What does it take for a car to go very fast? A great engine, but is a big engine all that a car needs? Frankly, if you look at the track record of cars, it’s not always the bigger engines that have scored higher in terms of performance and speed. While the V8s are powerful, the V6s, on the other hand, have sometimes been overshadowed by even inline-fours for that matter.

Updated May 2022: With emission laws getting stricter by the day, carmakers are forced to over-engineer small engines and squeeze them for power we never thought possible. That's why we've updated this list with some new cars that boast impressive performance despite their ridiculously small engines.

Related: 10 Fastest Hot-Hatches Around The Nürburgring

It’s not just the size of the engine that matters, because bigger isn’t always better. The skill of the driver, the power-to-weight ratio of the car, the wind shear and resistance, the punchy or weak acceleration, and the tuning of the engine all work to make the car zippy fast. Or inversely, a drag to drive. Most of us look at a car with a small engine and automatically assume it’s a slowpoke, till it revs and leaves us in the dust – pretty much eating our hats. Smaller engines fitted into smaller cars can give you the same performance as does a big car fitted with a big engine, and when adding an electric motor into the mix, things only get better. Ultimately, it all boils down to mass and tuning, not just sheer power.

So, in case you thought these cars were slow, think again – for these are 20 insanely fast rides with tiny, nonsensical engines.

15 2022 Koenigsegg Gemera

2021 Koenigsegg-Gemera Hypercar
Koenigsegg

We're going to start off this list will the most ludicrous car we've ever seen, the Koenigsegg Gemera. To warm up your eyes for what you're about to read, remember that Koenigsegg's also produces other hypercars like the 1,600 hp Jesko Absolut...

Let's bombard you with numbers immediately: 2.0 liters of displacement, no cams, three-cylinders, 3 electric motors, and a combined power output of up to 1,700 hp. The Gemera is one ruthless 4-seater, and soon it'll be made available to the public, so we can go out and buy one... well that is if you have a cheeky $1.7 million-budget, and if you react quick enough before all 300 units are sold out.

14 2020 Toyota GR Yaris

The front of a red GR Yaris cornering on the race track
Toyota

Everything onwards might seem tame in comparison to the Gemera, but do keep in mind that the Koenigsegg isn't a very attainable vehicle, while the rest of our entries are. So, let's talk about the car that shares the same engine with the newly unveiled Toyota GR Corolla, the GR Yaris.

Underneath its teeny hood is a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine that puts out up to 268 hp to all four wheels, and it can be tamed via a 6-speed manual gearstick. It's crazy to see how far carmakers can push cars with fewer than 4 cylinders in their engine bay.

13 2019 Mercedes-AMG A45s

Mercedes-AMG A45 - Front
Via NetCarShow

Now this is the world's most powerful four-cylinder-powered car, and it's built by a brand more renowned for their luxury vehicles than anything else, Mercedes-Benz. Sure, it might be an AMG-variant, but that's not this point. This souped A-Class is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-four that produces an astonishing 415 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, and thanks to Mercedes' 4Matic+ system, the A45 is capable of pulling of some serious drifts and well as a stupendous 3.9-second 0-60 time.

12 1979 Mazda RX-7

1979 Mazda RX-7
BringaTrailer

The Mazda RX-7 was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car that used a tiny lightweight Wankel engine to power itself. These engines were a part of Mazda’s piston-less rotary engine family and used rotors instead of pistons to thrash out power.

These power-churning mills were neither the first ones nor the last jewels to fit into these speedy crowns. Nonetheless, they were definitely one of the best we have ever come across. The first-generation RX-7 came equipped with a 1.1-liter unit that pumped out 100 hp, which was enough for the lightweight sports car to offer peppy-for-the-time performance. The last two years of this generation (1984-85) saw a 1.3-liter, 135-hp engine, offered in the top GSL-SE trim level, join the 1.1-liter engine.

11 1991 Suzuki Cappuccino

Suzuki Cappuccino
Via Suzuki

The Suzuki Cappuccino was powered by a 0.66-liter 12-valve DOHC engine tied to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. These inline-three engines were turbocharged and inter-cooled.

The engine churned out a healthy 63 horsepower which is good enough for this small, two-door 1598-lb microcar. The best thing about it is the three-piece detachable roof panels. So one could alter the fully convertible Cappuccino according to his or her mood and turn the car into a closed coupe, a Targa-top, or an open-top roadster. Undoubtedly this triple-whammy rear-wheel-drive was a favorite among the first-timers in the Gran Turismo scene back in the 90s.

Related: 10 Reasons Why We Love The Suzuki Cappuccino

10 2022 Ford Fiesta ST

Ford-Fiesta_ST-2022-1280
Via: NFord

The Ford Fiesta ST runs on a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine that cranks out up to 200 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque. This hot hatch is dubbed as Ford’s most thrilling "normal" car. Although it doesn’t sport a pony on the front grille, it definitely is a great benchmark for successfully-downsized engines that have proved beneficial in the long run. Its engine features Ti-VCT, Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, for improved performance, and better fuel economy. The Fiesta ST achieves a 0-60 time in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 144 mph. Clearly, this is a $33,000 Ford and not a Lamborghini. And worth each penny.

9 2014 Cadillac CTS

Blue Cadillac CTS Parked Front 3/4 View
via cadillac.com

Well, this Caddy hides a teensy 2.0-liter all-aluminum turbocharged inline-four under its hood that is very potent. This 2014 Caddy’s mill jets out a massive 272 horsepower and an equally immense 295 lb-ft worth of torque.

The Cadillac CTS’s gasoline unit comes from the GM’s Ecotec engine family, and it is tied to a six-speed automatic transmission. Overall, the CTS was applauded for its driving dynamics and overall reliability by various reputable motoring establishments, well done Cadillac.

8 1980 Renault 5 Turbo

Renault 5 Turbo - Front
Via Historics 

The Renault 5 Turbo is one of the best high-performance hatches from all angles. Also known as R5 Turbo, this car was initially designed for participating in motor rallies, and it was an overnight success and became one of the most ferocious rally monsters ever born.

Following the success, it was soon launched as a street-legal car in 1980, its debut year. The 5 Turbo hides a 1.4-liter turbo inline-four workhorse under its hood that was tied to a five-speed manual transmission. And the hot hatch’s mill coughed up a substantial 158 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. It won four WRC titles in its career spanning six years from 1980 to 1986.

7 2021 Volvo XC90 T8

2022-volvo-xc90
Via: Volvo

The second-generation Volvo XC90 carries a punchy 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four under its belly. This "Vo" uses Volvo’s matchless DRIVE-E powertrain that reduces CO2 up to 30% and increases the engine’s power output. The result is a whopping 400 horsepower, strong enough to give a reasonable pace to this animal that weighs more than 5,000 lbs. Plus the XC90 is loaded with Volvo’s elitism, be it the interior or the exterior, of this high-performance car. This luxury SUV may be carrying a smaller engine as compared to its rivals, but it certainly is a lot more effective.

6 1957 Lotus Seven

1958 Lotus Seven S1 Sports Car
Via: BringaTrailer

The Lotus Seven or the Caterham Seven is a small open-top sports car that was powered by a 1.2-liter Ford flathead inline-four engine thrashing out 40 horsepower. These figures were good enough for this lightweight (about 1100 lbs) ride to be a part of club racing events on short tracks. The Seven may not be carrying a hard-hitting engine for straight lines, but it surely is a delight to drive when on windy roads. Its fingertip steering is as light as its weight and when you’re cruising it gives you a feel of a cool sports car. The drive is so effortless that one doesn’t have to work hard to extract the maximum out of it.

5 2015 Ford F-150

Ford F-150 2015
via ExtremeTech

The Ford F-150 has been carrying its legacy into the next generation for years, albeit Ford offers an electric variant called the F-150 Lightning.

Underneath the hood of this 2015 truck is only a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 warhorse to power itself. And the result is an outstanding 325 horsepower, enough for its unconventional truck buyers. This 2015 F-150 uses GM’s all-aluminum EcoBoost engine that is mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission. It was also the first pickup in the trucking world that came with adaptive cruise control. That means it can alter the speed of the pickup for safety whenever needed, automatically. And it features best-in-class towing capabilities and can carry heavy payloads.

Related: This New Ford F-150 Has The Heart Of A Mustang

4 1964 Mini Cooper S

via shannons.com.au

The Mini was initially sold under the Austin and Morris names as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor respectively until it became a brand of its own in 1969. The 1964 Cooper S, its sports variant, was a 1.1-liter warrior that was a successful rally car of that era. The Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally from 1964 till 1967, back to back. Although in 1966 this car was disqualified for using an illegal combination of headlamps and spotlights. This four-time Monte Carlo titleholder has undeniably lived up to its reputation, time and again. One giant feat the original Mini has is that it was voted the second-most-influential car of the 20th century (COTC) in 1999.

Related: This Is Why We Love The Mini Cooper S

3 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d

Silver Mercedes-Benz GLE
Via Mercedes-Benz USA

Unlike other Mercs, this Mercedes GLE 300d is propelled by a teeny 2.0-liter twin-turbo diesel engine. It has four cylinders and can manage a peak of 241 horsepower and an expectedly high 367 lb-ft torque. The four-door SUV’s aluminum cylinder block is paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Plus this all-wheel-drive has an option of air suspension to make life easier. In terms of performance, it exhibits a maximum trailering capacity of 6,000 lbs contrary to its small size engine and is also capable of doing a 0-60 mph sprint in brisk 6.8 seconds. Well, it may not be an AMG, but it is certainly apposite for its class.

2 2016 BMW 528i

2012 BMW 5 Series
Via: Autotrader

The 2016 BMW 528i carries a courageous 2.0-liter inter-cooled turbocharged mill hidden under its long nose, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 528i's inline-four engine can produce 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

This gasoline-fueled sedan gives a combined economy of 27 MPG, so the engine may appear small, but the luxury sedan has all the comfort and convenience of a typical BMW class. It is not an exaggeration when we say that the 5 Series has certainly set the standard for premium sports sedans in the auto industry, ever since it was floored in the domestic market in 1972.

1 1960 Fiat Abarth Zagato 750

Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Zagato
Via: The Collector

The Fiat Abarth cars, on the whole, were basically built using Fiat bodies and Abarth engines. The Abarth Zagato versions roped in designer Zagato to cars looked even more beautiful than they ran.

One notable model has to be the rather aerodynamic Abarth Zagato 750 which boasts a single-cam engine. A slightly more luxurious variant of this was dubbed “America” and, was strictly to be sold on domestic shores. The tuned Abarth “derivazione” engine gave out 42 horsepower and yet managed a top speed of more than 90 mph. Different models often managed different speeds so this was one very peppy and powerful set of cars to drive.