Mercedes' 43 3.0 Is The Best-Sounding Current V6 And You Can't Convince Me Otherwise

The twin-turbo six-cylinder engine in the Mercedes-AMG C43 is probably the sweetest-sounding V6 out there, we reckon
Mercedes' 43 3.0 Is The Best-Sounding Current V6 And You Can't Convince Me Otherwise

Of all engine configurations, it’s probably the V6 which stands the best chance of disappointing. Why not the inline-four? Well, expectations are never high with a four-pot, but switch the cylinder count up to six, and you’ll inevitably anticipate a jolly nice din emanating from under the bonnet.

More often than not, it doesn’t work out that way. There are countless dull, droning V6s out there, and even in performance applications, the potential for disappointment doesn’t go away. Just take the Nissan 370Z as an example. The Audi/Porsche 2.9-litre twin-turbo engine meanwhile is impressive in most areas, but it’s weirdly quiet in cars like the Panamera and Macan. It’s not much more exciting in the noise stakes in Audi applications like the RS5, either.

It hasn’t been available for a while, but I’ll never forget how underwhelmed I felt when I first put my foot down in the Vauxhall Insignia VXR. On paper it sounded great, but in reality, the car’s GM ‘High Feature’ engine was tragically dull.

The V6-powered RS5 doesn't make anything like as nice a noise as the Mercedes-AMG C43
The V6-powered RS5 doesn't make anything like as nice a noise as the…

On the UK market, there are some exceptions, one of which will hopefully be Aston Martin’s all-new V6, which will power the Valhalla hypercar. But which of the current crop is the most pleasant to the ear?

I reckon it comes down to two: Alfa Romeo’s 2.9, and the 3.0-litre M276 used in most of Mercedes-AMG’s ‘43 range of cars. From a technical standpoint, the Alfa engine wins by a country mile. It’s much more powerful, it’s revvier, and there are the Ferrari origins to consider (Ferrari nor Alfa Romeo has confirmed the link, but the world knows otherwise).

The M276 is a much older engine than the Alfa lump. Mercedes may have given it a few updates over its life (the current version is referred to as ‘DE30’), but it’s been kicking around in one form or another for nine years. With the more efficient M256 inline-six making its way through the range, it’s surely not long for this world.

Remote video URL

But, with some astute exhaust tuning, Mercedes-AMG has managed to give the old dog a new voice. A very pleasant one at that, which is just a little sweeter than the more aggressive note belted about by the Alfa Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglios.

As I’ve found with the C43 Estate we’re running as a long-term test car, there’s just the right about of rasp, a decent but not ridiculous volume level, and some wicked ‘thwack’ sounds on each upshift.

As far as modern, stock V6s still sold on these shores go, I think its soundtrack is unbeatable.

Go on: try and convince me otherwise…

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Comments

Matthew Henderson

I can’t, that sounds really good. Not Busso good, but still… really good.

08/17/2019 - 08:30 |
6 | 0

Busso sounds much better than this, i own one myself

08/17/2019 - 16:39 |
6 | 0

True. But nothing is Busso good ;)

08/18/2019 - 14:23 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Soundee artificial. Perhaps the sluggish gearbox tho..

08/17/2019 - 08:37 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

.

08/17/2019 - 08:58 |
4 | 6
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Not a V6

08/17/2019 - 09:04 |
10 | 4
Anonymous

Alfa Giulia V6?

08/17/2019 - 09:04 |
48 | 0
RWB Dude

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Ikr it sounds much better imo

08/17/2019 - 13:24 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

F type v6 is better

08/17/2019 - 09:12 |
12 | 0
DL🏁

“Convince me otherwise”
Challenge accepted

08/17/2019 - 09:26 |
140 | 0

Also my first thought

08/17/2019 - 10:35 |
18 | 0

I’ll take that everyday before buying a AMG

08/17/2019 - 18:14 |
4 | 0

I agree

08/17/2019 - 19:17 |
4 | 0

Spent a lot of time in F-Types, but I still reckon the Merc sounds nicer. The pops and bangs are fun and all, but the base note behind all that is something I’ve always found a bit harsh…

08/17/2019 - 21:07 |
10 | 6

Yo wtf I thought this comment had the most upvotes on this post? What happened?

08/29/2019 - 13:53 |
4 | 0
Mx5Matt

Its all down to personal preference. The merc here sounds great but for me the Lotus Exige with the titanium exhaust has it beat.

08/17/2019 - 10:24 |
32 | 0
James Leeder

In reply to by Alias

I was about to post this video haha

08/17/2019 - 17:43 |
0 | 0
Matt Robinson
Matt Robinson

In reply to by Alias

Lovely, but not available in the UK (sadly!)

08/17/2019 - 21:08 |
0 | 0
Matt 44

My modified 370Z sounds nice! Original sound was flat, agreed, but changing out all of the air infeed, (filters placed further forward with direct access) , distribution chambers and full exhaust, (collectors, cats and pipes) and it’s got a lot sweeter.

08/17/2019 - 15:57 |
12 | 0

Completelely agree! I don’t know how you can call the noise of a VQ37 “dull”. It actually has a pretty sounding stock note too. I have a modded G37 and I think it sounds pretty nice lol

08/17/2019 - 16:32 |
4 | 0