Every Mopar fan has a favorite engine – the one that shook the streets in their first Charger, or the one that made Hemi history on the dragstrip.
Some were elephant-sized V8s with legendary horsepower, others were scrappy turbo fours that punched above their weight, but all have done the Penstar proud.
Here’s our countdown of the 20 greatest Chrysler/Dodge engines that defined generations of performance.
20. Chrysler Flathead Straight-Eight
Before Hemis ruled the streets, Chrysler’s smooth flathead straight-eight powered luxury sedans through the ’30s and ’40s.
With 125–135 hp, it out-muscled Ford’s V8s while delivering silky refinement. Heavy Imperials could cruise past 100 mph, and the engine was famous for its quiet, durable pull.
Though eclipsed by V8s, the straight-eight kept Chrysler competitive when “eight in a row” meant prestige and speed.
It was the foundation that made Chrysler an engineering powerhouse and set the stage for the FirePower Hemi to come.
19. Chrysler Turbine Engine
In 1963, Chrysler stunned the world with its jet-powered Turbine Car.
The A831 gas turbine spun to 45,000 RPM, made 130 hp and 425 lb-ft, and could run on diesel, jet fuel – even tequila.
Fifty-five bronze Ghia-bodied prototypes hit the streets, emitting a futuristic whine and delivering butter-smooth thrust.
Fuel thirst and emissions ended the dream, but the turbine proved Chrysler’s fearless innovation.
Even today, it’s remembered as one of Mopar’s boldest “what-ifs,” a jet-age experiment that showed the company wasn’t afraid to think way outside the box.
18. 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6
In 1989, Dodge trucks gained instant credibility with the 5.9L Cummins turbodiesel.
Though rated at 160 hp, it delivered a massive 400 lb-ft at low RPM, turning Rams into unstoppable towing monsters.
These straight-sixes were virtually unkillable, many running 500,000+ miles.
Farmers, haulers, and hot rodders discovered that a few tweaks unleashed even more grunt, sparking America’s diesel horsepower wars.
With its distinctive rattle and freight-train torque, the Cummins transformed Dodge pickups from afterthoughts into the ultimate workhorse, carving out a loyal following that still swears by the name today.
17. “Hellephant” 426 Supercharged Hemi
Mopar shook SEMA 2019 with the Hellephant – a crate-only 426 Hemi making 1,000 hp and 950 lb-ft.
With an aluminum block, forged internals, and a monstrous 3.0L supercharger, it blended classic displacement with modern tech.
Hot rodders could bolt it into anything and unleash instant tire-vaporizing fury.
Limited availability made it an instant legend, the ultimate Mopar flex.
Where the Hellcat was outrageous, the Hellephant was pure insanity, proving
Chrysler still knows how to grab headlines and build engines that make car culture roar.
16. 2.4L Turbo I4 (Neon SRT-4)
The 2000s Dodge Neon SRT-4 became an instant cult car thanks to its overbuilt 2.4L turbo four.
Officially rated at 230 hp, it was underrated – real-world tests had it hitting 0–60 in the low 5s.
With forged internals, it thrived on boost, easily pushing 300+ hp with simple mods.
Drivers loved its wastegate sneeze and turbo whistle, sounds that became its signature.
Affordable and fast, it embarrassed pricier V8s and gave Dodge a fresh, scrappy performance edge in the compact scene.
15. 2.2L Turbo I4 (Shelby/Dodge)
In the horsepower drought of the ’80s, Chrysler’s 2.2L turbo four kept Mopar performance alive.
With Carroll Shelby’s touch, it powered pocket rockets like the Omni GLHS and Daytona.
The GLHS made 175 hp – enough to spank V8 Camaros. Later versions with Lotus-designed heads hit 224 hp. Built from humble K-car roots, it proved durable and endlessly tunable.
Cheap, fast, and surprising, the 2.2 Turbo gave Dodge underdog credibility and showed four cylinders could carry Mopar’s performance flag.
14. 3.0L Hurricane Twin-Turbo I6
Mopar’s future isn’t all V8s. The new 3.0L Hurricane inline-six proves it.
With twin turbos, direct injection, and forged internals, the high-output version makes 510 hp and 500 lb-ft – more than the classic 426 Hemi.
It powers Jeeps and Wagoneers today, but Dodge muscle cars are likely next.
Smooth, efficient, and brutal when pushed, it’s Mopar’s modern answer to the 2JZ and EcoBoost.
Purists may miss the rumble, but the Hurricane shows the next chapter of Mopar muscle is alive and kicking.
13. 318 V8 (5.2L LA/Magnum)
The humble 318 V8 was Mopar’s bread-and-butter small-block from 1967 on. It wasn’t flashy – most versions barely topped 150 hp – but it was bulletproof.
Millions of Chargers, Dusters, pickups, and wagons relied on its smooth torque.
Many ran 200k+ miles with only oil changes. In the ’90s, the Magnum version revived it with 230 hp, even powering hot Jeep Grand Cherokees.
Affordable, dependable, and adaptable, the 318 was Mopar’s everyman’s engine – the one that kept families moving and racers tinkering.
12. 360 V8 (5.9L LA/Magnum)
The 360 V8 arrived in 1971 as Chrysler’s largest small-block.
Initially rated at 245 hp, it found fame in trucks, vans, and the oddball Li’l Red Express – the fastest U.S. vehicle in 1978 thanks to its police-spec 360.
By the ’90s, the Magnum 5.9 returned with fuel injection and 345 lb-ft of torque, powering the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9
Limited into SUV legend. The 360 was never exotic, but its torque, toughness, and tuning potential made it a Mopar mainstay.
11. 225 Slant Six
Leaning 30 degrees in the engine bay, Chrysler’s quirky 225 Slant Six earned the nickname “Leaning Tower of Power.”
Modest on paper, it made just 145 hp, but it was indestructible.
These engines ran forever in taxis, Darts, and Valiants, often abused and neglected yet still starting every morning.
A rare Hyper-Pak version made nearly 200 hp and even won NASCAR’s compact series in 1961.
Slow but unkillable, the Slant Six became Mopar’s unsung hero, beloved for outlasting just about everything else on the road.
10. 5.7L Hemi V8
When Dodge revived the Hemi in 2003, the 5.7L V8 brought Mopar muscle roaring back.
Rated at 345 hp, it packed classic hemispherical chambers with modern tech like fuel injection and variable timing.
Suddenly Rams, Chargers, and 300Cs had V8 swagger again.
The “That thing got a Hemi?” ads made it a cultural hit.
Strong, reliable, and easily modded, the 5.7 became the foundation of Dodge’s modern muscle revival, ensuring the Hemi name still meant something at the dragstrip and on Main Street.
9. 6.4L “392” Hemi V8
The legendary 392 badge returned in 2011 on a modern 6.4L Hemi.
Packing 470–485 hp, it instantly gave Challengers and Chargers serious bragging rights.
With a broad torque curve, it’ll roast tires on command but is tame enough for daily driving.
The exhaust bellow alone became a Mopar calling card.
As the heart of Scat Packs and SRTs, the 392 hit the sweet spot – a naturally aspirated powerhouse that blends heritage and modern engineering, reminding everyone what real muscle feels like.
8. 383 B-Series V8
Often overlooked, the 383 V8 was Mopar’s blue-collar hero.
Making 335 hp in high-performance trim, it powered Road Runners, Chargers, and Super Bees through the golden era.
Lighter than a 440 and cheaper than a Hemi, it delivered big-block torque at an everyman’s price.
Insurance companies didn’t penalize it like the 440s, making it a sneaky street fighter.
On the strip, tuned 383 cars often surprised bigger rivals. The 383 may not get headlines, but it was the muscle car workhorse of its time.
7. 340 Small-Block V8
The 340 small-block was Chrysler’s giant killer.
Introduced in 1968 with 275 hp (really 300+), it loved to rev and came packed with hot parts – 4-barrel carb, big valves, and free-flow manifolds.
Dropped into Dusters, ’Cudas, and Darts, it gave lighter Mopars nimble handling with big power.
In Trans-Am, race versions screamed past 400 hp. Short-lived due to emissions, the 340 earned legend status as Mopar’s best all-around small-block.
Lightweight, high-revving, and nasty fast, it proved sometimes smaller really is better.
6. 8.0/8.3L Viper V10
When the Dodge Viper debuted in 1992, its 8.0L V10 stole the show.
Pumping out 400 hp and 465 lb-ft, it was basically a small-block Mopar stretched into 10 cylinders with Lamborghini’s help.
Raw and brutal, it gave the Viper supercar speed with American muscle attitude.
By the 2000s, displacement grew to 8.3 liters and 500 hp, later 8.4 and 600 hp.
It powered Le Mans-winning racers and even the outrageous Dodge Tomahawk bike.
Loud, unrefined, and unforgettable – the Viper V10 was Mopar excess perfected.
5. 413/426 Max Wedge V8
In the early ’60s, Mopar went drag racing with the Max Wedge.
Starting as a 413 and growing to 426 cubes, these cross-ram, dual-quad monsters were rated at 425 hp but delivered far more.
Dropped into lightweight Plymouths and Dodges, they dominated NHRA stock classes, running 11–12 second quarters right off the lot.
With their staggered carbs and factory headers, Max Wedge cars were turnkey race machines.
Brutal, unruly, and glorious, they paved the way for the 426 Hemi while terrifying every Chevy 409 at the strip.
4. 331/392 “FirePower” Hemi V8
The first-gen FirePower Hemis of the ’50s (331–392 ci) launched Chrysler into the horsepower wars.
With hemispherical chambers, they delivered up to 390 hp in the 1958 300D, making Chrysler’s 300 “letter cars”
America’s first true muscle machines. Hot rodders embraced them too – the 392 Hemi became a dragstrip king in rails and gassers.
NASCAR wins, luxury car torque, and unbeatable strength cemented the early Hemi’s legacy.
Heavy but indestructible, the FirePower proved the Hemi mystique was real long before the 426 made it famous.
3. 6.2L Supercharged Hemi V8 (Hellcat)
The Hellcat Hemi turned Dodge into a modern performance powerhouse.
Debuting in 2015 with 707 hp, it was the most powerful muscle car engine ever at the time.
Its 2.4L supercharger delivered instant torque and a banshee whine that became legendary.
The Hellcat family grew wilder – the 797 hp Redeye, 840 hp Demon, and even the 1,025 hp Demon 170.
Reliable, street-legal, and outrageous, the Hellcat proved Mopar wasn’t just keeping up with the horsepower wars – it was leading them.
2. 440 Magnum / Six Pack V8
The mighty 440 RB big-block ruled Mopar streets from 1966 to the late ’70s.
In Magnum 4-barrel form, it made 375 hp; in wild Six Pack trim with triple carbs, it churned out 390 hp and a mountain of torque.
Chargers, Road Runners, and Super Bees with 440s were street legends, often quicker than Hemis in everyday driving.
Durable and affordable, the 440 was Mopar’s ultimate all-around big-block – a torque monster that gave blue-collar muscle fans serious firepower without the Hemi price tag.
1. 426 Hemi V8 (“The Elephant”)
The 426 Hemi is Mopar royalty. Nicknamed “The Elephant” for its size and power, it debuted in 1964 as a race engine and immediately dominated NASCAR.
Street versions followed in 1966, conservatively rated at 425 hp but easily making more.
Its huge valves, hemispherical heads, and bottom-end strength made it a dragstrip terror.
Only about 11,000 were built, but its legend lives forever.
From Richard Petty’s Superbird to Hemi ’Cudas and Charger R/Ts, the 426 Hemi defined Mopar performance and remains the ultimate muscle car engine.
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