Mainstream cars with 400 (or more) horsepower
It wasn’t too many years ago that any vehicle whose powertrain belted out around 400 horsepower was considered nearly unreachable exotica. The mighty Ferrari F355, for example, was ‘only’ good for 375 ponies, though fans will surely say its specific power (that is, the number of horses per litre) is quite impressive since it eclipses the century mark.
And they’d be right. Total performance is a lot more than just a number, though there’s a great argument to be made about the recent democratization of horsepower. A modern Camry now makes as many ponies as the Fox-body Mustang most of us coveted in high school, fer chrissakes. Even the dowdy Honda Odyssey minivan nearly tops 300 horsepower.
[Images: Ford, Nissan, Volvo]
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Ford Mustang
Which is why this list focuses on relatively affordable cars with a hundred more than that sum - or close enough to it, anyway. With a hairy chested 5.0L V8 engine and an exhaust note more than sufficient to wake the dead, a Ford Mustang GT is good for an astonishing 480 horsepower, though the Active Valve dual exhaust (the ones yer neighbors really don’t like early on a cold morning) adds six more. Prices start at $46,560 plus freight for a no-options example, though there is usually cash on the hood in most markets. And you really should add that $1,595 rowdy exhaust package.
Nissan Z
The current Nissan Z, priced at $42,970 before freight and fees, is also a member of the 400 hp club thanks to its twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine. Both automatic and manual transmissions are on tap; it goes without saying we feel everyone should select the latter.
Nissan Z
This base trim makes do with a slightly smaller infotainment screen, which is no big shakes, nor is the fact that a cord is required for smartphone mirroring. This trim is the only one to get grippy cloth seats and, as a bonus, is one of the lightest variants available.
Volvo EX30
Yes, we know not everyone wants to see an EV on this list. And the performance experience in an electric vehicle is far different than internal combustion. But 400 horsepower is 400 horsepower - and one of the least expensive ways to crack that ceiling is with a $44,900 EX30 from the Volvo brand.
Volvo EX30
This sensible Swede can be had with dual motors in its Plus trim for that amount (not including freight, to keep with consistency in this article), a powertrain which can muster 422 horsepower and rip to 60 mph from rest in an estimated 3.4 seconds. That type of acceleration used to be the domain of supercars not too long ago.
