Top 10 Most Powerful Four-cylinder Engines
We’re living in interesting times in regards to the automotive industry. We can choose between a slew of different powertrains in our cars and trucks, including gasoline engines, diesel engines, electric motors and even a combination of two of these three. However, we’re inevitably witnessing engine downsizing and turbocharging technology progress in order to reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions.
Today, four-cylinder engines are as powerful—even more powerful in some cases—than V8 engines of just 10 years ago. Here’s a look at the most powerful of these little engines that are currently available on our market.
10 (tie) – Volkswagen Group 1.4L turbo plug-in hybrid
In North America, this powertrain is only available in one model, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. This 1395-cc four-cylinder engine produces 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, but thanks to electric assistance, output rises to 204 hp and 258 lb.-ft.
Audi A3 Sportback e-tron: 204 horsepower, 146.2 horsepower/litre
10 (tie) – Porsche 2.5L turbo
Thanks to the few extra ponies of the newly-introduced GTS versions of the 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman duo, this turbocharged 2497-cc four-cylinder engine barely made this top 10 list. It produces 365 horsepower and 317 pound-feet.
Porsche 718 Boxster GTS: 365 horsepower, 146.2 horsepower/litre
Porsche 718 Cayman GTS: 365 horsepower, 146.2 hp/L
Porsche 718 Boxster S: 350 horsepower, 140.2 hp/L
Porsche 718 Cayman S: 350 horsepower, 140.2 hp/L
9 – Volkswagen Group 2.0L turbo
Used in a wide variety of the automaker’s products, this turbocharged 1984-cc four-cylinder engine develops up to 292 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque in the 2018 Audi S3 as well as in the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R.
Audi S3: 292 horsepower, 147.2 horsepower/litre
Volkswagen Golf R: 292 horsepower, 147.2 hp/L
Audi A4: 252 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Audi A5: 252 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Audi Q5: 252 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Audi Q7: 252 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Porsche Macan: 252 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Volkswagen Atlas: 235 horsepower, 118.4 hp/L
Volkswagen Golf GTI: 220 horsepower, 110.9 hp/L
8 – Jaguar Land Rover 2.0L turbo
The new turbocharged 1999-cc four-cylinder engine, member of Jaguar Land Rover’s Ingenium powertrain family, produces 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in several models, including the Jaguar XE, the XF, the F-PACE and the F-TYPE. It’s also found in other of the automaker’s models with a slightly lower output.
Jaguar XE: 296 horsepower, 148.1 horsepower/litre
Jaguar XF: 296 horsepower, 148.1 hp/L
Jaguar F-PACE: 296 horsepower, 148.1 hp/L
Jaguar F-TYPE: 296 horsepower, 148.1 hp/L
Range Rover Evoque: 286 horsepower, 143.1 hp/L
Land Rover Discovery Sport: 286 horsepower, 143.1 hp/L
Jaguar XE: 247 horsepower, 123.6 hp/L
Jaguar XF: 247 horsepower, 123.6 hp/L
Jaguar F-PACE: 247 horsepower, 123.6 hp/L
Jaguar E-PACE: 246 horsepower, 123.1 hp/L
7 – Porsche 2.0L turbo
The Porsche 718 Boxster S and Cayman S may be more powerful than the base versions, but the latters’ engine produces more power per litre. This 1988-cc four-cylinder engine belts out 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
Porsche 718 Boxster: 300 horsepower, 150.9 horsepower/litre
Porsche 718 Cayman: 300 horsepower, 150.9 hp/L
6 – Honda 2.0L turbo
The Japanese automaker is starting to spread turbocharged powertrains across its product lineup. However, the most powerful version of its turbocharged 1996-cc four-cylinder engine cranks out 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the 2018 Honda Civic Type R.
Honda Civic Type R: 306 horsepower, 153.3 horsepower/litre
Honda Accord: 252 horsepower, 126.3 hp/L
5 – Ford 2.3L turbo
For several years now, Ford has been pushing its EcoBoost family of powertrains into its products, which produces more power from a smaller displacement. Among this range of powertrains, it’s the turbocharged, 2261-cc four-cylinder engine in the 2018 Ford Focus RS that’s the most muscular with 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. It’s worth nothing here that these numbers published by Ford were calculated using 93-octane fuel.
Ford Focus RS: 350 horsepower, 154.8 horsepower/litre
Ford Mustang: 310 horsepower, 137.1 hp/L
Lincoln MKC: 285 horsepower, 126.1 hp/L
Ford Explorer: 280 horsepower, 123.8 hp/L
4 – BMW 2.0L turbo plug-in hybrid
In the 2018 BMW 7 Series, buyers can choose a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a turbocharged, 1998-cc four-cylinder engine. It produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, but with electric assistance, output climbs to 332 hp and 369 lb.-ft.
BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance: 332 horsepower, 161.2 horsepower/litre
3 – General Motors 2.0L turbo plug-in hybrid
Available in many GM products, the turbocharged 1998-cc four-cylinder engine develops 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro. However, with electric assistance, its output rises to 335 hp and 432 lb.-ft. in the new Cadillac CT6 plug-in hybrid.
Cadillac CT6 plug-in hybrid: 335 horsepower, 167.7 horsepower/litre
Chevrolet Camaro: 275 horsepower, 137.6 hp/L
Cadillac ATS: 272 horsepower, 136.1 hp/L
Cadillac CTS: 268 horsepower, 134.1 hp/L
Cadillac CT6: 265 horsepower, 132.6 hp/L
Chevrolet Traverse: 255 horsepower, 127.6 hp/L
Chevrolet Equinox: 252 horsepower, 126.1 hp/L
GMC Terrain: 252 horsepower, 126.1 hp/L
Buick Envision: 252 horsepower, 126.1 hp/L
Chevrolet Malibu: 250 horsepower, 125.1 hp/L
Buick Regal Sportback: 250 horsepower, 125.1 hp/L
2 – Mercedes-Benz 2.0L turbo
The German automaker is relying more and more on four-cylinder powertrains, even in more expensive models such as the E-Class. However, it’s in the 2018 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 that the most powerful version is found, with 375 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. All this from a displacement of 1991 cc and without electric assistance. Less powerful versions of this 2.0-litre turbo engine can also be found in some Infiniti models.
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45: 375 horsepower, 188.3 horsepower/litre
Mercedes-AMG GLA 45: 375 horsepower, 188.3 hp/L
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 241 horsepower, 121.0 hp/L
Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 241 horsepower, 121.0 hp/L
Mercedes-Benz GLC: 241 horsepower, 121.0 hp/L
Mercedes-Benz SLC: 241 horsepower, 121.0 hp/L
Mercedes-Benz B-Class: 208 horsepower, 104.5 hp/L
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 208 horsepower, 104.5 hp/L
Mercedes-Benz GLA: 208 horsepower, 104.5 hp/L
Infiniti Q50 2.0t: 208 horsepower, 104.5 hp/L
Infiniti Q60 2.0t: 208 horsepower, 104.5 hp/L
Infiniti QX30 : 208 horsepower, 104.5 hp/L
1 – Volvo 2.0L turbo and supercharged plug-in hybrid
The Drive-E engine family now equips every Volvo model. Several variations of this powertrain have been developed using a 1969-cc four-cylinder engine as a base. The most muscular one is the T8 Twin Engine that includes a turbocharger, a supercharger and electric assist to belt out 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque.
Volvo XC90 T8: 400 horsepower, 203.1 horsepower/litre
Volvo XC60 T8: 400 horsepower, 203.1 hp/L
Volvo S90 T8: 400 horsepower, 203.1 hp/L
Volvo S60 Polestar: 367 horsepower, 186.4 hp/L
Volvo V60 Polestar: 367 horsepower, 186.4 hp/L
Volvo XC90 T6: 316 horsepower, 160.5 hp/L
Volvo XC60 T6: 316 horsepower, 160.5 hp/L
Volvo S90 T6: 316 horsepower, 160.5 hp/L
Volvo V90 T6: 316 horsepower, 160.5 hp/L
Volvo S60 T6: 302 horsepower, 153.4 hp/L
Volvo V60 T6: 302 horsepower, 153.4 hp/L
Volvo XC90 T5: 250 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Volvo XC60 T5: 250 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Volvo S90 T5: 250 horsepower, 127.0 hp/L
Volvo XC40 T5: 248 horsepower, 126.0 hp/L
Volvo S60 T5: 240 horsepower, 121.9 hp/L
Volvo V60 T5: 240 horsepower, 121.9 hp/L