The 10 Best Muscle Cars for 2021

May 12th, 2021 by

Defined as a high-performance American car, the muscle car is typically a midsize vehicle powered by a large V-8 engine. The term didn’t actually hit the vernacular until the 1950s when General Motors created the first muscle car when it installed a V-8 engine into the Oldsmobile 98. Since then, muscle cars have earned the reputation of high performance at budget prices. Find out what 10 muscle cars you should be on the lookout for in 2021.

BMW 5-Series

One of the first things you’ll notice with the 2021 BMW 5-Series is its spacious and classy interior. Once you get behind the wheel, you’ll be impressed with how well the vehicle can handle the road. All of its six powertrains come mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and give you ample power, whether you’re driving through neighborhoods or hitting the highway. The top-of-the-line M5 Completion trim has a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine under the hood that produces 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque.

Cadillac CT5

Geared more like a luxury muscle car, the Cadillac CT5 strives to meet the demands associated with traditional muscle cars. Its Blackwing variant is the one that people will be talking about as it garners a whopping 668 horsepower. However, don’t just focus on this one trim as the standard CT5-V with its twin-turbo V-6 engine produces 360 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. Its interior features an abundance of luxury options, including lumbar massage as well as heated and ventilated front seats.

Chevrolet Camaro

Thanks to its smooth ride and excellent handling, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro is a muscle car to consider. Its range-topping ZL1 trim has a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine that gives you 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. It also includes Recaro performance front seats, which provide additional comfort when traveling at higher speeds. The Camaro has a tested top speed of 202 mph.

Chevrolet Corvette

How many times have you seen a Corvette and immediately recognize that it’s a pure muscle car? The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette received a complete overhaul, so you might not even recognize this American mainstay. Now in its eighth generation, the Corvette comes equipped with a robust 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 490 horsepower. Opting for the Z51 package increases the horsepower by five and allows the vehicle to go from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.9 seconds.Ā 

Dodge Challenger

a red dodge challenger driving away with a mountainous background

Image via Flickr by Chris Yarzab

The 2021 Challenger has an impressive six engine options, starting with a 305-horsepower V-6 one and climbing all the way up to a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8 that produces 807 horsepower and 707 pound-feet of torque. Not only are its engines massive, but the vehicle can go from 0 to 60 mpg in just 5.3 seconds. If you’re wanting a muscle car that can reach high speeds, the Challenger has a top speed of 203 mph.

Dodge Charger

Dodge adds another similar car to this top 10 list, but the 2021 Charger is slightly larger than the Challenger. The Charger has a comfortable and spacious interior along with spirited engine options. Although the base V-6 engine gives you enough power in the lower trims, its V-8 engines move the vehicle into the muscle car category. If you desire a vehicle that will throw you back in your seat the minute you put your foot to the pedal, consider upgrading for the SRT Hellcat Redeye trim, which pumps out a massive 797 horsepower.

Dodge Durango

Another vehicle you might not consider since it’s technically a three-row midsize SUV, the Durango makes the list thanks to its beefy V-8 engine options and muscular design. The SUV received a slight refresh for the 2021 model year, so it now has new standard and optional features along with tweaked styling. The king of its lineup is the SRT Hellcat, which Dodge says will only be produced for the 2021 model year. This trim has a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine that was originally found in the Charger and Challenger. It produces 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque.Ā 

Ford Mustang

Odds are, when you think of muscle cars, you might automatically think of the Ford Mustang. This vehicle has been a staple in the American muscle car category for several decades, thanks to its sleek styling and powerful engines. The 2021 Ford Mustang doesn’t mess around when it comes to performance as every trim has a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that racks up an impressive 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Power goes directly to the rear wheels either via a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.

Kia Stinger

The Kia Stinger is probably the least traditional type of muscle car found in this category. The entry-level GT trim comes with a twin-turbo V-6 engine that produces 365 horsepower. Expect the Stinger to go from 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds, which is decent but not quite as fast as some of the other vehicles. Moving up to the Limited trim gives you leather upholstery, air-conditioned seats, and a 360-degree camera monitoring system so you can keep tabs on anyone driving near you.Ā 

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

You might not immediately think of Mercedes when it comes to muscle cars, but its C-Class is hoping to change your mind. Mercedes has tried to adapt to the American muscle car movement, and the C-Class combines huge V-8 power along with rear-wheel drive to create this upscale vehicle, especially in its AMG models. The AMG C 63 S has the most potent engine in the C-Class with its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 that gets 503 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.Ā 

If one of these muscle cars sparks your interest and you want to add one to your collection, reach out to the experts at Oxmoor Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Not only can they answer any questions you might have, but they can schedule a test drive so you can experience the power these vehicles have. That way you can drive off the lot and onto your driveway with one of these dream vehicles.

Posted in 2021 Dodge Models