While they were once rare powertrains, cars with forced induction engines are now widely available across the automotive industry. Forced induction cars, which use turbocharging or supercharging (there is a difference) to create more power, are everywhere. A turbocharger uses exhaust gases to drive a turbine, which then forces more air into the engine, resulting in more power. Turbochargers are often used on small engines that are very efficient, and while the turbocharger itself does not increase efficiency, it does allow for an increase in power while using a smaller, more efficient engine.
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Superchargers use a belt-driven system to supply air to the engine. Like turbochargers, they increase the amount of air in the engine, which is then combined with additional fuel to increase power. However, superchargers are known to be less efficient and require power to be extracted from the engine to function. As a result, their popularity is waning, and fewer and fewer available cars use supercharged engines.
There is a very limited supply of supercharged cars available these days, and most of them are high-performance vehicles with lots of horsepower or luxury nameplates, but if you’re looking for a supercharged vehicle, you still have a few options to choose from.
It’s important to note that virtually none of these are what we’d call cheap, but they’re pretty much the cheapest you can get among supercharged vehicles these days. We’ve only listed vehicles with starting prices under $100,000 — a pretty high bar, but as low as we can go under the circumstances.
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Volvo S90 parked on the driver side
Proving that supercharged cars don’t come cheap, one of the most affordable options on our list is a luxury sedan – the Volvo S90. The S90 is powered by a 2.0-liter engine that has a unique configuration: it’s supercharged but also turbocharged. The engine, known as the T6 powertrain, is one of the few vehicles from the manufacturer that comes with both forced induction systems from the factory. For a small engine, it puts out impressive horsepower numbers, currently delivering 295 hp and 450 Nm of torque in the base S90 trim. The S90 Recharge uses the same engine but adds a plug-in hybrid electric system, which significantly increases the horsepower figure to 455 hp and 650 Nm of torque.
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The S90 starts at $59,695 (including a $1,195 delivery fee) for the base model plus with the plug-in hybrid starting at $67,045. Some other Volvo models offer the unique supercharged and turbocharged (twin-charge) engine, but we like the S90 for its sleek sedan vibe. The Volvo XC90 SUV, for example, is also available with the twin-charge engine for a similar price and offers both the standard turbocharged engine and an optional plug-in hybrid.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The sixth-generation Chevy Camaro won’t be in this world for long. Chevy has announced that this will be the final model year for the current generation of the iconic muscle car, and while we expect the name to resurface at some point in the future, it’s unlikely that it will feature such a raging engine again.
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Standard versions of the 2024 Camaro come with a choice of a 355-horsepower V6 or a beefy 455-horsepower V8, but the ZL1 is special. It’s powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that breathes fire. The ZL1’s 6.2-liter engine is called the LT4, and it’s the same engine used under the hood of the seventh-generation Corvette Z06, as well as the Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing (more on that later) and Cadillac Escalade V.
Under the hood, the ZL1’s LT4 engine produces 650 horsepower and 850 Nm of torque – enough to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Like a true muscle car, the ZL1 sends power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission or an optional quick-shifting 10-speed automatic. Available features include a hardcore Track Package and a limited-edition Collector’s Edition, but good luck trying to get your hands on one of those – GM plans to build just 350 of them. The base 2024 Camaro ZL1 starts at $75,395, and special models go up from there, but remember that it’s the last year of production, so finding a model at that price might prove a little difficult.
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Jaguar F-Type
Like the Camaro, the Jaguar F-Type is on the way out. Jaguar has announced that the F-Type will only be available until early 2025, when the last model will be produced and then handed over to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust to become part of its heritage collection. Like many automakers, Jaguar is transitioning to an all-electric future, and its big, thirsty V8 engines are on the hit list, so if you want to get your hands on one of the best-sounding V8s ever, now is the time to do it.
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The F-Type first appeared in 2013 and is available as a coupe or convertible. Over the years it has been available with a variety of engines, including an impressive supercharged V6 and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. However, under the hood of the current 2024 Jaguar F-Type is a 5.0-liter supercharged V8.
The base model, known as the P450, makes 444 horsepower and 570 Nm of torque. The upgraded models use a 575 horsepower version of the supercharged V8 and are, of course, called the P575. The base price of the F-Type P450 is $79,275 (including a $1,375 delivery charge), which is quite reasonable considering the F-Type’s luxurious features and finish. However, the P575 versions of the F-Type are much less likely to be classified as “cheap,” with a starting price of around $115,000.
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Dodge Durango
At some point, it felt like everything in the Stellantis family was going to get the Hellcat treatment. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 debuted under the hood of the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat and was later used to power the Ram TRX, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the big three-row Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. Where’s a Caravan Hellcat when you need one?
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When it was first launched, the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 produced 707 horsepower under the hood of the Challenger, but in subsequent models like the Charger, power was increased to 717 horsepower, then increased again to 797 horsepower in the Redeye models, 807 horsepower in the Jailbreak models, and finally everything was broken with the Challenger SRT Demon 170 with 1,025 horsepower. Well, as the saying goes, the cheese stands on its own.
The Challenger, Charger, Ram TRX and Grand Cherokee Trackhawk have all been discontinued, leaving the only remaining member of the Hellcat family – the Dodge Durango – a spacious family SUV that makes 710 horsepower from its supercharged V8. So what does it cost to get the last piece of supercharged Hellcat history? The Durango SRT Hellcat starts at $97,590 (including a $1,595 delivery fee), just under our self-imposed limit of $100,000. All-wheel drive is standard on the Durango SRT Hellcat, as are features like big Brembo brakes and sport-tuned suspension. A third row of seats is standard, but you can also opt for a two-row version.
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Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing
Don’t want your supercharged American muscle car as a two-door? Craving tire-shredding power paired with a back seat? How about a little more luxury with your huge V8? That’s where the Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing comes in. Like the Camaro ZL1, the CT5 V Blackwing uses General Motors’ LT4-charged 6.2-liter V8. And like the Camaro, the CT5 is offered with either a six-speed manual or a ten-speed automatic transmission.
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Instead of 650 hp, however, the Caddy puts 668 hp on the road. With 899 Nm of torque, it also surpasses the Camaro’s torque, which is 899 Nm. Of course, the four-door Cadillac is a bit heavier, so acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is a little slower, but there’s no denying that 3.5 seconds is still extremely fast.
A muscle car in luxury sedan guise, the CT5 V Blackwing offers plenty of high-end features like leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, a head-up display, and all the tech features you’d expect. Ride quality is excellent for a high-performance sedan, and the interior is quiet and comfortable, with much more room for four than the Camaro. And while we wouldn’t call it cheap or a sleeper, the CT5 V Blackwing packs a strong punch in a relatively understated way, especially considering it starts at $94,890.
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