If you think the terms “fast car” and “4-cylinder” are incompatible, think again. Some people prefer 4-cylinder engines because they offer better fuel economy than 6, 8, or 12-cylinder engines.
While a 4-cylinder engine may have less horsepower, that doesn’t mean there aren’t 4-cylinder vehicles that can scoot.
A Need for Speed Without Paying Through the Nose
If you crave and thirst for speed but don’t want to spend all your money at the gas station, a 4-cylinder engine might be the perfect solution. Keep reading to learn more about 15 of the fastest 4-cylinder engine vehicles from 2024 to 2025
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S features 416 horsepower. According to Road & Track, it’s “the most powerful four-cylinder production engine on sale, and eclipses even the five-cylinder Audi RS3’s 401-hp output.” It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4 seconds.
Audi S3
Another vehicle on this list is the 2025 Audi S3. It’s powered by Audi’s turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine, which produces 328 hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque. AWD and a 7-speed S tronic transmission are also included. MotorTrend says it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.
Honda Civic Type R
The 2024 Honda Civic Type R has an in-line 4-cylinder engine with a turbocharger under the hood that generates 315 hp and 310 ft-lbs of torque. The motor is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Car and Driver says it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
Volkswagen Golf R
The 2024 Volkswagen Golf R has a 4-cylinder EA888 TSI engine mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG transmission.
It’s plenty quick, too, according to Car and Driver. The publication says the Golf R clocks in at a quick 4.1 seconds from 0-60 mph. You better hurry up if you want a Golf R with a manual transmission. Car and Driver said, “VW announced earlier in 2023 that the 2024 model year is the final year the Golf R (and GTI) will be offered with a six-speed manual transmission.”
Hyundai Elantra N
Next up is the 2025 Hyundai Elantra N. Car and Driver says the vehicle “proves that Hyundai has a fun side with a ton of serious performance and personality.” Noting that the 2025 Hyundai Elantra N begins at $35,100 and climbs to $36,600, the publication adds it has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 286 hp. It’s also available as a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic. The car’s 0-60 mph time is 4.8 seconds.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
With a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder Turbo PHEV engine and a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery with a 90kW e-motor, the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonal PHEV generates 285 hp and 305 ft-lbs of torque. It can go from 0-60 in 6 seconds. AWD comes standard on all Alfa Romeo Tonale models.
Acura Integra Type S
According to Acura, “The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is a new interpretation of sophisticated street performance engineered for a new generation of enthusiast drivers.” It features a 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo engine that generates 320 hp and 310 ft-lbs of torque, mated to a 6-speed transmission.
Audi Q5 45 TFSI
The 2024 Audi Q5 45 TFSI is the second Audi on this list. It features a 2.0 TFSI 4-cylinder engine generating 261 hp and 273 ft-lbs of torque. The Audi Q5 45 TFSI has a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. That’s not as fast as the 2025 Audi S3, which does 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, but it’s quick enough for most drives.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Turbo
At the New York International Show earlier this year, Hyundai unveiled the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Turbo to the world. The vehicle has a 2.5-liter direct-injection in-line 4-cylinder engine producing 191 hp and 181 ft-lbs of torque. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. MotorTrend says the vehicle goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.
Toyota RAV4 Prime
Interested in learning more about an SUV that can do 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds? Meet the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime. It offers 302 hp, standard AWD, and 42 miles of all-electric range. “The RAV4 Prime uses an enhanced version of the RAV4 Hybrid Electric Vehicle’s (HEV) 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gas engine,” says Toyota.
Lexus NX 450h+
Lexus calls the 2024 Lexus NX 450h+ a plug-in crossover with power. “When combined with the hybrid transaxle, a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine delivers on the performance luxury guests are seeking with an estimated 6.0 second 0-60 time.”
Jeep Wrangler 4xe
For the 2024 model year, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe gets “even more legendary 4×4 capability with an available factory-installed 8,000-lb capacity Warn winch, up to 100:1 crawl ratio and new Dana 44 HD full float solid rear axle that allows for tire upsizing by customers and up to 5,000-lb maximum towing.”
The vehicle maker adds that the Jeep Wrangler 4xe powertrain combines two electric motors and a battery pack with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It also has an 8-speed automatic transmission. Among other things, the Jeep has a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds.
Nissan Altima SR VC-Turbo
Discussing the 2024 Nissan Altima SR VC-Turbo, Nissan says the class-exclusive variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine “delivers performance comparable to V6 gasoline engines with the fuel economy closer to that of 4-cylinder models.” Car and Driver says the car has a 5.9-second 0-60 mph time.
Infiniti QX50
The 2024 Infiniti QX50 is a crossover worth considering. Available in five grades, it has FWD as standard and AWD as an option. Its 2.0-liter engine produces 268 hp and 280 ft-lbs of torque. According to MotorTrend, it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds.
Jeep Compass
The 2025 Jeep Compass’ 7.5-second 0-60 mph time might not seem like much, but it’s “roughly in line with competitors,” according to Car and Driver. So, it’s fast enough for its class. Under the hood, the vehicle has a turbocharged and inter-cooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4 paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Consider These 4-Cylinder Vehicles
If you want a fast 4-cylinder vehicle for 2024 or 2025, consider one of the 13 above. You can have your cake and eat it, too, since you’ll get sufficient power and good fuel efficiency.
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