The 2000s produced no single, universally best V8 performance sedan. The BMW M5 is the purist’s choice for its naturally aspirated engine and six-speed manual, the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG is the straight-line benchmark in the period testing here, and the Audi RS 6 adds all-wheel-drive traction and turbocharged muscle. Jaguar’s XJR and S-Type R deliver a quieter, more unusual interpretation, while the later Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and Cadillac CTS-V raise output dramatically. The 2010 Jaguar XFR is a useful coda, but it falls outside a strict 2000–2009 model-year list.
The rankings below use contemporary U.S. instrumented tests. Acceleration figures come from different years and comparison groups, so they show what each publication measured rather than a laboratory-controlled decade-wide leaderboard.
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What makes a 2000s V8 performance sedan one of the best?
A performance sedan has to do more than post a large horsepower figure. The meaningful differences in this era came from engine character, torque delivery, transmission choice, driven wheels, mass, braking, cornering balance, ride quality and cabin refinement. A naturally aspirated V8 with a manual gearbox creates a very different experience from a supercharged V8 with an automatic transmission, even when their acceleration times are close.
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Quick comparison of the leading cars
| Model and test context | Engine and output | Transmission and traction | Published acceleration | What it does best | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW M5, early-2000s E39; Car and Driver 2000 | Naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8; 400 hp, 369 lb-ft | Six-speed manual; rear-wheel drive | Not stated in the cited comparison | High-revving involvement and driver control | Less low-rpm torque than the supercharged rivals |
| Jaguar XJR, 2000 comparison | Supercharged 4.0-liter V8; 370 hp, 387 lb-ft | Automatic; rear-wheel drive | Not stated in the cited comparison | Quiet luxury with effortless torque | Less manual involvement and less outright power |
| Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, 2000 comparison | 5.4-liter V8; 349 hp, 391 lb-ft | Automatic; rear-wheel drive | Not stated in the cited comparison | Torque-rich, relaxed speed | Older 2000 specification is less powerful than later E55 versions |
| Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, 2003 comparison | Supercharged 5.4-liter V8 | Automatic; rear-wheel drive | 0–60 mph 4.3 sec; 0–100 9.9 sec; 0–150 24.5 sec; quarter-mile 12.5 sec at 116 mph | Fastest sedan in that Car and Driver test | 4,237-pound mass hurt direction changes and braking |
| Audi RS 6, 2003 comparison | Twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8; 450 hp, 415 lb-ft from 1,950 to 5,700 rpm | Automatic; all-wheel drive | 0–60 mph 4.4 sec; quarter-mile 12.8 sec at 108 mph | Traction and repeatable launches | Mass, front-heavy balance and tight-corner understeer |
| Jaguar S-Type R, 2003 comparison | Supercharged V8; 390 hp | Automatic; rear-wheel drive | 0–60 mph 5.4 sec | Refinement and value within the comparison group | Straight-line performance lagged its specification |
| Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, 2007 comparison | Naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, 6208 cc; 507 hp, 465 lb-ft | Automatic; rear-wheel drive | Not stated in the cited figures | Large power increase with a responsive naturally aspirated engine | AMG marketed the engine as 6.3 despite its 6208 cc displacement |
| Cadillac CTS-V, 2009 model tested in 2009 | Supercharged V8; 556 hp, 551 lb-ft | Manual-equipped press car; rear-wheel drive | Exact figure not stated for that car; an automatic tested separately ran a quicker quarter-mile | Taut chassis, ride quality and huge output | Results depend on transmission; manual test car was not the quickest configuration |
| Jaguar XFR, 2010 model tested in 2009 | Supercharged, direct-injected 5.0-liter V8; 510 hp, 461 lb-ft | Automatic; rear-wheel drive | 0–60 mph 4.3 sec; 0–100 9.5 sec; quarter-mile 12.6 sec at 116 mph | Quiet comfort and high-speed strength | Less cornering sharpness than the comparison rivals; not a 2000s model year |
Early-decade standouts: M5, XJR and E55 AMG
BMW M5: the manual, naturally aspirated choice
The E39 BMW M5 is the clearest answer for a driver who values participation over effortless thrust. Car and Driver’s 2000 comparison lists a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 producing 400 hp and 369 lb-ft. In the U.S. context of that test, it came only with a six-speed manual transmission.
That combination makes the M5 distinct from the torque-focused alternatives. Power builds with engine speed, and the driver chooses each shift rather than relying on an automatic to keep the V8 in its strongest range. MotorTrend’s contemporary 2000 road test likewise identifies the 5.0-liter DOHC V8 and six-speed manual as central to the car’s extraordinary luxury-performance character.
The M5 is not automatically the quickest car in every comparison. The available figures do not provide a directly comparable 0–60 result for the 2000 test, and the later E55 and RS 6 posted spectacular launches. Its case rests on the interaction of engine response, manual control and a sedan body that remains usable for ordinary driving.
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Jaguar XJR: supercharged torque in a discreet package
The Jaguar XJR takes the opposite approach. The 2000 comparison gives its supercharged 4.0-liter V8 370 hp and 387 lb-ft, exceeding the M5’s torque while producing less peak power. Its automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive favor smooth, immediate thrust rather than the M5’s high-revving, shift-intensive rhythm.
Choose the XJR when a quiet, traditional luxury sedan matters as much as overt sporting feedback. The supercharger supplies the kind of low- and mid-range force that makes passing and merging easy without requiring high engine speed. The trade-off is less mechanical involvement: there is no six-speed manual option in the cited test, and the car’s character is more effortless than interactive.
Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG: the torque-first alternative
The 2000 E55 AMG in Car and Driver’s comparison used a 5.4-liter V8 rated at 349 hp and 391 lb-ft. Like the XJR, it paired a torque-heavy V8 with an automatic transmission, but it became the decade’s defining straight-line threat after the supercharged version appeared in the 2003 comparison.
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These early cars establish the central split in this category. The M5 rewards deliberate inputs and rising revs; the XJR and E55 deliver a broad wave of torque with less effort. None is objectively best without deciding whether the sedan should feel like a sports car with four doors or a luxury car with exceptional acceleration.
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The 2003 showdown: E55 AMG versus Audi RS 6 and S-Type R
E55 AMG: the quickest result in the cited period test
Car and Driver measured the supercharged E55 AMG at 4.3 seconds to 60 mph, 9.9 seconds to 100, 24.5 seconds to 150 and 12.5 seconds through the quarter-mile at 116 mph. The publication called it quicker in that test than any production sedan it had tested to that date.
Those numbers answer the narrow question of which car was quickest in this particular comparison: the E55 AMG. They do not make it the best handler. The car weighed 4,237 pounds, and the test reported disadvantages in directional changes and braking. Its strength was overwhelming forward acceleration delivered with the composure and space expected of an executive sedan.
Audi RS 6: all-wheel-drive traction with turbocharged force
The Audi RS 6 used a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 rated at 450 hp and 415 lb-ft. Peak torque was available from 1,950 to 5,700 rpm, giving the engine a very broad operating range. Car and Driver recorded 4.4 seconds to 60 mph and a 12.8-second quarter-mile at 108 mph.
Its all-wheel-drive system made launches nearly drama-free, a meaningful advantage when traction is limited. The RS 6 was also exceptionally rapid in ordinary passing situations because torque arrived well below the top of the rev range. The same comparison identified the costs of that hardware and output: substantial mass, front-heavy weight distribution and understeer in tight turns.
The RS 6 is the best fit for a buyer who values secure launches and all-weather confidence more than delicate cornering balance. It is almost as quick as the E55 in a straight line, but its front-heavy behavior makes narrow, technical roads less satisfying.
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Jaguar S-Type R: refinement and value, not the fastest stopwatch
The S-Type R brought a supercharged V8 making 390 hp and reached 60 mph in 5.4 seconds in the same 2003 comparison. Car and Driver praised its refinement and value relative to the more expensive group, yet found that its straight-line performance did not match what its specifications suggested.
That result is useful because it separates paper output from measured performance. The S-Type R can be the sensible pick for someone who wants a distinctive, comfortable sedan and does not need to win every acceleration contest. It is not the choice for the quickest quarter-mile or the sharpest response.
Late-decade power: E63 AMG and CTS-V
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG: naturally aspirated displacement and balance
The 2007 E63 AMG marked a major output jump with a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8. The actual displacement was 6208 cc, although AMG used 6.3-liter marketing nomenclature. Car and Driver listed 507 hp and 465 lb-ft.
That engine gives the E63 a different flavor from the supercharged E55. Rather than relying on forced induction to create a huge torque plateau, it combines large displacement with immediate throttle response and a strong top end. The 2007 comparison also demonstrates why horsepower alone is insufficient: the same test included an Audi S6 that had excellent back-road poise, grip and ride, yet was considered underpowered for the group’s mission.
The E63 is the late-decade choice for a driver who wants naturally aspirated response but needs substantially more output than the early M5 provided. Its exact acceleration figure is not included in the cited results, so it should not be assigned a made-up rank against the measured E55, RS 6 or XFR times.
Cadillac CTS-V: the chassis-and-output combination
Car and Driver’s 2009 comparison tested a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V with a supercharged V8 rated at 556 hp and 551 lb-ft. The review praised its taut chassis and ride, a combination that matters because high power is only useful when the body can control it and the suspension remains tolerable on ordinary roads.
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The available press car used a manual transmission, which shaped the comparison. An automatic CTS-V tested separately ran a quicker quarter-mile, so the transmission must be identified whenever its acceleration is discussed. The manual is the more involving configuration; the automatic is the stronger choice if the narrow goal is repeatable drag-strip performance.
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The 2010 Jaguar XFR as a coda, not a 2000s entry
The Jaguar XFR was a 2010 model tested by Car and Driver in 2009, so include it only when the scope allows the first model year beyond the decade. Its supercharged, direct-injected 5.0-liter V8 produced 510 hp and 461 lb-ft. The test recorded 4.3 seconds to 60 mph, 9.5 seconds to 100 and a 12.6-second quarter-mile at 116 mph.
Those results put the XFR alongside the quickest cars here in straight-line acceleration. Its cabin was described as comfortable and quiet, and its high-speed performance was strong. The criticism was relative cornering sharpness: against the comparison field, it did not feel as precise or eager to change direction.
As a result, the XFR is a compelling bridge between the decade’s luxury-sedan formula and the higher-output cars that followed. It should not be counted in a strict 2000–2009 ranking simply because the test was published in 2009.
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Which car was quickest?
Within the cited instrumented results, the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG has the quickest 0–60 time at 4.3 seconds and the quickest quarter-mile at 12.5 seconds. The 2010 Jaguar XFR also reached 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and ran a 12.6-second quarter-mile, but it is outside the 2000s model-year cutoff. The Audi RS 6 followed closely at 4.4 seconds to 60 and 12.8 seconds in the quarter-mile.
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These are not a standardized decade-wide test. The cars were tested in different years, with different tires, weather, test procedures and comparison groups. Use the figures to understand each car’s demonstrated performance, not to claim that a 4.3-second result guarantees the same number for every surviving example.
Which is best for daily driving?
| Your priority | Best match | Why | Accept the trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual involvement and naturally aspirated response | BMW M5 | 400-hp 5.0-liter V8 and six-speed manual create the most direct driver interaction | Less low-rpm torque and no cited acceleration figure to rival the later supercharged cars |
| Fastest straight-line performance in the strict 2000s evidence | 2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG | 4.3 seconds to 60 and 12.5 seconds at 116 mph in Car and Driver’s test | 4,237-pound mass affected braking and rapid direction changes |
| All-weather launch traction | Audi RS 6 | All-wheel drive and a twin-turbo V8 produced a 4.4-second 0–60 run with little launch drama | Front-heavy balance and understeer in tight corners |
| Quiet, traditional luxury with torque | Jaguar XJR | Supercharged V8 and 387 lb-ft favor effortless passing and relaxed cruising | Automatic-only character and lower output than the later cars |
| Refinement at a lower position in the performance hierarchy | Jaguar S-Type R | Car and Driver praised its refinement and value in the 2003 group | 5.4-second 0–60 time did not match the quicker rivals |
| Late-decade power with a naturally aspirated engine | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG | 507 hp and 465 lb-ft from a 6208 cc V8 | Do not treat the 6.3 marketing name as the literal displacement |
| Maximum strict-2000s output and a taut ride | 2009 Cadillac CTS-V | 556 hp, 551 lb-ft and a chassis praised for control without abandoning ride quality | Manual and automatic cars produced different acceleration outcomes |
| Comfortable high-speed coda beyond the decade | 2010 Jaguar XFR | 510 hp, 4.3-second 0–60 and a quiet cabin | 2010 model year and less cornering sharpness than its rivals |
V8-only rules exclude some famous alternatives
The engine criterion must be literal. The E60-generation BMW M5 is powered by a V10, so it does not belong in a V8 ranking even though it is one of the decade’s best-known performance sedans. The 2007 Audi S6 tested by Car and Driver also uses a 5.2-liter V10, not a V8. It produced 435 hp and reached 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, but its engine architecture disqualifies it here.
The S6 is still instructive as a comparison. Car and Driver praised its back-road poise, grip and ride while calling it underpowered for that particular group and noting that the E63 accelerated harder. That is evidence that output, engine count and driving dynamics must all be considered separately.
How to use these rankings when considering a surviving car
Period road tests cannot establish the condition of a used example. They do not provide current market values, reliability surveys, maintenance schedules, parts availability or a worldwide ranking. A well-kept car and a neglected car with the same badge can deliver completely different ownership experiences.
Use the period evidence to choose the driving character you want first, then evaluate individual cars on their own documentation and condition. Confirm the model year, engine and transmission before comparing prices or performance claims, especially with E55, CTS-V and XFR listings that may mix different specifications. Treat an advertised acceleration number as a historical reference, not a promise about a modified or poorly maintained vehicle.
Quick Recap
- Verify that the engine is the correct V8 version rather than a V10 sibling or a different trim.
- Record the transmission fitted to the specific car; the CTS-V comparison shows how much it can affect measured acceleration.
- Separate model-year boundaries from test-publication dates; the XFR tested in 2009 is a 2010 model.
- Use the original test context when reading acceleration figures, including whether the number is 0–60 mph, quarter-mile time or a higher-speed interval.
- Inspect the individual car and its records independently because these tests do not establish present-day reliability or value.
Final ranking by type, not by a false one-number score
- Best driver’s sedan: BMW M5, because its 400-hp naturally aspirated V8 and six-speed manual provide the most direct interaction.
- Best straight-line performer in the strict 2000s evidence: 2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, with a 4.3-second 0–60 run and a 12.5-second quarter-mile at 116 mph.
- Best traction-focused alternative: Audi RS 6, whose all-wheel drive and twin-turbo torque make launches easy, at the cost of front-heavy handling.
- Best discreet luxury bruiser: Jaguar XJR, for supercharged torque and a quieter, more traditional presentation.
- Best late-decade power upgrade: Cadillac CTS-V, with 556 hp and 551 lb-ft, provided the transmission is identified when comparing performance.
- Best naturally aspirated late-decade upgrade: Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, with 507 hp from its 6208 cc V8.
- Best out-of-decade coda: 2010 Jaguar XFR, whose 4.3-second 0–60 result and quiet cabin are compelling, but whose model year belongs to the next decade.
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