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

Mercedes-Benz AMG SL43
Mercedes-Benz

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.

Mercedes-AMG SL43 light blue driving
Mercedes-Benz

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.

Related: How The Mercedes-AMG SL43 Compares To The Lotus Emira

9 Honda Civic Si

2022 Honda Civic Si HPT Front
Photo by Bassem Girgis

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.

2022 Honda Civic Si HPT Rear
Photo by Bassem Girgis

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.

Related: These Are Our Favorite Features Of The 2022 Honda Civic Si (1 We Hate)

8 Subaru BRZ

2022 Subaru BRZ In Blue
Via Subaru

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.

Subaru BRZ - Front View
Via Car Pixel

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).

Related: Here’s Why The Subaru BRZ Is The Best Sports Car Under $40k To Buy In 2022

7 Toyota Supra 2.0

2022 Toyota GR Supra
Toyota USA Newsroom

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.

Manual Toyota GR Supra Rear Quarter View
via Toyota

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

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

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.

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

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.

Related: BMW M240i Vs Audi RS3 Vs AMG CLA 45S Drag Race

5 Alpine A110

2022 Alpine A110 S front third quarter cornering view
Via: en.media.alpinecars.com

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!

2022 Alpine A110 S rear view
Via: en.media.alpinecars.com

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.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Alpine A110

4 2022 Audi S3

2022 Audi S3 High-Performance Sedan
Via: Audi

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.

2021 Audi S3 High-Performance Sedan
Via: Audi

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.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About The 2022 Audi S3

3 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

Ford Mustang - Front
Via Ideal Auto Sale

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.

Fors Mustang - Rear
Via Ideal Auto Sales

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

Green 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 Sports Car Front View
Via: Porsche

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 rear of the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0
Via Porsche

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.

Related: These Are Our Favorite Features On The Porsche 718 Cayman GTS

1 Lotus Emira

Blue Emira Lotus First Edition
Via: Lotus

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.

Lotus Emira
Via: Lotus

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.