Which cars use a DOHC engine?

Nearly all modern gasoline-powered and many diesel cars—from affordable compacts to luxury sedans, SUVs, and high-performance models—use DOHC (double overhead camshaft) engines. Today, DOHC is the predominant valve-train design across Toyota, Honda, Hyundai–Kia, Mazda, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi/Volkswagen, Ford, Nissan, Subaru, and many others; notable exceptions include some pushrod (OHV) V8s in American trucks/sports cars, and of course battery-electric vehicles, which have no engine at all. Below is a deeper look at who uses DOHC, why it’s so common, and how to tell if a specific car has it.

What DOHC means—and why it’s become the default

DOHC stands for “double overhead camshaft,” meaning two camshafts sit in the cylinder head, typically one operating intake valves and the other exhaust valves. This layout simplifies multi-valve designs (usually four valves per cylinder), improves breathing, enables higher RPM, and integrates technologies like variable valve timing and lift more easily than single-cam layouts. The result is better efficiency, power density, and emissions control—key reasons why automakers switched en masse to DOHC from the 1990s onward.

Examples of current cars that use DOHC engines (2024–2025 model years)

The following examples illustrate how widespread DOHC is across mainstream and premium segments in the current market. These are representative, not exhaustive, and many trims and powertrains within each lineup are DOHC.

• Toyota: Corolla (2.0L), Camry Hybrid (2.5L), RAV4 (2.5L), Tacoma (2.4L turbo), Tundra (3.4L twin‑turbo V6), GR Supra (BMW-sourced 2.0/3.0)
• Honda: Civic (2.0L, 1.5T), Accord (hybrid 2.0L), CR‑V (1.5T, hybrid 2.0L), Acura Integra/Type S (1.5T/2.0T), TLX (2.0T)
• Hyundai/Kia/Genesis: Elantra/Elantra N (2.0L/2.0T), Sonata (2.5L), Tucson/Santa Fe (2.5L, hybrids), Kia Forte/K5/Sportage (2.0L/1.6T), Genesis G70/G80/GV70 (2.0T/2.5T/3.5T)
• Mazda: Mazda3/Mazda6 (2.5L Skyactiv‑G), CX‑5/CX‑50 (2.5L), CX‑70/CX‑90 (3.3L inline‑six turbo, 2.5L PHEV)
• Nissan/Infiniti: Altima (2.5L), Rogue (1.5L VC‑Turbo), Z (3.0L twin‑turbo), Frontier (3.8L V6), GT‑R (3.8L twin‑turbo), Infiniti Q50/Q60 (3.0L twin‑turbo)
• Subaru: Impreza/Crosstrek (2.0L/2.5L), Forester (2.5L), Outback/Ascent (2.4L turbo/2.5L), WRX (2.4L turbo)
• Volkswagen/Audi: Jetta (1.5T), Golf GTI (2.0T), Tiguan (2.0T), Audi A3/A4/Q5 (2.0T EA888), S4/S5 (3.0T), many others
• BMW/MINI: BMW 2/3/4/5/X3/X5 (B48 2.0T, B58 3.0T), M2/M3/M4 (S58 3.0T), MINI Cooper S/JCW (2.0T)
• Mercedes‑Benz/AMG: C‑Class/E‑Class/GLC (2.0T M254), inline‑six M256 (E/GLE), AMG A45/GLA45 (M139 2.0T), AMG V8 4.0T (M177)
• Ford/Lincoln: Mustang (2.3T, 5.0L Coyote V8), Bronco (2.3T/2.7T), F‑150 (2.7T/3.5T EcoBoost, PowerBoost hybrid, 5.0L V8), Maverick (2.0T, 2.5 hybrid), Lincoln Corsair/Nautilus/Aviator (2.0T/2.7T/3.0T)
• General Motors (Chevrolet/GMC/Cadillac/Buick): 1.5T/2.0T fours in Equinox, Blazer, Cadillac CT4/CT5; 2.7L turbo I4 (Silverado/Sierra); 3.0L Duramax inline‑six diesel; 2.5L turbo (Traverse); many small crossovers (1.2–1.3T) are DOHC
• Stellantis (Jeep/Ram/Dodge/Alfa Romeo): Pentastar 3.6L V6 (Jeep/Ram/Dodge), 2.0L turbo (Wrangler/Alfa Giulia/Stelvio), 3.0L “Hurricane” twin‑turbo I6 (Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer; 2025 Ram 1500; 2025 Dodge Charger Sixpack)
• Volvo/Polestar: All current modular 2.0L gasoline engines (mild hybrid, turbo/supercharged, hybrid) are DOHC
• Jaguar Land Rover: Ingenium 2.0L and 3.0L inline‑six (mild hybrid/plug‑in) are DOHC
• Porsche: 911 flat‑six (all current), 718 2.0/2.5T, Macan (2.0T/2.9T V6), Panamera/Cayenne (V6/V8) are DOHC
• Luxury/exotics: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls‑Royce, and McLaren all use DOHC architectures

Across segments and price points, DOHC is now the norm. If a vehicle has a modern multi‑valve gasoline or small diesel engine, it’s almost certainly DOHC.

Notable exceptions: popular cars that are not DOHC

While DOHC is dominant, a few high‑profile engines use other architectures, primarily pushrod (OHV) for packaging, cost, or characteristic torque delivery. Knowing these exceptions helps set expectations when shopping.

• Chevrolet Corvette (C8 Stingray/Z06/ZR1 families use pushrod V8s for Stingray/Z06? Note: Z06/ZR1 use DOHC? Clarification: C8 Stingray LT2 is OHV; C8 Z06 LT6 is a DOHC flat‑plane V8—an exception within Corvette)
• Chevrolet/GMC full‑size pickups and SUVs with 5.3L/6.2L gasoline V8s (OHV), and 6.6L gas V8 (OHV); many trims also offer DOHC 2.7L turbo I4 or 3.0L I6 diesel
• Ram 1500 with legacy 5.7L/6.4L HEMI V8s (OHV)—being phased out on 2025 Ram 1500 in favor of DOHC 3.0L Hurricane I6
• Some performance icons and special editions may use OHV for tradition and compact packaging, though this is increasingly rare outside American V8s
• Battery‑electric vehicles (e.g., Tesla, Hyundai Ioniq 5/6, Ford F‑150 Lightning, VW ID.4) have no internal combustion engine and thus no camshafts

These exceptions underscore that while OHV persists in certain V8 applications and EVs bypass engines entirely, the overwhelming majority of current ICE passenger cars rely on DOHC.

How to verify if a specific car has a DOHC engine

Because trims and regional specs vary, it’s smart to confirm the engine architecture for the exact model year and market you’re considering.

1. Check the owner’s manual or official specifications page for your exact trim and engine code (e.g., Toyota A25A‑FKS, Ford 2.3L EcoBoost, BMW B58).
2. Look for “DOHC” markings on the engine cover or valve cover; many manufacturers label it clearly.
3. Use the VIN to pull a build sheet via a dealer or manufacturer portal; this ties specs to your specific car.
4. Consult reputable sources like manufacturer media sites, technical service bulletins, or engineering deep‑dives from the brand.
5. Be mindful of updates: mid‑cycle refreshes can introduce new engines (e.g., swaps from V6 to turbo‑four, or from V8 to turbo I6).

Verifying by engine code and official documents is the most reliable method, especially for used vehicles or models with multiple powertrains.

Why DOHC took over: performance, efficiency, and emissions

Automakers favored DOHC to meet tightening fuel economy and emissions rules without sacrificing drivability. Dual cams simplify variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust, enable higher compression with precise control, and pair well with turbocharging and direct injection. The architecture also supports hybrid Atkinson/Miller cycles common in today’s electrified powertrains. While DOHC can add complexity compared with some SOHC/OHV designs, its benefits have made it the standard for modern multi‑valve engines.

Bottom line for shoppers

If you’re buying a new or recent used car with a gasoline or small diesel engine, it’s almost certainly DOHC unless you’re choosing a traditional pushrod V8 truck/sports car—or an EV, which has no engine. Focus your comparison on the engine’s displacement, induction (turbo/supercharged or naturally aspirated), hybridization, and reliability track record, rather than the cam layout alone, since DOHC is now the baseline.

Summary

Most modern cars—from mass‑market compacts to luxury and performance models—use DOHC engines because they deliver strong efficiency and performance and integrate easily with modern emissions and hybrid systems. Exceptions are mainly American pushrod V8s still used in some trucks/sports cars and electric vehicles that have no engine. To confirm for a specific model, check the exact engine code and official specs for the year and trim you’re considering.