The Five Best Four-Cylinder Cars In History Have Been Named

• 20.08.2026, 15:07

These are nearly perfect models.

The four-cylinder engine has long since ceased to be synonymous with modest power. The list includes cars that combined compact engines with impressive performance, a sporty character, and racing technology, writes Top Gear.

The Honda Civic Type R FL5 is one of the list’s leading modern entries. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine produces 325 l. s. and 420 Nm, with all power delivered exclusively to the front wheels. Top Gear notes that thanks to this, the Civic Type R rightfully ranks among the best hot hatchbacks.

Another legend is the Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II. The car was designed with Group A regulations in mind, was equipped with a 2.5-liter engine producing 232 l. s., and, in its racing version, secured Mercedes the DTM title in 1992.

The Renault Megane R26.R demonstrated just how effective a lightweight front-wheel-drive hatchback could be. The turbocharged engine produced 227 l.s., and the car weighed only about 1.2 metric tons. At the Nürburgring, the model completed a lap in 8 minutes and 17 seconds—faster than some significantly more powerful cars of that era.

“An almost perfect car”—that’s how the authors describe the Golf GTI Clubsport S.