When you spend more, you expect to get more. That's true with features, space, and especially horsepower. We all know the cars to get if you want the most power for the least amount of money — like the Nissan Z with its twin-turbo V6 and 400 horsepower for only $43k, or most family electric cars that make power accessible to all. But what if you went the other way?Having extra power is always nice — whether it's to have fun on a windy road or to ease overtaking on the highway, it always feels more luxurious to have some extra oomph. Some cars in 2026 don't live up to that mantra, however, and we've compiled the worst cases of horsepower-per-dollar in this list. Have we missed any? Let us know below.We have calculated the worst horsepower-per-dollar cars using official manufacturer specifications and MSRP prices, which do not include fees or incentives. 2026 Cadillac CT5 $208 Per Horsepower 2025 - 2026 Cadillac CT5 1st Gen Facelift While the CT5-V Blackwing gets all the love from us car journalists, it's the volume CT5 seller that makes those cars possible. Its 237-hp engine is passable for a 2.0L turbo four-pot, but it doesn't really match the luxury credentials that Cadillac is famous for. Luckily, even the RWD version gets to 60 miles per hour in just 6.6 seconds, and the 10-speed transmission means the engine is always in its power band. $208 per horsepower isn't bad when you factor in all the standard features like the AKG sound system and SuperCruise. 2026 BMW 5 Series $237 Per Horsepower 2024 - 2026 BMW 5 Series Sedan (20)The latest BMW 530i has eerily similar specs to the Mercedes E-Class that's also on this list, but it undercuts its rival by a few thousand dollars. While it's a four-cylinder engine, it's based on the all-conquering B58 straight-six that's in more powerful BMW models, so it'll be smooth and feel sportier than you think. Pair that with BMW's driving dynamics and configurable drive modes, and 255 horsepower might not be as slow as you think. 2026 Range Rover Velar $249 Per Horsepower 2024 - 2026 Land Rover Range Rover VelarRange Rover is known for its boat-like luxury on wheels, but the Velar makes sure you remember it's not a speedboat. The 247-hp engine might be good enough for Jaguar sedans, but in a heavy and capable SUV, it might struggle against its rivals. If you wanted to control the dynamics to match your mood, you'll have to pay an extra $350 just to have the option of selectable drive modes. That seems strange for a Range Rover product that looks much more aero-friendly than the regular Range Rover. 2026 Mercedes E-Class $251 Per Horsepower 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan Front Angle ViewHistorically, Mercedes-Benz has been known for producing some of the most reliable engines on the market, even if they're not the fastest. Recently, they've gone down in that metric, and their recent E-Class four-cylinders have been slower than their rivals with only 255 horsepower and no all-wheel-drive as standard. What you do get with this engine is great fuel economy of around 30 mpg combined with mild hybrid technology, and you can even option air suspension. You might not be the fastest on the road, but you'll certainly be comfy. 2026 Genesis G90 $259 Per Horsepower 2023-2025 Genesis G90 Sedan (10)The Genesis G90 is one of the best deals if you're looking for a stylish luxury sedan, but it may feel like its base engine isn't quite as exciting as its rivals. Luckily, being a V6, it's inherently more balanced than a four-cylinder, and that means that under load or on the highway it'll feel more effortless. If you spend only $6k more, you can get the mild-hybrid supercharged version of this engine, and that puts power up to 409 horses. That's a bit more like it. 2026 GMC Yukon XL Duramax Diesel $261 Per Horsepower 2025 GMC Yukon XLWe're slightly cheating here as it's not the base engine, but the Duramax-equipped GMC Yukon XL has only 305 horses when you're paying almost $80k. Everyone knows, however, that you're not paying for power with a diesel. You get a huge amount of torque — 495 lb-ft is nothing to scoff at — and 644 miles of range to make up for it. Fuel efficiency is up on other engine options, too, with 23 mpg combined in 2WD guide. Even the hybrid Sequoia can't match that. 2025 BMW 840i $282 Per Horsepower 2023 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Exterior Yes, the BMW 8 Series might've been discontinued for 2026, but it's one of the worst culprits on this list, so we had to include it. Like the 3 Series, which you can get with an identical engine, you get many more luxury features inside, and while it looks the part, you might be hoping for a bit more oomph at this price. When we're speccing an 8-Series, we're going straight for the M850i with its V8 engine that produces 523 horsepower and matches the swept curves of this grand tourer. 2026 Kia EV9 Long Range $288 Per Horsepower 2026 Kia EV9 Nightfall Edition front three-quarterWe all know electric motors are the silent killers, but the Kia EV9's huge weight and single-motor setup in its most affordable trim isn't quite up to scratch. 201 horsepower is accessible instantly, but when you load up this 6,680 lb-beast with kids, dogs, and luggage, you might feel it start to struggle. Kia isn't a luxury brand, and other trims have more power, but if you want the longest range available (305 miles) on this electric car, you'll sacrifice some power."Winding through valley and mountain roads or maneuvering with fast-moving traffic, the EV9 is sure of itself and does everything it can to make you forget it is a hefty piece of machinery - until you start feeling the ride. Likely to compensate for the weight, the suspension feels like the dampers and springs are too hard."- Ian Wright, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera $349 Per Horsepower 2025 - 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera action We all know Porsche makes some of the best engines on the market today, but the base Carrera doesn't quite have the numbers to match its $135k price tag. That's especially because there are so many older 911 models that offer more excitement and power for the same price. Even with a slightly weaker engine, you still get Stuttgart's legendary reliability and chassis tuning and the keys to a long lineage of 911s. We'd probably look at something older though, like a GTS, GT3, or even a more powerful 718 Cayman."The previous 992.1 Carrera models all felt like they were turbocharged. You might be thinking "duh, that's because they are turbocharged," but the updates to this engine for the 992.2 cars drastically change their personality. There's still a ton of torque across the rev range, as you'd expect, but it doesn't trail off as quickly when you approach the redline."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz 2026 Mercedes-Maybach S 580 4MATIC $418 Per Horsepower 2024 Mercedes-Benz Maybach S (9)While you're mainly paying money for what it's like to sit in the back of the Maybach, it'd be good to know that you're getting your money's worth with the engine powering you along. There is a V12 option, but the V8's 496 horsepower is enough to get you going swiftly without the eye-watering maintenance cost of a V12. The cost isn't spent on the engine when you pay $207k in the Maybach, as it goes towards luxury amenities like heated armrests, neck heating, and massaging rear seats. We don't mind spending this much when you're cocooned in these features.Sources: Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac, GMC, Porsche, Kia, Genesis, Range Rover