The four-cylinder engine is often overlooked. Frequently found in compact hatchbacks, many of us first learned to drive with a four-cylinder under the hood perhaps explaining why we eagerly trade them in for engines with more cylinders, chasing the thrill of increased power.
The excitement of owning a V6, V8, V10, or even a V12 often overshadows the appreciation of a well-engineered four-cylinder. However, exploring larger engines only serves to highlight the advantages of a four-cylinder.
Their lightweight construction makes them perfect for true sports cars, and with lower mechanical inertia, they respond with remarkable sharpness.
A well-designed four-cylinder also delivers an exhilarating soundtrack, transitioning from a deep, guttural growl at low revs to a high-pitched wail as the RPM climbs.
Additionally, having fewer cylinders translates to reduced servicing costs. For those inclined to handle their own maintenance, a longitudinally mounted four-cylinder offers one of the easiest setups to work on.
Below, we take a look at some of the greatest four-cylinder engines ever built.
1. Rover K-Series (1988)
The Rover K-Series has long been criticized in the world of engine manufacturing, often dismissed for its fragility and the lack of commitment from its maker to resolve its issues.
However, engineers with a deep understanding of its design such as those working at Lotus and various lightweight sports car manufacturers view the K-Series as a remarkable piece of engineering, albeit one with known weaknesses that can be addressed.
When it was introduced in the 1980s, the K-Series was revolutionary, boasting twin cams and 16-valve cylinder heads. However, the real genius lay in its weight or lack thereof.
Weighing just 96.5kg, it was over 50 percent lighter than the Honda S2000’s engine, which arrived decades later. That being said, it wasn’t without its problems.
The most notorious issue was head gasket failure, but other flaws such as the use of plastic coolant manifolds and poorly positioned thermostats have since been rectified.
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2. Mazda B6ZE (RS) (1989)
When Mazda developed the original MX-5, the goal was to create a reliable British-style sports car with a soft-top roof that was both easy to use and resistant to leaks.
At its core, the car needed an engine that perfectly complemented this vision a 16-valve twin-cam unit that would enthusiastically rev to its limits, delivering (admittedly modest) forward momentum.
This engine proved to be an ideal match for the MX-5. It produced most of its power at higher revs, encouraging drivers to make full use of the MX-5’s brilliantly engaging gearshift.
It also delivered an impressive soundtrack especially when paired with a few well-chosen modifications and even had a visually appealing design, featuring a bare-metal engine cover.
Originally turbocharged in the 323 GTX, the B6ZE (RS) featured an iron block and oil jet cooling, meaning that in the naturally aspirated MX-5, it was never pushed to its limits.
Since it was built with forced induction in mind, adding a turbocharger later was a straightforward process something that countless amateur YouTube tuners have demonstrated time and again.
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3. BMC A Series (1951)
The BMC A Series was never the most powerful four-cylinder engine, nor was it groundbreaking in terms of design, but it remains one of the most widely used and beloved engines of all time.
First introduced in 1951 under the hood of the Austin A30, every variant of the A Series engine was built with a cast-iron block and cylinder head and there were certainly plenty of variants.
The smallest version had a capacity of 803cc, while the largest reached 1,275cc. Power output varied widely, with the weakest model producing just 15PS (11kW) in a diesel configuration, whereas the most powerful iteration featured a 1,275cc displacement with a small turbocharger attached.
An engine’s lifespan of 20 years would typically be considered impressive, but the A Series remained in production for nearly half a century, finally retiring with the last of the classic Minis in April 2000.
Thanks to its immense popularity, sourcing spare parts today is remarkably easy whether new or used as numerous businesses continue to manufacture components to support the vast number of A Series-powered vehicles still on the road.
4. Alfa Twin Cam (1954)
Another engine with an impressively long lifespan is the Alfa Romeo Twin Cam. First introduced in 1954 in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, it was the brainchild of Italian designers Orazio Satta Puliga and Giuseppe Busso (yes, that Busso).
This engine was a remarkable leap forward, certainly more advanced than its predecessor, the 1900. Rather than using a conventional iron block, it featured an aluminum alloy construction an almost unheard-of innovation in 1954 paired with cast iron wet cylinder liners.
It also boasted an aluminum alloy head, a steel crankshaft, double overhead camshafts, and other sophisticated engineering touches.
Initially, the Twin Cam was relatively modest, with a 1,290cc displacement in the Giulietta, and there were even smaller-capacity variants.
However, the engine evolved over time, growing in both size and performance. It went on to power a wide range of Alfa Romeo models, including the Spider, Giulia, Junior, Alfetta, 75, 164, 155, and many more.
Throughout its long production run, which lasted until 1994, the Twin Cam received numerous upgrades, including Twin Spark technology and turbocharging.
Additionally, Alfa Romeo’s performance division, Autodelta, fine-tuned the engine for racing, increasing power, torque, and the rev limit to meet the demands of competition.
5. S14 – E30 BMW M3 (1986)
The four-cylinder S14 engine is legendary and undoubtedly deserves a place on this list.
While the idea of a four-cylinder M3 might seem unusual today given the model’s later use of six-cylinder and even V8 engines the S14 was the perfect fit for its time, especially considering that the E30 M3 weighed just 1,200kg.
The S14 appeared in several versions within the M3 lineup, starting with the S14B23 a 2.3-liter unit producing 200PS (147kW) in the first-generation E30 M3.
It was later upgraded to the S14B23 EVO2, which delivered 220PS (162kW), and ultimately evolved into the 2.5-liter S14B25 EVO3, which produced 238PS (175kW).
Beyond its road-going applications, the S14 proved itself as a formidable racing engine. It powered M3s to victory in some of the world’s most demanding endurance races, including five wins at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and four at the 24 Hours of Spa.
Additionally, it was a dominant force in motorsport, helping secure titles across the BTCC, DTM, and even rallying. Few engines can match the sheer aggression of the S14’s sound.
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6. B16B – Honda Civic Type R EK9 (1997)
How could a VTEC engine not make this list? The EK9 Honda Civic Type R was the very first Civic Type R, following in the footsteps of the Japanese-market NSX Type R in 1992, the Integra Type R in 1995, and the U.S.-market Acura Integra Type R in 1997.
This marked the beginning of what would become a long legacy of “Type Racing” models.
The EK9 was exclusive to Japan, based on the sixth-generation Civic SiR, but it came equipped with a helical limited-slip differential, a close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox, a seam-welded chassis, and a host of other performance-focused upgrades.
The standout feature was the 1.6-liter B16B engine a hand-ported, naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 182PS (134kW) and 160Nm (118lb ft).
While the later 2.0-liter engine in the EP3, built and sold in the UK, had more power, the B16B earns its place here because of its sheer character.
It revved to an astonishing 9,000rpm, and its cam profiling was exceptionally aggressive.
The result was an engine that felt relatively tame below 6,100rpm, but once VTEC engaged, it transformed into an absolute maniac, delivering an unforgettable high-revving experience.
7. F20C – Honda S2000 (2000)
Wait, another Honda engine? Yes, and for good reason the F20C is an absolute masterpiece.
This 2.0-liter, double overhead camshaft VTEC powerhouse delivered 240PS (177kW) in most markets, with even higher output versions available in Japan.
It revved all the way to 9,000rpm, with peak power arriving at 8,300rpm and VTEC engaging at 5,850rpm, allowing the S2000 to sprint from 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds.
Honda credited its Formula 1 program for several of the F20C’s innovations, including forged aluminum pistons, lightweight valve springs, an 11:1 compression ratio, and the world’s first use of metal injection-molded rocker arms in a road car.
Upon its release and for years afterward the F20C gave the S2000 the highest power-per-liter output of any naturally aspirated production car, delivering a staggering 120PS (88kW) per liter, breaking records previously set by unsurprisingly Honda.
It’s safe to say that we will never see another small, affordable sports car with such a wild, high-revving engine again.
8. EA888 – Volkswagen (2006)
We’ll admit it the EA888 engine may not be the most charismatic four-cylinder out there, but there’s no way we could leave it off this list.
Designed as the successor to the EA113, the EA888 has been produced in both 1.8- and 2.0-liter versions, finding its way into a vast range of vehicles, including the Mk2 Audi TT, the Skoda Yeti, the Mk2 Seat Leon, and multiple generations of the Golf GTI (Mk6, Mk7, and Mk8), as well as the Audi S3 and more.
Its greatest strength is versatility an essential trait for a company like Volkswagen, which operates across multiple brands and needs a dependable engine for a wide variety of models.
Beyond its broad application, the EA888 has also proven to be robust and highly tunable. With minimal effort and no modifications, tuners have been able to extract moderate performance gains, while more extreme setups have pushed the 2.0-liter EA888 past 500PS (368kW).
Granted, achieving that level of output requires an upgraded turbocharger and several supporting modifications, but the fact that the engine can withstand such extreme tuning without self-destructing speaks volumes about its durability and engineering excellence.
9. B4204T48 – Polestar 1 (2018)
It’s astounding how engineers manage to keep track of powertrains as complex as this one. The B4204T48 is an electrified four-cylinder hybrid engine from Volvo, featured in models like the Volvo S60, V60, and XC60, as well as the Polestar 1.
However, in the Polestar 1, this engine isn’t just electrified it’s both supercharged and turbocharged, making it one of the most technically advanced four-cylinders ever produced.
The 2.0-liter engine utilizes a supercharger to provide immediate boost from idle up to 3,500rpm, at which point the turbocharger takes over.
But that’s not all this setup is paired with two electric motors on the rear axle, a crank-integrated starter generator motor, and a 34kWh battery that can power the car on its own for up to 77 miles.
The result? A staggering 609PS (448kW) and 1,000Nm (740lb ft) of torque. Integrating such a sophisticated system into a functional, high-performance vehicle is nothing short of an engineering masterpiece.
10. M139 – Mercedes-AMG A45S (2019)
We’ve covered many engines on this list, but what about the most powerful? That title (as of writing) belongs to the M139, found in the Mercedes-AMG A45S.
Revealed in June 2019 and making an appearance a month later at the 2019 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, this 2.0-liter powerhouse delivers an incredible 421PS (310kW) and 500Nm (372lb ft) of torque.
It achieves this through twin-scroll, twin-turbocharging, sending power through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to all four wheels.
The result is a hatchback capable of rocketing from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 168mph.
It also features ‘Nanoslide’ piston linings, a special low-friction coating applied inside the cylinders that Mercedes claims reduces weight by several kilograms per engine while cutting friction by up to 50 percent.
And as a final testament to its precision engineering, each M139 engine is meticulously hand-assembled by a single technician. Simply put, this engine is an absolute beast.