Small-block V8 engines are some of the best in the business. They can be robust and loud, reliable and dependable, and some can also be relatively fuel-efficient. Their smaller size compared to big-block engines can also make them lighter.

Finding a powerful and efficient small-block V8 is tough. But we think we have done that with these 13 engines, which combine reasonable power with solid fuel economy.

Chevrolet LT1 V8

Chevrolet’s LT1 V8 engine is one of the most famous small-block engines. The 6.2-liter V8 has proven itself in many American performance cars. The LT1 made its debut in 1970 and is currently in its third generation, which began in 2013.

The first generation of the LT1 would be used in all sorts of machines, most notably the Chevrolet Camaro Z278, which produced 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque.

McLaren 570S Twin-Turbo V8

Despite its sheer power, the twin-turbocharged small-block V8 engine under the hood of the McLaren 570S is quite efficient for a modern performance car’s engine. The 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 produces 562 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque.

Its fuel economy figures are pretty average compared to daily drivers. City MPG is rated at 15, while on the highways, it is 22 MPG, and combined, it is 18 MPG. However, given that some SUVs can’t even reach 30 MPG combined, those aren’t terrible numbers.

Studebaker 289

Compared to some small-block V8 engines, the Studebaker 289 isn’t one of the leading powerhouses. But with 289 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque, it’s no slouch by any means, and it was regularly found under the hood of the Studebaker Avanti.

One of the key selling points of this small-block V8 was its reliability. Studebaker built it with a cast iron block, solid lifters, and 18 bolts per cylinder head, making it one of the toughest V8s on the market.

Ford 289 HiPo

Ford knows a thing or two about small yet efficient V8 engines. One of the best is the 289 HiPo, with the HiPo family being one of the most legendary in American automotive history.

The engine would grace cars such as the K-Code Ford Mustang, the Ford Falcon, and even the Shelby Cobra. It produced 271 horsepower and roughly the same amount of torque. At the time, it was the most powerful V8 engine available until the 302 ci V8 and the mighty 390 big-block.

Chrysler 273 Commando

Chrysler is responsible for some of the best V8 engines ever produced. Some of them were high-revving, low in weight, and had small displacements that helped them become more economical.

One of the best is the Chrysler 273 Commando V8. This small V8 engine has a four-barrel carburetor and makes 235 horsepower and 285 lb-ft of torque. This remarkable engine is the forerunner to the iconic LA340, which will soon be under the hoods of many Mopar pony cars and some hot rods.

BMW X7 M60i Twin-Turbo V8

BMW’s SUVs are some of the most interesting on the planet. They are fast, luxurious, and large. But at the same time, they are too vulgar, too expensive, and quite enormously ugly. Yet they also have some of the best V8 engines in the world under the hood.

One of those is in the X7 M60i. This hybrid SUV has a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, making 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. The EPA estimates that the engine’s combined MPG is just 18 MPG, but the hybrid element can help boost those numbers.

Ford Boss 351

Ford discontinued the Boss 302 and Boss 429 engines for the 1970 model year. This left it in search of a new small-block V8 for its 1971 Mustang, and luckily they had just the solution. Enter the spectacular Ford Boss 351 V8 engine.

The Boss 351 produces 330 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. This makes it one of the last muscle car engines built before the Malaise Era, brought on by the 1970s oil crises, really set in. Because of this, Boss 351 Mustangs are now highly sought after.

Chevrolet RPO L79 327

Chevrolet is one of the kings of the V8 engine. There is virtually nothing that the Bow Tie hasn’t done in the world of eight-cylinder powertrains. One of its finest is the RPO L79 327 V8, first introduced in 1962 for the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.

This made it one of the first Corvettes to boast fuel injection. The L79 would also be found in other Chevy vehicles, such as the Avanti, Impala, and Chevelle. The 1967 Corvette Stingray produced a brilliant 350 horsepower under the hood.

Ford Boss 302

Out of all of Ford’s incredible Boss V8 engines, perhaps the best and most famous is the Boss 302 V8. It’s a legendary small-block V8 that found its way into Ford Mustang Boss 302s, as well as Mercury Cougar Eliminators.

This mighty engine produced 290 horsepower and roughly 290 lb-ft of torque. However, many believe that is a conservative power estimate and that the engine actually produces upwards of 350 horsepower in total.

Pontiac 389 Tri-Power

Pontiac is another American manufacturer that has produced some of the best V8 engines in history. The small-block 389 Tri-Power uses three two-barrel carburetors, and the American company also invented the 3-2 barrel carburetor setup first seen on the Pontiac GTO.

The 389 Tri-Power is quite substantial for a small-block V8. This mighty engine produces 360 horsepower and 424 lb-ft of torque, easily making it one of the most potent small-block V8s ever produced.

AMC 390

If we are being picked, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) actually didn’t have a big-block or small-block V8 engine. It just had various V8s. However, their biggest 401 ci engine actually shared the same block with the smaller 304 ci V8, technically making it a small block.

The best AMC V8, though, is the 390 V8. Found in the SC/Rambler and the Rebel Machine, this powerful little engine produces 340 horses and 430 lb-ft of torque. The only downside, though, is that these are now quite expensive small-block V8s due to their growing rarity.

Chevrolet Small Block 350

One of the most prominent of all of Chevrolet’s small-block V8s is the remarkable 350 ci powertrain. Showcasing just how good this engine is, a 1991 Chevrolet Silverado surpassed 1.3 million miles with one of these under the hood, and the engine can trace its roots right back to Chevrolet’s debut 265 ci V8 of 1955.

Displacements of Chevrolet’s small-block would vary, ranging from 265 ci right up to 400 ci. As shown by the extraordinary 1991 Silverado, these are some of the most reliable V8 engines ever made.

Chrysler LA-340 Six-Pack

Another of Chrysler’s finest small-block V8s was the LA-340 Six-Pack. This was Chrysler’s “high performance” small-block V8, which ran only on premium fuel and had a compression ratio that was higher than that of the 318 ci and 360 ci V8s.

Chrysler would install the 340 Six-Pack under the hood of various MOPAR muscle cars, including the Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda, the Dodge Challenger T/A, and the Plymouth Duster. This incredible six-pack carburetor engine produced 290 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque.