Best Outboard Motors 2025: The Ultimate Guide
Category: Boat Engines | 13 Min Read
Best Outboard Motors 2025 If you’re interested in powerboats of just about any type, ranging from speed boats to sportfishing yachts, you need to know all about outboard motors. Outboards have been around for over a century – and these days, they’re the fastest-growing segment of the marine power market. That’s in no small part because outboard engine technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, and today’s modern outboard motors are better than ever. Let’s start with the basics, then we’ll look at some of the newest outboard models this year.
- What are Outboard Motors?
- History and Evolution of Outboard Motors
- Current Outboard Motor Market
- Newest 2025 Outboard Motors
- Future of Outboard Motors
- Outboard Motor Brands
- Outboard Motor FAQs

The outboard motor offerings span from small electric motors to potent four-stroke powerplants. Photos in order of appearance via: Nautical Ventures, Diamond Motors and Marine, C&O Marine, Sea Witch Marine, The Boat Place, Deep Creek Cove Marina, Nautical Ventures, Boaters World.
What Are Outboard Motors?
Outboard motors are fully contained marine propulsion systems that can be mounted onto the transom of a boat. The powerhead, driveshaft, and a lower unit with running gear (the part with the propeller that sits underwater) are all contained together in one unit. Like most marine power systems, the engine spins a shaft, which then spins a propeller shaft, which in turn spins a propeller to create thrust.
Outboard motors have several advantages as compared to other marine propulsion systems. A boat manufacturer can take an outboard and bolt it right onto the back of a boat, hook up the control cables and fuel lines, and the boat’s ready to go. That greatly simplifies the boatbuilding process, because with an inboard or stern drive they’d have to mount the motor and then line up and attach the drive system.

Since outboards simply get mounted to the transom of new boats, the boatbuilder’s job becomes much easier. Photo by Lenny Rudow
It also makes the engine very easy to replace in case of failure; it improves a boat’s handling because outboard motors provide articulated thrust as opposed to the rudders used with inboards, and modern outboards offer an excellent power-to-weight ratio as compared to the other options. See Inboard or Outboard: The Boat You’ll Buy Next, for more a more in-depth inboard-versus-outboard comparison.
History and Evolution Of Outboard Motors
Ole Evinrude, a Norwegian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. at age five in 1882, is usually credited with inventing the first outboard motor in 1906. The tale is quite famous, and with good reason – it’s an excellent example of American ingenuity. According to the lore, Ole and his fiancé Bess were picnicking on an island in Okauchee Lake. When Bess expressed a desire for ice cream, Ole jumped into their rowboat and took off, rowing vigorously for the mainland. But the two-and-a-half-mile trip was just too far, and by the time he returned to Bess the ice cream had all melted.
Ole knew there had to be a better way, and he was right: he invented and built a 1.5-horsepower outboard motor that could be clamped to the back of a rowboat. He and Bess (by then married) produced 25 outboards in 1909 and sold them all in one day. Thus, Evinrude Motors was born.
Obviously, outboards have come a long way in the past century. Through the earlier years of development outboard sizes gradually increased, until 1975 when the first V-6 outboards finally broke the 100-horsepower barrier and put 175- and 200-horsepower outboards on the market. The biggest turning point in modern times, however, came with EPA emissions standards first introduced in the 1990s and then phased in over a number of years.

Evinrude built the last of the two-stroke outboard engines. Photo via Lenny Rudow.
New emissions standards forced outboard manufacturers to turn in a different direction, completely replacing the carbureted two-stroke engines they depended on and instead of developing cleaner-burning four-stroke technology. While four-stroke engines were significantly more efficient than two-strokes of the time, they were also much heavier and more complex, so there was a lot of trial and error involved in the process. But eventually, all of the major outboard motor manufacturers with the lone exception of Evinrude made the switch for four-strokes.
Evinrude instead developed two-stroke direct-injection in order to meet emissions standards, but early versions were a disaster and Outboard Motor Corporation (by then Evinrude’s parent company) filed for bankruptcy in 2000. It was eventually bought by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). BRP then made major reinvestments in two-stroke technology and their new E-TEC G2 outboards were introduced. These outboard motors were extremely efficient and clean-burning, but in 2020 Evinrude went out of business and with it, production of the last of the two-strokes ceased.
Current Outboard Motor Market
In recent years, the biggest push in the outboard engine market has most certainly been producing larger, more powerful motors. In 2007 Yamaha introduced a monstrous V-8 outboard, the F350, producing 350 horsepower. Soon it followed up with even more power, in the form of the F425. And in 2023 it boosted the top-end even more, with the F450. In 2011 industry newcomer Seven Marine rolled out a shocking 557-horsepower outboard, at the time the most powerful outboard ever built, based on a marinized 6.2-liter GM LSA Gen IV V-8 engine designed for the Cadillac CTS-V. Just a few years later, they’d top this mark with their own 627-horsepower version shortly before being purchased by Volvo Penta. In 2020, however, Volvo Penta shut down Seven Marine’s operations and they are no longer built today.
Meanwhile, Mercury Marine constantly upped the ante with their Verado models, bringing a 350, then 400, then 450 horse models to the market. Then in early 2021 they shocked the outboard world by introducing a 600 horsepower V-12 outboard with a two-speed automatic transmission and a steerable gearcase; get the full scoop on the 600 Verado at Mercury’s V-12 Mega Motor: 600 Horses of Pure Power. Suzuki followed a similar bigger-is-better path by introducing the DF350A V-6, a model notable for its twin-propeller lower unit. And in 2024 Honda Marine introduced the new BF350, their first-ever production V-8 outboard.

Today’s huge outboards can power very large boats; this Boston Whaler 420 Outrage runs with triple Mercury Verado 600 outboards. Photo via MarineMax Stewart.
But all of the interesting outboard developments haven’t taken place with these huge powerplants. As outboard-powered boats have grown larger and larger and outboard manufacturers have matched this demand with increasing horsepower, there have also been some big developments in the world of small outboard motors. EFI has been incorporated into smaller and smaller models and Suzuki made a breakthrough in 2014 when they introduced battery-less EFI to small, portable outboards like the DF25A and the DF15A. Yamaha quickly followed up with battery-less EFI when soon after, they introduced a series of engines including their new F25, F75, and F90 outboards. And yes, that F25 features battery-less EFI.
Newest 2025 Outboard Motors
Although there weren’t any ground-shaking developments for this model year, every major manufacturer has had some sort of new introduction or advancement in recent times.
Honda Marine
Following up on last year’s rollout of the BF350, this year Honda introduces the M300 McLaren. Honda teamed up with McLaren Engineering to tweak several features of their existing V-6 platform, including a new camshaft, an ECU with IG mapping and knock control, and enhanced valve timing and lift. The net result? A power boost from 250 to 300 horsepower. New 2025 boats of 24′ and up built by manufacturers partnering with Honda may feature availability with the M300.

The M300 McLaren wrings more horsepower out of Honda’s proven V-6 platform. Photo via Honda.
Mercury Marine
For 2025 Mercury rolled out their Joystick Steering for single-engine boats. While joystick boat controls are generally thought of as for multiple-engine applications, boaters with a single outboard can still enjoy several benefits from these systems. They can turn the outboard faster than you can with a wheel, improving handling during docking maneuvers. Having a joystick gives you the ability to enjoy virtual anchoring and drift control features. And they can also integrate thruster support.

Boaters can now tie thrusters in with a single Mercury engine and enjoy joystick control. Photo via Mercury.
Suzuki Marine
Since Suzuki upgraded the DF350A to the DF350AMD and the DF300BMD, new models that enjoy an enhanced gearcase designed for better longevity, efficiency, and speed plus integrated steering systems, the manufacturer hasn’t introduced any all-new models. They did, however, add their Stealth line outboards with a matte black finish in 2024. And in 2025 Suzuki Marine is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The Suzuki Stealth line is this company’s latest introduction. Photo via Suzuki.
Yamaha Marine
Yamaha didn’t have a new motor in 2025 either, however, they did introduce their new Helm Master EX Wireless Control. This is a wireless remote which taps into Helm Master and allows for joystick steering wherever you might be standing on the boat. An ergonomic trigger on the front allows for one-finger maneuvering while the joystick on top can be nudged, pushed, or turned just like the Helm Master joystick at the helm.

The Helm Master EX Wireless Control is the latest from Yamaha Marine. Photo via Yamaha.
Electric Outboards
Electric outboards are also becoming more widely available in ever-growing horsepower sizes. While few companies have managed to penetrate this market with a wide range of offerings, German company Torqeedo now has a model line ranging from one to 80 horsepower, and ePropulsion has rolled out a line ranging up to the 60 horsepower equivalent. Mercury introduced it’s Avator 7.5e electric outboard (which produces approximately 3.5 horsepower) in 2023, and the 20e and 35e (around five hp) models in 2024.
You can check out our huge range of Outboard Motors on the site today.
Future of Outboard Motors
Where will the future of outboard motors lead? Almost certainly to a continued mix of technology, as we see in today’s market. Gasoline, diesel, and electric options will all surely play a role and no one system can be expected to dominate the market, as each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
It’s important to note that the growing dominance of electric and hybrid-electric power systems we see in vehicles designed for use on land isn’t likely to be mirrored in the marine world, at least not in the near term, because the application of technology is so different. Regenerative braking, for example, (which uses an automobile’s braking to feed power back to a car’s batteries) isn’t possible in a boat. And unlike automotive applications boat motors generally run at high RPM for extended periods, quickly sapping the juice out of the battery banks. On small boats the power and range limitations aren’t too problematic and year by year small electric outboards gain ground. But for larger boats travelling for long distances this remains a big problem. So, internal combustion outboards aren’t likely to go away any time soon.

Though electric outboards have limitations, their popularity on small boats is rapidly growing. Photo by Lenny Rudow.
What we can expect in the immediate future, however, is for more and more modern outboards to join the IoT. All of the major manufacturers now have apps that can “talk” with their larger, more advanced models, providing everything from diagnostic information to routine maintenance alerts. The biggest news in recent years came in 2022, when Yamaha Marine purchased Siren Marine, a provider of remote monitor and control systems for boats. Yamaha’s purchase of Siren portends their drive towards complete connectivity, much as we’ve seen in the high end automotive world in recent years.
Outboard Motor Brands
Considering the popularity of outboard engines, one might think the field of competing for outboard motor brands would be fairly large. However, there’s a limited number of major players. These include:
Evinrude Outboards
Evinrude ceased production in 2020, citing difficulties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Honda Outboard Motors
Honda Marine offers four-stroke outboards from 2.3 to 350 horsepower, including jet outboards from 40 to 105 horses.
Mercury Outboard Motors
Mercury Marine’s line-up includes four-stroke outboards from 2.5 to 600 hp. The V-12 600 horse Verado is the largest outboard engine currently in production today. They also have jets from 25 to 80 horsepower. A separate division, Mercury Racing, offers supercharged models. Mercury entered the electric outboard market with the introduction of the Avator. Learn more about the history of Mercury Marine and their engines.
Minn Kota Outboards
Minn Kota manufactures a line of electric motors which can be bow- or transom-mounted, ranging from 30 pounds of thrust to 115 pounds of thrust (approximately 1.5 to 2 horsepower).
Motorguide Outboard Motors
Another electric motor manufacturer, MotorGuide offers bow- and transom-mount motors between 30 and 109 pounds of thrust.
Seven Marine Outboards
After purchasing Seven Marine in 2017, Volvo Penta ceased production in 2020.
Suzuki Outboard Motors
This manufacturer’s line-up of four-stroke outboards ranges from 2.5 to 350 horsepower and includes two of the few contra-rotating twin-propeller outboard engines (the DF350AMD and the DF300BMD) on the market today. Learn more about the history of Suzuki Marine and their outboards.
Tohatsu Outboard Motors
Tohatsu’s line of four-stroke gasoline outboards ranges from 2.5 to 250 horsepower, and in 2024 the company added an electric outboard offering which produces about 9.9 hp, the Alaris. They also produce jet-drive options from 25 to 40 horsepower.
Torqeedo Outboard Motors
The biggest player in the electric outboard motor market, Torqeedo makes outboards from one to 80 horsepower.
Yamaha Outboards
Industry giant Yamaha Outboards has a four-stroke model line ranging from 2.5 to 450 horsepower, including the only direct-injected four-strokes on the market, the F425 XTO and F450 XTO. They also produce jet outboards from 40 to 150 horsepower and an electric propulsion system called the Harmo. In 2024 they announced a prototype of the world’s first hydrogen-powered outboard, the Yamaha H2. Learn more about the history of Yamaha Marine and their outboards.
Outboard Motors FAQ
When it comes to outboard motors, two of the questions we hear asked all the time are “what’s the biggest outboard?” and “which is most fuel-efficient?” So let’s take a quick look at information regarding these topics.
What are the Most Powerful Outboard Motors?
Everyone wants to hear about the biggest, most powerful outboards in existence. The top 10 most powerful outboards are:
- Mercury Verado 600
- Mercury Racing 450R
- Yamaha F450 XTO
- Yamaha F425 XTO
- Mercury Verado 400
- Suzuki DF350AMD
- Mercury Verado 350
- Honda BF350
- Yamaha F300, Suzuki DF300BMD, Mercury Verado 300, Honda M300 McLaren
- 250-hp offerings from all of the above plus Tohatsu
You should think about how big an outboard will actually fit on your boat however. We’ve put together an article on this subject for you here.

Some boats can handle more power than others. In the case of this Grady-White Canyon 456, quadruple 425 horsepower outboards is no problem. Photo via Fish Tale Boats.
What are the Most Fuel-Efficient Outboards?
Setting aside electric outboards and alternative fuel outboards, size and fuel efficiency often go hand in hand – the smaller an outboard is, the better economy it’s likely to post. As a rule of thumb, the vast majority of the four-stroke outboards on the market offer very competitive efficiency and rarely differ by more than a few tenths of a mile per gallon or so in the similar horsepower ranges.
On top of the similar nature of four-stroke outboard efficiency, due to the number of variables in the boats they’re mounted on, very accurate apples-to-apples comparison between different outboards is rarely possible. Different model outboards may post slightly better or worse efficiency numbers on one type of hull design as compared to another. And boat manufacturing is not an exact science; often the same model boat will vary from one hull to the next in weight, sometimes by hundreds of pounds. So testing two outboards side by side on the same model boat can provide unreliable results.

Sea conditions, among other variables, can have a dramatic effect on a boat’s efficiency, which makes apples-to-apples comparisons between different outboards very difficult. Photo via HMY Yacht Sales.
Finally, note that there are other variables that can come into play. Sea conditions, for example, have a big impact on efficiency and can change from one moment to the next. Then, there’s outboard propeller choice to consider. And there are also variables that can make an outboard engine perform better, as well as a few techniques that can be used to make a boat engine run faster.
The bottom line? Today’s outboard motors are far more efficient than they were a decade or two ago across the board, and it’s rare to see major differences among modern outboards of similar horsepower.
Which are the Most Reliable Outboards?
While the answer to this question is debatable, one thing is not: outboard engine reliability has grown by leaps and bounds and today, some are notably more reliable than the automobiles some of us drive. Different manufacturers tend to have different reliability results from their different platforms, too, and in some cases we’ve seen specific problematic engine models from otherwise reliable builders. One thing to look for in this regard, however, is warranties. Many of today’s outboard builders offer shockingly long and comprehensive warranty coverage, sometimes out to seven years. When a manufacturer does so, you know that they believe in and stand by the reliability of their products.

Thanks to the epic reliability of today’s outboard engines, countless families have worry-free fun on modern boats. Photo via Lenny Rudow.
Conclusion
Today, the popularity of outboard engines is at an all-time high. Even on boat types that have traditionally been built with stern-drive and inboards, such as runabouts and cruisers, more and more outboard models are being introduced every year. In fact, approximately four out of five new powerboats sold in the United States are now powered by an outboard motor, while stern drive sales have steadily declined and inboard options have remained flat. And this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Boaters regularly cite the easy maintenance, high reliability, and quiet operation as reasons why they prefer outboard motors over the other options – and truth be told, today’s outboards really are better than ever before.
Editor’s note: This article was originally written in September of 2019 and has been updated annually, most recently in February of 2025.
With over two decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to publications including YachtWorld, boats.com, Boating Magazine, Marlin Magazine, Boating World, Saltwater Sportsman, Texas Fish & Game, and many others. Lenny is a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and he has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.
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