Cars with V8 and V12 engines come to our mind when we talk about fast cars. However, with continuous enhancements, you can now own the fastest four-cylinder cars.
Four-cylinder engines are becoming prominent among automakers. Earlier 4cyl turbo cars or engines were laughed at for not being good enough, but now the times have changed.
Every top automobile brand is using four-cylinder engines in their vehicle as they are compact and can deliver much effective power pack performance.
2021 is the year of fast 4 cylinder cars and what shocks us the most is that they are not only restricted to the typical top brands.
So, today we have brought you the list of the top 10 fastest 4 cylinder cars that you can buy in 2021 & 2022. Keep reading to know more.
Top 10 Fastest 4 Cylinder Cars in The Word Right Now
With each passing day, technology is doing wonders. 4 cylinder cars have been around forever, but the respective engines never earned the credentials of high performing.
People used to be laughed at for owning a vehicle but not anymore. Four-cylinder engines are compact and can fit in any vehicle. Many people are not fond of bulky engines. But they still go for V8 and V12 engines as they crave speed.
But this is not going to be the case anymore. Now you can find powerful 4 cylinder engines that can provide efficient performance and surprisingly high speed.
To help you understand better, below we have listed the 10 fastest 4 cylinder turbo cars in the world that you can buy in 2021 & 2022:
- 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman S- 177 mph
- 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster S- 177 mph
- 2021 Honda Civic Type R – 169 MPH
- 2022 Volkswagen Golf R – 155mph, 168 MPH
- 2021 Kia Stinger – 167 MPH
- 2018 Ford Focus RS -165mph
- 2018 Subaru WRX STI – 160 MPH
- 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45- 155mph
- 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost- 155 mph
- 2022 Audi S3- 155 mph
What Are the Advantages of A 4 Cylinder Engine?
Four-cylinder engines are becoming popular as more and more people are preferring them over the typical V6 or V8 engines.
4 cylinder engines are not only about size alteration but are more about speed which is why we are here to help you look for the best fastest 4 cylinder cars.
But before we continue with our list, we would like you to understand why going for this engine is better than those big ones.
Below we have listed some advantages that you can attain by owning a 4 cylinder engine:
Compact Size
A four-cylinder engine is small & compact. This means it can easily fit in almost any engine bay without much of a fuss.
Being such lightweight, having a four-cylinder engine reduces the overall weight of your vehicle to a great extent.
High-end Refinement
A 4 cylinder is extremely refined. Its overall balancing is perfect and gives you smooth engine operations.
Such engines are easy to handle and have a low probability of malfunctions.
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Easy To Work On
If you are someone who likes to tweak their engines or prefer to take care of their vehicle on their own, then a 4 cylinder engine is perfect as they are easy to work on.
You do not have to worry about extreme complications. The cylinder head in the engine is the highest point which makes it easy for you to access the valve train, plus work on the spark plug.
Fuel-Efficient
Four-cylinder engines are highly fuel-efficient, especially if you compare them to V6 and V8 engines.
They are small, compact, and easy to maneuver.
Low Manufacturing Cost
4 cylinder engines require lower making costs making them cheaper as compared to the big V6 or V8 engines. The low starting cost is what makes the vehicles that hold them much affordable than others.
List Of Top 10 Fastest 4-Cylinder Turbo Cars Of All Time
4 cylinder vehicles are generally associated with slow driving or not thrill at all. People think if you are really into speed and V8 and V12 engines are the ones that can quench your thirst, however, it is not always true.
Over the years, four-cylinder engines have evolved well, and now you can buy one without any hesitation as they can reach a top speed of around 150-160 miles per hour.
Some people might still be skeptical about 4 cylinder engines being sluggish. However, if you truly give them a chance you will see how at affordable prices these compact engines can fulfill your demands.
Keeping this in mind, we have listed the fastest 4 cylinder cars of all time that you can buy in 2021 & 2022 and experience the fun these displacement engines have to offer.
1. 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman S (Top Speed- 177mph)
- MSRP: From $69,900
- Horsepower: 350 hp
- Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: Up to 19 city / 25 highway
If you adhere to high-performance sports cars, then nothing beats the German automobile industry. Porsche is one of the top German automakers well known for its extravagant rides.
While the brand is known for its V8 & V12 rides, the 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman S is its fastest 4 cylinder car. The model sure lacks the German automaker’s full potential but still holds serious strength with the four-cylinder engine under its hood.
The vehicle is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine boosting 350 hp. The vehicle can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds and can attain a top speed of 177 miles per hour.
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2. 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster S (Top Speed- 177mph)
- MSRP: From $74,000
- Horsepower: 350 hp
- Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: Up to 19 city / 25 highway
Another fast 4 cylinder cars that you can buy this year is the 2021 Porsche 718 Boxster S. The vehicle is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that can charge up to 350 horsepower.
The 718 Boxster S can attain a top speed of 177 miles per hour giving you the ultimate thrill with its compact engine.
Moreover, this ride can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds.
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3. 2021 Honda Civic Type R (Top Speed- 169mph)
- MSRP: From $37,895
- Horsepower: 306 hp
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: 22 city / 28 highway
If you desire to own one of the cheap fast 4 cylinder cars, then the 2021 Honda Civic Type R is the ideal vehicle for you.
This high-end sports car is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine channeling 306 horsepower that gives it a top speed of 169 miles per hour making it one of the fastest 4 cylinder cars of 2021.
Not only this, this ride can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in mere 5.3 seconds. The vehicle comes with an MSRP of $37,895, making it the third most affordable fastest 4 cylinder cars.
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4. 2022 Volkswagen Golf R (Top Speed- 168mph)
- MSRP: From $43,645
- Horsepower: 315 hp
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: Up to 23 city / 30 highway
The latest 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is another among the fastest 4 cylinder turbo cars that you can buy this year. Golf R comes with a compact 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 315 horsepower.
This vehicle can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds and even attain a standard top speed of 155 miles per hour.
However, with the available R Performance Package, the vehicle performance escalates to a great extent and it can attain a top speed of 168 miles per hour.
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5. 2021 Kia Stinger (Top Speed- 167 mph)
- MSRP: From $33,090
- Horsepower: 255 to 365 hp
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 3.3 L V6
- MPG: Up to 22 city / 29 highway
If you want the fastest 4 cylinder car but under the hood of affordability then the 2021 Kia Stinger is what you should take into consideration.
This 2021 model is among the fastest 4 cylinder cars of 2021. It offers two engine choices with one being a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and the other being a 3.3-liter V6 engine.
The vehicle can produce standard 255 horsepower and go from zero to sixty miles per hour in just 4.7 seconds.
Furthermore, this luxury car can attain a top speed of 167 miles per hour. You can own it for a starting price of $33,090.
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6. 2018 Ford Focus RS (Top Speed- 165mph)
- MSRP: $41,120
- Horsepower: 350 hp
- Engine: 2.3 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: 19 city / 26 highway
When it comes to the fastest 4 cylinder cars, how can we forget the mighty Ford? Ford is one of the few brands that never moved away from using 4 cylinder engines.
The 2018 Ford Focus RS holds a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 350 horsepower and offers good fuel efficiency for a compact car.
This Ford compact car can attain an impressive top speed of 165 miles per hour and accelerate to 60 miles per hour in good 4.7 seconds.
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7. 2018 Subaru WRX STI (Top Speed- 160 mph)
- MSRP: $36,095
- Horsepower: 268 to 310 hp
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: Up to 21 city / 27 highway
Subaru WRX STI is one of the most talked-about models by the makers. The model is popular not only for its unique outlook but the fact that a sports car carries a four-cylinder engine.
Despite having two variant four-cylinder engines under its hood, the 2018 WRX STI is one of the fastest 4 cylinder cars you can buy.
The vehicle is powered by 2.0 & 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines producing a max of 310 horsepower. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6 seconds and hold a top speed of 160 miles per hour.
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8. 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 (Top Speed- 155mph)
- MSRP: $55,795
- Horsepower: 382 hp
- Engine: 2.0L twin-turbo
- MPG: Up to 21 city / 27 highway
2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 is among the fastest 4 cylinder turbo cars with its top speed of 155 miles per hour. The vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter twin-turbo engine producing 382 horsepower.
This luxury sedan holds impressive gas mileage and can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just 4 seconds.
If you are a Mercedes lover but find yourself curious about the not-so-conventional 4 cylinder engine vehicles, then the 2020 CLA45 is for you to explore.
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9. 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost (Top Speed- 155 mph)
- MSRP: From $27,205
- Horsepower: 310 to 330 hp
- Engine: 2.3 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: Up to 21 city / 32 highway
Another sports car that gets its power from less talked four-cylinder engines is the 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost.
The sports car harness its power from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing up to 330 horsepower. It holds excellent fuel economy and can attain a top speed of 155 miles per hour.
Apart from this, the vehicle can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in only 5.1 seconds giving you the perfect taste of the fastest 4 cylinder cars.
If you want the cheap yet fast 4 cylinder vehicle, then this 2021 model can be yours for $27,205.
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10. 2022 Audi S3 (Top Speed- 155 mph)
- MSRP: From $44,900
- Horsepower: 306 hp
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
- MPG: 23 city / 32 highway
Another luxury car that can help you taste the fun of speed with the displacement engine is the 2022 Audi S3. This new Audi model comes with a starting price of $44,900 and a typical 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
The engine can produce 306 horsepower and can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in meager 4.6 seconds. Along with this, this luxury ride can attain a top speed of 155 miles per hour.
Furthermore, the 2022 Audi S3 holds outstanding fuel economy making it light on your pocket.
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FAQs
What is the highest horsepower 4 cylinder car?
If you want to know about the highest horsepower 4 cylinder car, then the 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 is the one. This luxury ride is powered by a 2.0 liter twin-turbo four-cylinder engine that can boost 382 horsepower.
Not only this, the vehicle holds impressive gas mileage of 21 mpg in the city & 27 mpg on the highway. Furthermore, this 4 cylinder Mercedes can go to a maximum speed of 155 miles per hour.
Which car has the best 4-cylinder engine?
All the 4 cylinder engine vehicles are best, but you can rank them based on particular features like acceleration, top speed, gas efficiency, and so on.
When it comes to top speed, the 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman S is the car with the best 4 cylinder engine.
This vehicle is powered by a 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine and can attain a top speed of 177 miles per hour.
How much HP can a 4-cylinder handle?
A 4 cylinder engine can handle power boosts of around 400 horsepower easily. Normally, such a vehicle comes with the standard horsepower of about 300 hp, which can escalate as per the features, engine enhancements, and more.
Is a 4-cylinder turbo faster than a V6?
Generally speaking, a V6 engine is bigger than a 4 cylinder engine not only in size but efficiency as well.
However, if you compare the typical V6 engine to a 4-cylinder turbo engine, then with proper assistance this engine can perfectly match and sometimes even best a V6 engine in almost every category.
A 4 turbo engine is much lighter, more efficient, and can be more robust than a naturally aspirated V6 engine.
The only feature where a V6 engine trumps the four-cylinder turbo engine is when it comes to towing.
Are 4-cylinder cars good for long trips?
Absolutely YES. The 4 cylinder cars are just as good as any V6 or V12 vehicle for long trips. The engine is light, gives you better performance, and even gives you a chance to channel the full power of its potent engine.
You will be able to see the real face of the fastest 4 cylinder cars. Thus, these cars are not only for the everyday commute. 4 cylinder cars are the future of speed.
Does a 4 cylinder use less gas?
When it comes to fuel economy, in comparison to typical V6 & V engines, a 4 cylinder is better. It will get you more gas mileage.
However, if you want more power & performance, a V6 engine will be better for that. But if you are on a restricted budget and want a small-size ride, going for a 4 cylinder engine vehicle is a better idea.
Conclusion
If you are looking to buy a new car then we suggest you take a look at the fastest 4 cylinder cars. These cars are compact, affordable, and give you better performance & driving experience.
If speed is your prime factor for purchase, then the 4 cylinder models listed above will not disappoint you.
So which car did you find better?
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2013 Buick Regal. Factory Specifications-161 mph