The Quiet End of the V6: How Hybrid Four-Cylinders Are Taking Over the Family SUV

For years, the V6 was the go-to engine for three-row SUVs, offering enough power to haul a full load of passengers and cargo without breaking a sweat. It was cheaper and simpler than a V8, more refined than a four-cylinder, and more dependable than early turbocharged engines. Models like the Ford Explorer, Hyundai Palisade, and Toyota Highlander all relied on it.

That era is now fading fast. The Highlander dropped its V6 in 2022, the Kia Telluride is moving past it after the 2026 model year, and the Palisade now leads with a hybridized four-cylinder. Ford said goodbye to the naturally aspirated V6 in the Explorer back in 2019. Even Dodge, which had planned to drop the V6 from its Durango, reversed course only because it didn't have enough V8s to go around.

The new hybrid four-cylinders bring real gains. 5-liter V6 made 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, while the new hybrid four-cylinder delivers 329 hp and 339 lb-ft. 6 seconds versus about seven seconds for the V6, and it averages 35 mpg compared to 20. That adds roughly 285 miles of range per tank.

Toyota saw similar jumps when it switched.

Not everyone has abandoned the V6. 5-liter in its Pathfinder, and Honda sticks with a similar unit in its Pilot, citing durability and smoothness. But stricter emissions rules are making it harder and costlier to keep these engines legal. Nissan is adding a hybrid version of its V6, though its long-term future is unclear.

The shift isn't cheap for buyers. A 2027 hybrid Telluride EX costs about $4,500 more than the 2025 V6 version. A Grand Highlander XLE runs $47,480, while similarly equipped Pilot and Pathfinder models sit around $44,000. You'll save on fuel over time, but it takes a while to make up the difference.

Newer powertrains may also bring higher repair costs as they age.

For now, Honda and Nissan are holding on, but as hybrid tech gets cheaper and more common, even they may have to let the V6 go. The engine that once ruled the road is slowly being retired.