Some of the more costly automobiles on the market in the United States feature high-capacity engines with V8, V12, or even W-layouts. But most of the models on offer in the country have four-cylinder engines. These engines provide a fantastic balance of power, fuel efficiency, and reliability. And that’s what makes them popular.
Once shunned due to their lack of power and displacement, 4-cylinder engines have become the most popular engine choice for anything from family automobiles to sports cars. These engines are displacing six- and eight-cylinder engines at a quicker rate than ever before, thanks to forced induction. Automobile manufacturers are in a race to develop more powerful fours, and the results are spectacular.
Even in upmarket versions, the greatest four-cylinder cars will keep gasoline expenses down when compared to 6- or 8-cylinder automobiles. Other considerations, such as price, scale, and so on, contribute to their popularity. The engine may be the most important part, but it’s not the only important part of a car. The majority of four-cylinder cars on the market now range from adequate to exceptional. Let's look at the coolest four-cylinder sports cars of 2022.
10 Mercedes-Benz SL43
An AMG roadster without a V8 engine may not sound fun, but keep in mind that the new SL43 accelerates to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds on its journey to a maximum speed of 170 mph. All that despite having half as many cylinders as its higher-performance SL55 and SL63 brothers.
The turbocharged inline-four in this model boasts technology drawn from Formula 1 that promises enhanced responsiveness. And Mercedes has been on a roll for a while when it comes to external design. In our books, that’s a win-win, if nothing else.
9 Honda Civic Si
The 2022 Civic Si has a near-perfect blend of performance and daily-driver qualities. It is one of those cars in the brand's small-car lineup that makes more sense in terms of its purpose. With a standard six-speed manual transmission, the Civic Si's 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gas engine produces 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque.
It takes 6.8 seconds to speed up from 0 to 60 miles per hour and comes with an improved manual transmission, a brand-new sporty interior, and a full body redesign. For roughly $28,000, the Civic Si is a package that's hard to beat.
8 Subaru BRZ
The 2022 Subaru BRZ represents an exciting new level of sports car engineering, built from the ground up for true driving aficionados. The new BRZ builts on the success of the previous-gen model and features a sports car layout with a more powerful 2.4-liter naturally aspirated flat-four engine. It now produces 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over the last-gen model's 205 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque.
That’s 23 hp and 28 lb-ft more than the previous generation. One of the most common complaints gearheads had for the old BRZ was that it needs more power, and Subaru listened. The new 2022 Subaru BRZ is available in two trim levels: Premium ($28,955) and limited ($31,455).
7 Toyota Supra 2.0
If you're looking for a luxury sports car, the Toyota Supra 2022 is a terrific alternative to everything that European brands have to offer. The Supra is a thrill to drive, whether you're slicing through twisty roads or driving down the highway. It’s got snappy turbocharged acceleration, dynamic handling, and a controlled ride.
With its eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drivetrain, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, providing plenty of power and rapid response. The starting price of the 2022 Toyota Supra is $43,190, which is far cheaper than any other vehicle in its class.
6 Mercedes-Benz A45 S
The A45 is of the most potent hot hatches currently on the market. In the hot hatch power wars, the A45 is prime. The A45 is currently available in two versions, ordinary A45 and A45 S, like with other AMGs. And the latter has an additional 33 hp.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 376bhp and 350 lb-ft of torque, pushing hard across the rpm band. It'll sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and top out at 155 mph.
5 Alpine A110
The outstanding stat for the A110, like its predecessor, remains the light 2432-lb curb weight. Its driving qualities will scare its coupé rivals on lively, tight routes. Along with all the dynamic features, it also adds to the efficiency of the vehicle, with up to 40 MPG conceivable!
Its four-cylinder mill produces 252 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. The sprint to 60 will still take 4.5 seconds, though, but there’s the feeling of exclusivity and rarity that comes with this one compared to Fords, Toyotas, and Mercs.
4 2022 Audi S3
The Audi S3 for 2022 is a subcompact vehicle with a big personality and enormous power. The 2022 S3 is a brand-new model with all the latest bells and whistles, technology-wise. It is based on the A3 sedan, which was also completely updated for 2022.
Although both cars have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the S3 produces 306 hp. When the S3's raw wrath is unleashed, it can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, which is identical to the Mercedes-AMG CLA35, the S3's closest competition. A 2022 Audi S3 will set you back around $46,000, which is a great deal.
3 Ford Mustang EcoBoost
The Ford Mustang has been around for nearly 60 years. Its production began in 1964, and it has been running unbroken since then. What makes the Mustang cool is its sheer customization potential along with the option of a convertible top.
The 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 330 hp. Since it’s a muscle car, it drives the rear wheels through either a fun 6-speed manual or a spectacular 10-speed automatic transmission.
2 Porsche 718 Cayman S
The Porsche 718 Cayman S is one of the sportiest four-cylinder cars you can buy in 2022. Its mid-engine configuration and calibrated suspension give it a joyous driving behavior that's simply addictive and is an improvement over the previous-gen models.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GTS features a mid-rear-mounted turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine producing 350 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque. It can speed up to 60 mph in only 4.4 seconds while showing great agility on a road that best describes a snake’s crawling pattern.
1 Lotus Emira
The Lotus Emira is one of the most anxiously awaited automobiles we'll be driving in 2022. Lotus has unveiled the first four-cylinder edition of its new sports car, the Emira, and this Jaguar F-Type and Porsche Cayman adversary will be powered by a Mercedes-AMG-derived engine.
This is the very same engine that drives the CLA 45 and GLA 45. It is specifically modified for the Emira by Hethel engineers to deliver 360 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. In simple terms, the Emira looks like one of the best offerings from the British brand, and some say it marks the start of a new sports car era.