in mainstream segments
In short, the industry trend toward efficiency and electrification, combined with Honda’s product planning and customer expectations, has steered the company away from deploying a V8 in its production lineup.
Racing and future prospects
Honda’s high-performance models and motorsport activities emphasize advanced, compact powertrains rather than traditional V8 configurations. The current flagship performance road car, the NSX, uses a V6 hybrid setup, and there have been no official announcements about returning a production V8 to Honda or Acura’s lineup. If future models emphasize electrification and efficient performance, they are more likely to rely on turbocharged four-cylinders and V6 hybrids than on a conventional V8.
What to watch for going forward
Looking ahead, enthusiasts should expect Honda to continue prioritizing efficiency, advanced hybrids, and electrified powertrains. Any shift toward a V8 would likely hinge on a broad market demand for larger, naturally aspirated engines and a different regulatory landscape, which is not currently on the horizon for Honda’s mainstream road cars.
Summary
In summary, Honda does not make a V8 for production road cars. The brand remains focused on four- and six-cylinder engines, with the NSX representing a high-performance exception via a V6 hybrid setup. For those seeking more power from Honda, the path lies in turbocharged four-cylinders and hybridized six-cylinders, not a traditional V8. The future is more likely to emphasize efficiency and electrification than a return to V8s in Honda’s lineup.