A consumer's satisfaction with an engine depends on what metric is used. According to AutoTrader.com, a V8 engine provides a great deal more power than a V6 engine, but the latter offers much better gas mileage.
The V in V6 and V8 refers to the shape and number of pistons. Quite literally, the V8 has two more pistons than the V6. The V configuration first appeared in 1889 with a V2, but a V12 was produced by 1904. The most common modern configurations are the V4, V6 and V8. Modern V6 engines are often "turbocharged," which produces more horsepower and a smoother ride than older V6 vehicles, bringing it closer in line with most V8 engines in terms of power and stability.
