There were Neanderthal periods in automobile history where getting an engine with an output of 300 hp was as rare as seeing a blue moon. Back then, few cars had turbos, and most of them were naturally aspirated. Most of them had big engines but these engines were so inefficient, that despite a 5.0-liter capacity they would still struggle to hit 250 hp. Fast-forward to today and the modern car has evolved into something different. Subaru enthusiasts would brag about how a flat-four engine would hurl out 300 hp and embarrass almost anything on the drag strip. Even Toyota has been pumping out insane power figures out of small three-cylinder engines. Why?

Updated May 2022: With the industry moving closer to the end of the gasoline engine as we know it, car manufacturers are finding innovative ways to squeeze as much power out of small engines as possible. As a result, some ludicrously fast four-bangers emerged. We've updated this list with even more high-performance four-cylinder cars gearheads should know about.

Because man has become cleverer and turbos and superchargers have been turned into legal performance enhancers for the automobile. This means that in this age, we have cars that despite having a 4-cylinder engine, whether inline or flat placed, can still challenge a proper V8 and give it a run for its money. But then again despite the tremendous improvements engineers have been able to make in terms of engine technology, there are still some 4-cylinder engines that are still too weak to even park in the same lot as other V8 and 4-cylinder engines – and we have them all here.

We start off with the 10 most powerful 4-cylinder engines that might just outrun a V8.

20 Outrun A V8: 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Alfa_Romeo-Giulia_Veloce-2017-1024-05
source:netcars

Alfa Romeo might not be a really tough name especially if you view it from William Shakespeare’s perspective but put the name Giulia Quadrifoglio and you would get something totally different. To be precise, you will get the range-topping Alfa Romeo model that has good looks outside and tight brains inside. But the QV model comes equipped with a V6 engine, so for this list, we'll be talking more about the standard Giulia.

The Giulia, apart from looking very Italian sleek from the outside, is backed up by a powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This engine has the capacity to produce a maximum power of 280 hp and a maximum torque of 306 lb-ft, which gets the car from 0-60 in about 5.5 seconds.

19 Outrun A V8: 2022 Audi S3

2022 Audi S3 High-Performance Sedan
Via: Audi

If you love cars with lots of power, superb technology, a beautiful interior, and a good balance between technology and the car’s aesthetics, then the all-wheel-drive 2022 Audi S3 is a perfect fit. This baby uses a powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, with a maximum output of 306 hp and a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft. Compared to the Alfa, this engine has more horsepower, but slightly less torque. And what should that mean? More acceleration. Which is exactly the opposite of what you would have expected. The Audi S3 gets from 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds. This is good enough to challenge a hungry Dodge on the drag strip, which thanks to its ridiculous wheel spin, never gets the launch right.

Related: The Best Features Of The 2022 Audi S3

18 Outrun A V8: 2022 BMW 230i

Red 2022 BMW 230i Coupe Sports Car
Peter Nelson

When it comes to powerful engines, it’s impossible to bypass the 2022 BMW 230i series. Apart from its power-to-weight ratio advantage, this car just gives you class while empowering you to be in charge of the steering wheel, our own Peter Nelson even went on to do a thorough review of this exact red 230i above.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine of the BMW 230i enables the car to produce a maximum power of 255 hp and a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft. If you are a tough guy – meaning you love donuts, oversteer, and changing tires every quarter mile, then the rear wheel version of this car would be a real treat, and if you have some extra cash left, the M240i is an even better greater choice.

17 Outrun A V8: 2021 Cadillac ATS

2018 Black Cadillac ATS Sedan On The Move Front 3/4 View
Via Cadillac

If you’d rather look for a car with an engine that is far from the basic, the 2019 Cadillac ATS premium sedan and coupe range is a good car to choose. The Cadillac gives out a respectable amount of energy to a nimble rear chassis with its powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that provides 272 hp and a maximum torque of 295lb-ft. Civilized men who hate donuts and changing tires every quarter-mile have the option of an all-wheel-drive version. too The four-cylinder engine of the Cadillac ATS also has electronic mounts for amazing smoothness in operation as well as balancer shafts.

16 Outrun A V8: 2022 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE

2019 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE 4-cylinder - Red, Front 3/4 View
via chevrolet

You just have to admit that the days when pony cars had to have a V8 engine are gone. Even if the V8 engines may tantalize you with their amazing unadulterated naturally aspirated vocals, it’s best to enjoy the power that a four-cylinder engine offers – and you won’t have regrets. The car in question now is the Chevrolet Camaro; it has a 2.0-liter turbo four-pot that produces a maximum power of 275 hp and a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft.

This whole package makes the Chevrolet Camaro very desirable, even with a 4-cylinder engine, and of course, it's offered either in a convertible or a coupe.

15 Outrun A V8: 2015 Ford Focus RS

Ford Focus RS - Front
Via Ford

The 2017 Ford Focus RS is a European-derived and American-produced car that is fierce in every way. This four-wheel-drive vehicle operates with a 6-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. The engine squeezes out a maximum power of 350 hp and a maximum torque output of 350 lb-ft. The Ford Focus RS is an electrifying package that combines laser-sharp handling and kinetic energy of a falling meteorite. To put this in proper perspective, the Focus RS humiliated the mighty Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R in the Eboladrome, in Season 1 of the Grand Tour, when Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond decided to duel using the two vehicles. That shows just how good that engine is.

14 Outrun A V8: 2020 Honda Civic Type-R

Honda Civic Type-R - Front
Mecum Auctions

Honda did a great job when they produced the Honda Civic Type-R because it came out as the most powerful muscular street-legal car they ever made. Matter of fact, it broke the record of the fastest four-cylinder engine car ever lapped around the Nurburgring but has been dethroned by another hardcore hot hatch.

Amazingly, this powerful car uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that has the capacity to produce a maximum power of 306 hp and a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft. The Honda Civic Type-R is compact, and it leaves you speechless with a maximum speed of 170 mph – which is admirable. On the exterior, the Honda Civic Type-R has a peculiar design that definitely calls for the attention of every person’s eye – but with varied reactions.

Related: What To Expect From The 2023 Honda Civic Type R

13 Outrun A V8: 2022 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45s

2022 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 High-Performance Sedan
Via: Mercedes-Benz

Most AMG models we know of have extremely large V8 engines with an output of not less than 450 hp. Therefore, it would be technically correct to state that the lucky numbers for this German manufacturer are 8 and 12. Wrong. The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45s is a car that stores an opposite impression. This is because it’s the most powerful four-cylinder production engine ever made by the auto gurus worldwide. Getting straight to the numbers, this four-cylinder engine produces a remarkable maximum power of 416 hp and an impressive maximum torque of 369 lb-ft. When it comes to speed, it wickedly covers 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds which makes this baby nothing less than superb.

12 Outrun A V8: 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster S/718 Cayman S

Porsche 718 Cayman S - Front
Via West Coast Exotic Cars

The Porsche 718 Boxster S and 718 Cayman S are siblings whose only notable difference is in the roofs – after all, most people say all Porsches look the same. The Porsche Boxster has a convertible roof while the Cayman has a fixed roof. Initially, these cars were using naturally aspirated flat-6 engines up until a few years ago. Since emissions regulations result in ever-increasing demands in terms of engine efficiency, the 718 models now use 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 units. These engines produce a maximum power of 350 hp and a maximum torque of 309 lb-ft at a remarkable 1,900 rpm.

11 Outrun A V8: 2014 Volvo V60 Polestar

158327_Volvo_V60_Polestar_model_year_2016
Via: Volvo

Let’s look at these ridiculous numbers first. The Volvo V60 Polestar’s four-cylinder engine is a powerful piece of machinery that produces 362 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque at full charge. How did they achieve this? Swedish Steroids.

The Volvo V60 Polestar runs on a supercharger, which practically squeezes every ounce of efficiency out of the four-cylinder engine. And since it is a supercharger, you practically get no lag with this engine – unlike what you may experience with the CLA or some other turbocharged engines. Sadly, this is where the fun stops. The next 10 entries will look at 10 of the weakest four-cylinder engines out there.

10 Too Weak: 2012 Toyota GT86

White Toyota GT86 Parked Front 3/4 View
Via: Caricos

Let's kick off the next half of the list immediately with a car that looks fast, but in reality, is slower than everything we've just mentioned, the Toyota GT86. In 2012, Toyota released the 86 to the public, and although it drove splendidly and had a six-speed standard transmission, its naturally-aspirated four-banger produced less than 200 hp, which meant it had a 0-60 time just faster than 8 seconds, and a top speed of 145 mph. Luckily, Toyota heard our cries for help, and the new 2022 GR86 comes with more power without ditching its enthusiast-focused driving experience.

9 Too Weak: 2016 Audi A6

2014 Audi A6 TFSI ultra
Via: Audi

For some years, German automotive manufacturers have widely used the Audi/VW 1.8 T engine that made less than 180 hp for many of their production models. In fact, you will see this engine from the very affordable Skoda Octavia to the high-end Audi A6. No matter the car model (especially models from 1997) these engines have proven to be one of the worst you can ever put in a vehicle. Disturbingly, the German manufacturers have kept renewing their vows on the “altar of engine mistakes”, every year. The unsolvable engine issues to date have been early sludge formation in the engine and coil pack failures. There is a saying that goes “once beaten, twice shy,” but in the case of this engine, it’s a matter of “continuous beating, unlimited shy.” Two things are involved in this case. It’s either the manufacturers have turned a blind eye to this issue or the engineers in that department are “one-sided thinkers” who don’t make corrections. No matter the case, this is one engine that should be avoided at all costs.

Related: Here's Why The 2022 Audi RS6 Is The Best All-Round Performance Car Ever Made

8 Too Weak: 2021 Nissan Rogue

2021 Nissan Rogue in Red
Via Nissan

Even though some Japanese car brands are known to be reputable for quality creations, this one is far from the list. In this case, this Asian car manufacturer made a terrible design miscalculation. This particularly has a very high propensity to “pack up” in fewer years from production, than the average life cycle of the engine. Apart from that, despite being manufactured in the modern era, this 180 hp four-cylinder engine had to struggle to hit peak power; matter of fact, the 2021 Rogue was prone to many more issues...

7 Too Weak: 2003 Chevy Cavalier

03 Cavalier
Via AutoEvolution

Before you get startled by the appearance of this engine on this list, just take a chill pill. The newest generation of the Chevy 2.2-liter Ecotec engine has totally gotten better, at least for now. However, the engines made during the pre-2006 generation can’t escape the shame. Thus, if you are about to buy a car with the Chevy 2.2-liter Ecotec engine made during the pre-2006 generation, slow down for a minute. Matter of fact, engage the reverse gear. The older 2.2-liter Ecotec engines had issues with reliability and power. And instead of giving in to your demands for more power, the engine instead listed its own demands of new head gaskets and timing chain components, on a regular basis.

6 Too Weak: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Blue 1990-1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata (First Generation)
Mazda

The MX-5 is arguably one of the, if not the greatest affordable topless sports car ever created, but it was far from being a performance slayer. The first-generation Miata, also known as the NA, was powered either by a 1.6- or 1.8-liter inline-four engine that cranked out between 116 and 133 hp to just the rear wheels. Despite it weighing just 2,100 lbs, the '90s MX-5 could only reach 60 mph from a standstill after 9 seconds had passed. Its power was very mediocre, so it's no surprise the Miata struggled to keep up with most of the traffic, but if you're in the market for a Miata, chances are straight-line speed is the least of your concern.

5 Too Weak: 2016 Subaru Forester XT

Subaru-Forester-1280-03
Via: NetCarShow

It’s a pity that both the Subaru 2.0 and 2.5-liter engines have been objects of analysis in recent years because of their extreme levels of oil consumption. The engine was produced by the manufacturers have believed that it had reached a good conclusion that the engines were not beasts thirsty on oil. Then, after the engines had started leaving the production line in volumes, they began analysis.

To put this in proper perspective, the issue with Subaru cars consuming excess oil was waived by the manufacturers as something normal. Then in 2016, they finally admitted that it was an error from their side after a ton of customers had cried foul. But let’s agree on one thing – if you pack a Subaru engine with the best steroids, it turns into a lovely beast. But then again, you will buy as much oil as a gas having fun with it – which is why the 2.0 and 2.5-liter had to be put here.

4 Too Weak: 1983 Yugo 55

1985-1992 Yugo GV: You Go? Nope, More Like You Stop
via HowStuffWorks

It was the autumn of 1983; the Yugo 55 was first introduced into the market. It had a relatively small 1.1-liter carbureted engine. It output a horrible 55 horsepower making it hold an all-time record as one of the worst engines ever produced in history. And some people out there decided to buy this car and love it more than their family. To add even more insult to injury, it had an awful maximum speed of 86 miles per hour – something that a pro biker contesting in the “Tour de France” competition may even match or possibly dust as well. And apart from drag racing a sloth, winning a snail slithering competition, and getting fired from every job because you came in late, you would need to change the timing belt faster than you change the battery in your own wristwatch.

3 Too Weak: 1984 Pontiac Fiero

Pontiac Fiero - Front
Via Mecum Auctions

The OG Pontiac Fiero might have looked like a baby Ferrari, but in the real world, it was far from it. The 1984 Fiero came equipped with a repeatable 2.5-liter four-cylinder Iron Duke engine, but somehow Pontiac only managed to squeeze 90 hp out of its 2.5-liter displacement, but it gets worse. Since the Fiero had a large engine, it was heavy, and with extra weight, come weaker performance figures, much weaker ones in fact. If you got behind the wheel of Fiero and mashed the accelerator to the floor, this "sports" car would reach 60 mph from stationary in 11 seconds, and only cross the quarter-mile mark after 18 seconds elapsed - that's longer than most economy cars take nowadays.

2 Too Weak: 1978 Porsche 924

Porsche 924 Turbo - Front
Via Elferspot

There is not much to complain about the Porsche 924. This one was simply an Audi engine wearing a Porsche badge – or in simple terms, “a masked robber.” One can get a bit sentimental as the engine was built back then when there wasn’t anything special on the market. However, the main issue with the engine was the fact that the engine vibrated a lot while it was running. It sort of behaved like a furless Polar Bear stuck in the cold of the North Pole winter.

But ironically, the hotter the engine got, the more it vibrated. And because of that, the more you’d step on the gas, the more the 110 hp four-cylinder would stop sounding like a Porsche, and instead start muttering like an Elephant singing in alto. And if you are to pit that against a V8, you would be too embarrassed by the noise of it that would end up losing the race because you couldn’t get the needle to 2,000 RPM.

Related: Something Borrowed: This Porsche 924 Becomes The Car It Deserves To Be

1 Too Weak: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega

1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega
via hemmings.com

This engine was built like it had been sent back in time from the future. It had everything going on well for it because it was just so far ahead of time. Reading out the specifications still sounds like it was just released a month ago. The engine body was cast out of aluminum and it had a very good stainless-steel exhaust header. It even came with an electronic fuel injector and 16 valves built into the engine. It also generated a normal 110 horsepower – which was decent at that time, but still not good enough to pit against a V8. It was just a mess. The four cylinders were not strong enough to handle the wall flexing of the cylinder. Therefore, it made the oil puke regularly. And that means you could never hit redline – which means the 110 horsepower was a number, light-years away.