While most modern cars come equipped with three- or four-cylinder turbocharged engines, some cars have, and still make use of the two-cylinder engine setup which has been found mostly in motorcycles and power sports applications. Any gear head you find will always ask the all-important question about a car: "What's it got?" However, the response you give them if it's a two-cylinder may not be the one they were waiting for, at least not immediately. The best engines available today offer a winning combo of both performance and personality, spanning a variety of configurations from three to even twelve cylinders. The two-cylinder, also known as inline-twin or vertical or parallel-twin engine, is a two-cylinder piston engine with its cylinders arranged side by side and pistons connected to a common crankshaft.

Updated March 2022: Apart from electric and hybrid power plants, small and efficient gas engines are all the rage now. That's why we've updated this list with some more cool and unique 2-cylinder cars that surprisingly had plenty of power and pull to navigate city streets and highways.

If you compare it to the V-twins or flat-twins, the two-cylinder is more compact, easier, and sometimes cheaper to make. The difference is you get more vibration during operation. Cars with straight-twin engines tend to be small and can be either city or kei cars. The most recent examples you'll hear right off the bat include the Tata Nano and Fiat cars, which use the TwinAir engine. In power sports, you'll find them on all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, and outboard motors among others. The good thing about the two-cylinder engine is the advantage of being more compact, and cheaper to make, besides being relatively simple compared to other twin engines. Despite being prone to vibration because of either irregular firing intervals or large reciprocating mass, they still follow the tried and tested engineering maxims that dominate the industry for more than five decades.

Here are 20 of these cars that surprisingly ran on, or run on two-cylinder engines.

20 2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo

2014 Alfa Romeo Mito
via carbase

The 2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo came with a wide range of new features which included subtle styling and technological enhancements, and a two-cylinder engine. The MiTo is a mid-life update for Alfa’s smallest model that simply amounts to a chrome-plated frame for the V-shape grille, together with almost discernible enhancement in its head and tail-light fitting. Despite the MiTo's microscopic engine, its personality was lively and charismatic. Its petrol-sipping turbocharged two-cylinder produced just 103 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque, and to reach 60 mph, the MiTo required 11 seconds which matches with an easy-shifting six-speed manual making it disarmingly fun to drive. In essence, the MiTo was a quirky fun little city car with an equally interesting engine layout.

Related: Awesome Facts About Alfa Romeo And Its Cars

19 2014 Volkswagen XL1

Volkswagen XL1
Via: Newpress

The XL1 might have looked like a plug-in-hybrid electric sports car able to compete with something like the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, but in actuality, it was Volkswagen's attempt at creating one of the world's most fuel-efficient sports cars ever. It had every indication of being a blisteringly fast cruiser, a streamlined body, unpractical cabin with two seats, and a ride-height as close to the ground as possible. However, there was one anti-supercar element to the XL1, and that's its engine. Volkswagen's so-called supercar inhabited an 800cc 2-cylinder diesel engine accompanied by an electric motor. This resulted in a total power output of 68 hp and 100 ft-lb of torque, and while this might sound rather disappointing, its minuscule weight and aerodynamical dome resulted in an unbelievable fuel consumption figure of 240 MPG... unfortunately it couldn't compensate for its lackluster 12.7-second 0-60 time, nor its 99 mph top speed.

18 2015 Suzuki Celerio Diesel

Suzuki Celerio Diesel Front View
Via: autotrader.co.za

The Suzuki Celerio has been around for ages and serves as a brilliant budget-friendly commuter. The Cerlerio used to only be offered with a petrol engine, but in 2015 Suzuki added a diesel variant of the Celerio, and it came equipped with an 8 valve 793cc 2-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine.

Suzuki Celerio Diesel Rear View
Via: autotrader.co.za

Let's cut to the chase, it was dreadful. It sounded as if it was on the verge of imploding every time you cranked the motor, it only produced no more than 46 hp, and could go from stationary to 60 mph in around 15 seconds. If you were able to make peace with sluggish acceleration, and a sub-par interior, the Celerio Diesel still could achieve a combined 64 MPG which is far superior to any other affordable commuters.

17 1969 Honda N600

Honda N600
Via silodrome.com

If you thought it is only modern cars that were fitted with 2-cylinder engines, we have a surprise for you. The Honda N600 was the first-ever Honda to be exported to the United States, and in the year 1969, it came fitted with a 598cc 2-cylinder air-cooled engine that pushed it to a top speed of 80 mph and returned 40 MPG. The twin engine’s single overhead cam was chain-driven from between the bores, and it was fed by a single 1-barrel carb. Looking back at it, the N600 seems quite impressive in comparison to other cars from the early '70s, but the American public thought otherwise - they considered this Honda hatch to be too underpowered. And for this exact reason, Honda was forced to replace the N600's inline-two with a 4-cylinder that produced more power and better gas mileage.

16 1974 Mazda RX-3 Super Deluxe

Mazda RX-3 Super Deluxe
Mazda RX-3 Super Deluxe Front 3/4 View

The 1974 Mazda RX-3 Super Deluxe is one of the older cars that would be difficult to love in modern times since it lacked so many luxuries we're used to today. The RX-3 is noisy, unreliable, and had poor fuel economy, but nonetheless still an iconic car responsible for some of Mazda's most noteworthy sports cars like the RX-7. Why the RX-7 in particular you might ask? Mazda's rotary engine, of course, and the Super Deluxe featured two of them. As before mentioned, the RX-3 was purely focused on driver feel and disregarded any form of comfort, so its combined displacement of 1.1 liters wound up 95 horsepower which offered the driver a responsive and rewarding experience behind the wheel.

Related: Here's What Made The Mazda RX3 Special

15 2008 Tata Nano

Tata Nano
via Indianomics

The Nano has been described as the cheapest compact Indian car ever made, and it rightfully deserves its name. The standard Nano was produced by JA Motorsport, and they fitted it with a 624 cc two-cylinder motor which produced 37 horsepower, and with that mediocre amount of power, it had to save weight where ever it could. Therefore, the Nano had just one windscreen wiper, no power steering, no air conditioner, no airbags, and not even an external trunk latch. Despite all Tata's efforts, the Nano was still a sluggish vehicle doing 0-60 in well... 65 mph was its top speed, and was barely ever obtainable.

14 2020 Fiat 500 Sport

Fiat-500S
Via: netcarshow.com

Yes, we've talked about Fiat's TwinAir engine earlier on in this list, but once it came down to the Fiat 500 Sport, the engine's peak was reached. Its 2,200 lb curb weight was impeccably complemented by its 0.9-liter two-cylinder twin-turbocharged petrol engine that produced 106 hp and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Sure power figures aren't on the level of an Abarth for example, but it's more than sufficient to chuck through corners and have a blast - did we mention that it's probably the coolest-looking 500 you can buy without going full-on Abarth.

Related: A Look Back At The Evolution Of The Fiat 500

13 2005 Mazda RX-8 Special Edition

2005 mazda rx-8 special edition
via carpictures

The RX-8 special edition is one of the rare modern sports cars with two-cylinder engines. Well, they are rotary engines, but they still have two rotors (though to be fair that makes them about equivalent to a four-cylinder). This vehicle is powered by a naturally-aspirated 238 hp 1.3-liter twin-rotary engine that appears to be diminutive but its efficient rotary design alongside its advanced three-stage intake system and electronic throttle delivers smooth, linear power on a grand scale. The car’s fuel bank is fixed at the head of the rear axle while its seating is within the wheelbase and track of the RX-8. Combined with other factors, the car's equal weight distribution leads to rapid movement and excellent handling.

12 2018 Morgan 3 Wheeler

Morgan Three Wheeler
Via Morgan Cars

The 2018 Morgan 3 Wheeler is another vehicle that comes equipped with a two-cylinder engine. It is powered by a 2.0-liter V-twin motorcycle engine that returns 82 bhp through the single rear wheel. At high speed, it is easy to spin the wheel, and the car can do the 0-60 mph dash at around 6.0 seconds. When you are at 30 mph on a straight pavement, you will get the sense of busting the sound barrier. The three-wheeler has quick steering, though you will experience a brutally harsh ride, and comfort is something not close with it. Other than the uncomfortable ride, its two-cylinder and side-mounted exhausts produce an incredible racket and transmit a good amount of vibration through the whole vehicle.

Related: 5 3-Wheeled Cars We'd Actually Love To Own (5 That Are Best Avoided)

11 1976 Citroën 2CV

The Citroen 2CV Parked
via lexclassics

The Citroën 2CVs It was produced between 1948 and 1990 and was considered a rugged, useful and affordable car. 2CVs were designed for a specific goal, including carrying four people, and 50kg of goods at 30 mph across muddy and unpaved roads. Over eight million 2CVs and derivatives were made, making them the most common two-cylinder car of all time. It is fitted with a horizontally-opposed air-cooled twin-engine similar to that of the BMW motorbike. The car made its debut in 1978 and its 375 cc engine made only 9 hp, but if you need a car to keep up with traffic, then Citroën would definitely do the job since it is quiet, allowing you to drive all day long at maximum revs.

10 1996 Chrysler Composite Concept Vehicle

Citroen 2CVs
via bbc.com

It is in 1996 that the American Motor Corporation proposed a "minimalist" concept car that was destined for the Asian market, and they called it the CCV. The concept car's name stood for Composite Concept Vehicle, and it resembled the Citroën 2CV. Like the 2CV, the Chrysler CCV comes with a small twin-cylinder engine, a dashboard gearshift lever, and a cloth roof that opens up easily. The Chrysler features a reduced weight together with several recycled parts used in construction.

9 1971 Abarth 595 SS

abarth 595 classic
Via: Hemmings

We've already talked about the modern rendition of the Fiat 500, and briefly mention the Abarth tuning company, but they have been making cars since time began. One of their most noteworthy models was the 595 SS, they even built a modern revival of the SS as a celebration of its 70th anniversary. The 1957 Abarth 595 SS was a compact little city car with heaps o personality, and to complement its charismatic design was a nippy little 37-hp 2-cylinder engine. While that might sound like the power of a paraplegic horse, its 1,036 lb curb weight allowed the teensy engine to create what we now call Italian magic.

8 2006 Loremo LS

A-White-Loremo-LS-Concept-Car
Via Supercars.net

As time goes by diesel engines are fading away, but a German automotive company has developed a car with such an engine. The Loremo LS is powered by a turbocharged twin-diesel engine that makes only 20 bhp. Despite the little power, it is claimed that this car has a top speed of 138 mph with a fuel economy average of 157 MPG, mainly due to the concept car's unbelievable light curb weight of about 990 lbs. Loremo developed this car to be safe and efficient, so they even removed all unnecessary heavy features and the LS could carry four people if you squeezed in tightly.

7 1965 Toyota Sports 800

Toyota Sports 800 3/4
Via: Toyota

It would be hard to believe that it was Toyota who produced this car, let alone the fact that it is a two-cylinder engine vehicle. The Toyota Sports 800 was produced between 1965 and 1970 and come with an air-cooled twin-carb two-cylinder unit of 790cc that produced 44 hp. No one would expect this car to tear their faces with its acceleration, but it still managed to beat Honda's S800 by utilizing every bit of power produced by the tiny engine, and its two carburetors. Only 300 Sports 800s were ever made, and all were left-hand drive, seeing as no one in the US could recall its existence.

6 1979 Suzuki Whizzkid

Suzuki Whizzkid
via honestjohn

Rarely do kei cars ever get out of Japan, but in case they do get out, the outcome of such an instance was the Suzuki Cervo, more commonly known as the Whizzkid. One thing that made this car so special was its engine – it was at the back, a rear-drive micro-911 in the era of front-engine/front-drive econobox clones. The Suzuki Whizzkid was made available for sale from 1979 coming with a four-cylinder engine fitted initially, but also featured a tiny 356cc two-cylinder engine. One key feature that sets the Whizzkid apart from everything on the road today is its styling which still looks great to this day.

5 1972 Honda Z600

Honda Z600
Via Old Cars Weekly

Honda Z600 is one of the smallest cars ever offered in America. The Honda Z600 came with just one rear window, funky coupe profile, and was painted with any color a customer would want so long as it was tangerine with Starsky and Hutch stripes. Its engine was inspired by the Honda motorbike, hence it came with an air-cooled all-alloy 599 cc two-cylinder that could rev to the moon. It was driven with front wheels and got the power through its four-speed manual transmission, and although the car wasn’t fast, it had good fuel economy. Other unique elements within the car include a switch that allowed the Z600 to send power to the rear wheels, a four-point roll bar, and painfully uncomfortable plastic bucket seats.

4 1957 BMW 600

BMW 600 Larger Bubble Car
via BMW

Its design might not be the best throughout car history, but this bubble vehicle is one of the major reasons BMW still exists today. This car was produced in the 1950s and its sales bankrolled BMW in austere times. The BMW 600 was powered by a 585 cc version of BMW’s contemporary flat-twin motorbike engine, and it was put at the rear. The engine came with a Zenith carburetor and was mated to a four-speed manual transmission with synchro-mesh technology. Other features within the 600 include front trailing arm suspension with coil springs, rear semi-trailing arm suspension coil springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The engine produced only 20 hp and the 600 had a difficult time reaching 60 mph. Regardless of its small size, the 600 could carry four people and was fitted with many comfort features.

3 1950 Saab Ursaab

The Ursaab on the move
netcarshow.com

The fighter plane makers decided to fit their first-ever car in 1950 with a two-cylinder, two-stroke unit fixed transversely at the front. The Saab displaced a 764 cc unit and returned just 24 hp. This car wasn’t that fast, but it was brilliant. The car’s body styling was novel and provided damage resistance in an event of an accident while its wide wheels arches provided room for snow accumulation without interfering with the wheels. During manufacturing, the important requirement was that the Ursaab had to have a very low drag coefficient and the aerodynamic tests were part of the early evaluations. We'd love to get the chance to experience what the Ursaab was like to drive.

2 1957 Messerschmitt Tg500

Messerschmitt Tg500
via classicconnection

This mini car was founded by Willy Messerschmitt, who used to build light airplanes and the Tg500 was produced between 1957 and 1961. The Tg500 was a four-wheeled high-performance (we use that word lightly) version of Fritz Fend’s Messerschmitt. This car's advantage over motorcycles was that its occupants were kept warm and dry without sacrificing superb handling characteristics. Unsurprisingly, this car did not succeed commercially, but it showcased how little power was required for great performance when the car’s weight together with air drag is kept down.

1 1963 Panhard 24 CT

Panhard 24CT
Via: amklassiek.nl

Between 1963 and 1967, the Panhard 24CT boasted the world record for the most expensive two-cylinder car. Its price almost matched that of a Jaguar Mk2, and the Panhard was powered by an air-cooled twin-flat engine that allowed for excellent performance for its class. With only 848 ccs, it produced 59 hp and had a top speed of 99 mph. This idiosyncratic French coupe was unbeatable in its class at Le Mans also. This car was driven by its front wheels, and it switched from oversteer to understeer In an instance, hence its astonishing cornering capabilities. The instruments with their dials were easy to read, and its heating system included ducts that took air through the door and de-misted the back window.