what cars have an ls engine

[StEmerson]

Many cars have featured the legendary LS engine, primarily from General Motors (GM). The most famous are the Chevrolet Corvette (C5 to C7 generations) and the Chevrolet Camaro (4th gen to 6th gen). Beyond these icons, the LS engine family was also available in a wide range of other GM vehicles, including performance sedans like the Cadillac CTS-V, full-size trucks and SUVs like the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Yukon Denali, and even the rugged Holden Commodore from Australia. Furthermore, the LS is the most popular engine for swaps into other vehicles due to its compact size, high power potential, and affordability.

The term "LS engine" broadly refers to GM's Generation III and Generation IV small-block V8 engines. Key characteristics include an aluminum block (though some truck versions are iron), a deep-skirt design for strength, and a pushrod valvetrain. This design makes them relatively lightweight and physically small, which is a major reason for their swap popularity.

The following table lists some of the most notable vehicles that left the factory with an LS engine.

Vehicle Model	Model Years (Approx.)	Specific LS Engine Variant	Key Fact / Notable Output (hp)
Chevrolet Corvette C5	1997-2004	LS1, LS6	The car that launched the LS era; LS6 made 405 hp.
Chevrolet Corvette C6	2005-2013	LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9	Spanned from the 430 hp LS3 to the 638 hp supercharged LS9.
Chevrolet Camaro (5th Gen)	2010-2015	LS3, L99	The return of the Camaro featured a 426 hp LS3.
Cadillac CTS-V (2nd Gen)	2009-2014	LSA	Supercharged 6.2L making 556 hp in a luxury sedan.
Pontiac GTO	2004-2006	LS1, LS2	A rebadged Holden Monaro with a 400 hp LS2 in 2005-06.
Chevrolet Silverado SS	2003-2007	LQ9 (Iron block variant)	A high-output 6.0L truck engine producing 345 hp.
GMC Syclone / Typhoon	1992-1993	LB4 (Precursor)	Early high-performance truck application.
Holden Commodore (VE)	2006-2017	Various LS2, L76, L77	Mainstay of Australian performance.
Chevrolet SSR	2003-2006	LS2	A retro-styled roadster pickup with a 390 hp V8.
Cadillac Escalade	2002-2014	LQ9, LY6, L94	Brought LS power to the luxury SUV market.

For enthusiasts, the appeal extends beyond factory installations. The aftermarket support for the LS engine is immense, making it a top choice for swapping into everything from classic muscle cars like the Ford Mustang to imports like the Mazda Miata, fundamentally changing the car's performance character.

[MacMaggie]

You're looking at GM's performance lineup from the late '90s onward. The Corvette and Camaro are the poster cars, but don't sleep on the sedans. The Cadillac CTS-V was a beast, and even the Pontiac GTO for a few years packed an LS2. Honestly, the real magic is pulling one from a wrecked Silverado or Tahoe and dropping it into an older project car. That's where the fun begins.

[McHarper]

As a mechanic, I see these engines come in all the time. The common ones are the Tahoes, Suburbans, and Silverados from the 2000s and early 2010s. They're workhorses. The car versions in the Corvettes and Camaros are more performance-oriented, often with aluminum blocks. But whether it's a truck or a car, the basic architecture is the same, which is why parts are everywhere and they're so easy to work on. Their reliability is what makes them legendary.

[LeJason]

I focused on factory-original cars for my collection. My garage has a 2002 Corvette Z06 with the high-revving LS6 and a 2006 Pontiac GTO with the LS2. They're from the same engine family but have completely different personalities. The GTO is a sleeper, while the Vette is a pure sports car. I also almost bought a Cadillac CTS-V wagon, which has a supercharged LSA. The LS engine was GM's gift to car enthusiasts for nearly two decades.

[LillianaDella]

If you're considering a project, start by identifying your donor vehicle. Trucks like the Chevrolet Avalanche or GMC Sierra are gold mines for affordable, low-mileage LS engines. The truck variants (like the LQ4 or LQ9) have iron blocks, making them heavier but often cheaper and stronger for boost. Car engines from a Corvette (LS1, LS2) are lighter but command a premium. Your budget and power goals will dictate the best starting point. Research the specific engine code before you buy.