Top 10 Best Performance Exhaust Systems for Cars, Trucks, & SUVs

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Porsche auto exhaust system

A major part of your engine’s combustion cycle is spent on pushing the resultant waste gases out of the engine. While vehicles come with exhaust systems right from the factory, they can often be very restrictive due to the stringent rules in place. This restrictive aspect of stock systems can hamper the performance of your vehicle. Fortunately, by opting for performance exhaust systems, you can not only get a slight boost in the performance but also enjoy a great sounding exhaust note. In this article, you will get to know more about these systems, and discover the top ten performance exhausts that you can get for your vehicle.

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Exhaust System FAQ

What Is an Exhaust System?

What Do Exhaust Systems Do?

What Are the Various Components of an Exhaust System?

What Is the Overall Price Range of a Performance Exhaust System?

What Factors Influence the Price of a Performance Exhaust System?

Where Can You Buy Performance Exhaust Systems?

The Top Ten Exhaust Systems to Choose From

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Features
Each exhaust system from MagnaFlow is designed to offer performance and power of the highest quality. Most of these systems also boast larger pipes and durable, high-flow T-409 stainless steel construction. Upgrading to a MagnaFlow system ensures that you enjoy more miles per gallon, better pulling torque, and even gains on the base horsepower.

Other Details
Depending on your vehicle, you can choose from any one of MagnaFlow’s three different exhaust systems, namely the premium-range MagnaFlow series (with polished mufflers and double-welded tips), the mid-range XL series (with satin finish mufflers and single-walled tips), and the entry level Pro Series (with stainless mufflers and separately sold tips).

Warranty
All the systems manufactured by MagnaFlow are covered by a lifetime warranty.

Pros

  • Best bang for your buck
  • Great-sounding system
  • High-quality systems

Cons

  • Expensive upper limit
  • Installation can be tricky

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Features
Easily one of the universally preferred systems, Flowmaster’s construction and performance are hard to beat. The systems promise to deliver around 5 to 10 percent increase in power, and a corresponding increase in the miles per gallon. Most of the parts are constructed from aluminized steel, which is resistant to corrosion and rust. Some kits also include stainless steel tips for increased durability.

Other Details
You can choose from any one of the four exclusive series offered by Flowmaster, namely the dBX Flowmaster (which is best suited for imported and domestic cars and trucks with smaller 4 or 6 cylinder engines), Flow FX Series (for a powerful tone that isn’t chambered), American Thunder (for a combination of the best sound and performance), and Outlaw series (for aggressive sounds and performance).

Warranty
All the stainless steel exhaust systems manufactured by Flowmaster are covered by a limited lifetime warranty while the aluminized steel systems are covered by a limited 3-year warranty.

Pros

  • Delivers excellent sound
  • Noticeably improves performance
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • Clamp quality can be improved
  • Unclear instruction manual

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Features
With innovative designs and great attention to detail, Face Setter offers an extensive collection of parts for your vehicle’s exhaust system. The range of parts includes designs like cat-back, diesel, deep-tone, manifold, and header-back units. The components are either made from aluminized steel or T409 steel.

Other Details
All systems offered by Face Setter come with the clamps, tubing, and hangers needed to complete the installation process. You can also choose include no muffler, or pick a muffler of your choice from options like glass-packed, turbo, or straight-through varieties. There are also several different exit styles and pipes of various diameters available.

Warranty
Heartthrob backs the systems it makes with a 1-year warranty.

Pros

  • Looks good and sounds great
  • Top-quality performance
  • Great fit for most vehicles

Cons

  • Complicated installation
  • Vague instructions

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Features
With parts available in either hot-dipped aluminized steel or in 409-L stainless steel, the series of exhaust units from Gibson are designed to improve the overall miles per gallon and to add around 10 to 20 extra horsepower units, thus improving the efficiency and the performance of the vehicle. These systems also reduce back-pressure and eliminate unnecessary turbulence, making for a smooth ride.

Other Details
There are various styles to choose from, including split rear systems (with reduced back-pressure and dual rear exit), dual extreme exhausts (with the highest performance and a louder operating sound), dual sport Gibson exhausts (for greater performance gains), Gibson swept side exhausts (with fuel-economic designs and single side exits), and the super truck exhausts (for the greatest power gain and the loudest sound at 95 decibels).

Warranty
The price of a Gibson exhaust system can vary from around $200 to around $1,700, depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

Pros

  • Clear improvement in performance
  • Sturdy construction
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • A little quieter than most other brands
  • Noticeable drone at cruising speeds

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Features
Each Banks Monster exhaust system includes all the necessary hardware, such as the tubes, clamps, and hangers needed to install it. The best part about these systems is that they can be smoothly mounted on to stock spots. The tubing units are designed to minimize the exhaust gas temperatures, and their mandrel-bent construction promotes maximum flow.

Other Details
You can choose from a variety of kits like turbo-back, DPF-back, downpipe-back, or cat-back variants. You can also choose between single and dual exits for certain vehicle models. Some kits are also equipped with the Banks Power Elbow range. Irrespective of your choice, you get to enjoy units that are constructed from 100% authentic stainless steel. Each kit also comes with a polished stainless steel tip.

Warranty
Banks Monster exhaust systems are backed by a 5-year warranty.

Pros

  • Very clear installation instructions
  • No drone inside the vehicle
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • May rattle at low rpm
  • Hard to install the muffler

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Features
With a range of exhaust structures for cars, trucks, and SUVs, JBAs products boast of precise tuning and a great attention to detail. The pipes come with large diameters when needed, and are constructed from top-quality stainless steel. Their mandrel-bent design maximizes the flow of exhaust gases. And a chrome-polished stainless steel tip adds to the attractiveness of the systems’ designs.

Other Details
JBA’s exhaust units also come with a ton of features like high-flow mufflers, fully-welded cases, factory-style mounting brackets, and a throaty sound that rumbles powerfully as you kick-start and drive ahead. In addition to this, JBA’s design also maximizes fuel economy and adds more horsepower and torque.

Warranty
JBA Performance exhaust systems are backed by a 1-year warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship.

Pros

  • Premium quality construction
  • Helpful and clear instruction
  • Street-legal in all 50 states

Cons

  • Clamps are a bit weak
  • Installation can be tricky for newbies

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Features
The exhaust structures manufactured by Corsa all boast of the features that make an ordinary system extraordinary. Right from 100% corrosion-resistant stainless steel tubing to mandrel-bent designs that promote a better flow of exhaust gases, these systems have it all. They also offer advantages like incredible horsepower gains, better gas mileage, and minimized back-pressure.

Other Details
Corsa’s performance exhaust series come in three options, namely the Sport series (for an aggressive sound and minimal drone), the Touring series (for a sound that’s slightly louder than normal), and the Xtreme series (best for race-oriented driving). You can choose the system that is specific for your vehicle’s make and model.

Warranty
Each Corsa exhaust system is backed by a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

Pros

  • Street-legal in all 50 states
  • Easy to install
  • Clear and detailed instructions

Cons

  • Can be quite expensive
  • A bit of drone in the 2k rpm range

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Features
The exhaust units manufactured by Hooker help your vehicle surpass the limitations imposed on it by its stock exhaust structures and allows it to tap into a much greater potential by improving the horsepower gains and boosting the miles delivered per gallon. There are several options to choose from, and you get a set of parts that are custom-made for your specific kind of vehicle.

Other Details
The components are crafted from 304 stainless steel, which imparts significant strength and resilience to your exhaust system. You can also take your pick from arrangements like cat-back, header-back, or axle-back options. Some systems also come with reducer flex-tubes.

Warranty
Hooker exhaust systems are all backed by a 90-day limited warranty from the manufacturer.

Pros

  • Improves performance
  • Great-sounding systems
  • Durable construction

Cons

  • Short warranty period
  • Not CARB-approved for Californian use

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Features
Made in the USA, PaceSetter Monza’s systems are a testimony to the fact that powerful performances can well be achieved with parts made within the country. The reasonable price tag is another bonus to look forward to. PaceSetter Monza’s units are made from 16-gauge aluminized steel, and feature a mandrel-bent design for quick and smooth flow of exhaust gases.

Other Details
The parts come with a black finish that keeps corrosion and rusting at bay, and the exit pipes in these systems feature chrome exhaust tips. The mufflers are specifically designed to match the make, year, model, and kind of vehicle you own, so you can be certain of finding the perfect system for your automobile.

Warranty
Each PaceSetter Monza exhaust system is backed by a limited 3-year warranty from the manufacturer.

Pros

  • Very affordably priced
  • Attractive finish
  • Sounds incredible

Cons

  • Modifications needed to achieve the perfect fit
  • Installing and assembling can be tricky

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Features
Equipped with several useful features like generously-sized mandrel-bent tubes and low exhaust gas temperatures, each aFe exhaust system has a dependable set of components that fit together excellently. The tubes are constructed to increase the flow of exhaust gases by over 35%, thus ensuring that there are noticeable horsepower gains.

Other Details
While most parts are made from aluminized steel, there are also select aFe systems that come in 409 stainless steel, which is resistant to corrosion and rust. The components are easy to install, and the clamps are of premium quality, thus giving the aFe systems an edge over the competition.

Warranty
aFe exhaust systems come with a 2-year warranty.

Pros

  • Top quality fit and finish
  • Easy installation
  • No drone whatsoever

Cons

  • Can get very expensive
  • Adjustments or modifications may be needed

Conclusion

Exhaust systems of a car

Each of the performance exhaust systems in this review guide has a significant edge over most other variants in the market, and depending on the make and model of your vehicle, you’ll find that a few of them suit your specific requirements better than the rest. However, on an average, Flowmaster’s systems are among the most popular choices. They are generally efficient and robust, and their only downside happens to be the high price tag. If you’re on a tight budget, JBA and PaceSetter Monza are two exhaust system makers to consider, as they offer affordable yet powerful systems.

Featured Image by João Paulo from Pixabay