10 Sporty 4-Cylinder Cars Proving Fun Doesn't Have A Minimum Cylinder Count – CarBuzz

There’s still a belief that a sports car needs to have a 6, 8, 10, 12, or 16-cylinder engine in order to be considered a real sports car. Even when you shake off the true definition of a sports car and broaden your scope to performance cars or sporty cars, there’s still a stigma that more cylinders are better. But this is a misnomer and has been for some time now, as automakers have been releasing some absolute heaters for the past couple of decades that continue to flip this script. Remember when the FWD Civic Type R and its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine lapped the Nürburgring faster than a V10-powered Gallardo and Audi R8? Times have changed, and four-cylinders are cool now (sometimes, at least).

2024 Honda Civic Type R

Base MSRP

$44,795

Engine

2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas

Drivetrain

Front wheel drive

Transmission

6-speed manual

Horsepower

315 hp

Torque

310 lb-ft

0-60 MPH

5.3 seconds

Top Speed

170 mph

Expand

We wanted to find 10 four-cylinder sports cars, sports sedans, and hot hatches that show the world there is a replacement for displacement and that there is no minimum cylinder count requirement for fun. You’ll recognize many, if not all, of the cars on this list for good reason; many of them are icons that have been bleeding the four-cylinder lifestyle since their inception. Sure, some cars are meant to have an inline-six or a V8 under the hood, but these models are made better by the rowdy four-bangers they house that make daily driving a breeze without compromising on their ability to be fun to drive.

1 Subaru WRX

2.4-liter Turbocharged Boxer-4

When thinking up this list, one of the first vehicles we came up with was the WRX. This rally-bred icon has been tearing up dirt tracks and terrorizing late-night car meets since it first debuted in the early 90s, and at its core, since the beginning, has been a turbocharged Boxer engine. This has always given the WRX a unique sound, smooth power delivery, and helped to lower the center of gravity in the car. Coupled with the brand’s famous symmetrical AWD, the WRX has always been an incredible choice for those wanting something fun in a difficult climate, and the only thing missing in the newest generation is the lack of a more powerful STI version.

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The latest generation was initially lambasted for being too grown up and too dull, but that’s quickly changed with the introduction of enthusiast trims like the WRX tS.

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2 Hyundai Elantra N

2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4

When Hyundai said it was serious about making performance vehicles, the rest of the world didn’t have high hopes. This was a value brand with great warranties, not one with a performance pedigree like, say, Volkswagen. What did Hyundai know about performance? As it turns out, quite a lot, at least once it hired the right personnel from BMW M. The Elantra N is the second N model we received in the US after the Veloster, and it’s every bit as impressive as we could have hoped for.

Its turbocharged engine is responsive, the DCT is quick, and it can carve up the corners thanks to adaptive suspension and a limited-slip differential. It also sounds seriously mean, and you can row your own gears if you like with an available manual gearbox. Combine all the upgrades from its recent facelift, and you’re left with a model that’s set to be a future classic.

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Expert Opinion

“The Elantra N is a fantastic performance car that you would need to spend another ten grand or so to beat. As someone’s first performance car, we couldn’t think of something better to recommend: It outpaces the Civic Si and Volkswagen Jetta GLI in terms of fun and performance, but there are different values at play with the Elantra N.”

3 Honda Civic Si

1.5-liter Turbocharged Inline-4

The Civic Si is one of those performance cars that feels like it’s been there from the dawn of time. While never the most potent option out there, it’s been consistent in offering just enough performance in a daily-driveable package coupled with one of the best manual transmissions in the industry. Over the years, the vehicle has grown in size, and we would be lying if we said we wouldn’t like at least a tad more power, but the newest generation is genuinely the best one yet. Styling has been refined, although the sportiness is more pronounced now thanks to a facelift, and it’s just begging to be driven hard on some back roads. It may not be as extreme as a Civic Type R, but the Si will always have a special place in our hearts, and at a palatable price.

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4 Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ

2.4-liter Naturally Aspirated Boxer-4

Ah, the twins. We really need a better name to describe both of these models at this point, because always referring to them as the GR86/BRZ is getting old. What doesn’t get old, however, is just how great they are. Who would have thought 10 years ago Toyota and Subaru would unveil two of the best-driving and cheapest sports cars on the market? Then, after years on sale, renew them for another generation, immediately making them better with more boxer power, sharper handling, and better looks? We’re just happy to have them and excited that at least the GR86 will stick around for a little while longer thanks to Toyota’s performance aspirations. Hopefully with turbocharged power this time around.

5 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

2.3-liter Turbocharged Inline-4

Whether you like it or not, the EcoBoost Mustang is here to stay. The newest generation of Mustang debuted for 2024, and under the hood was an updated 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, this time outputting around 315 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. This makes it only marginally more powerful than the outgoing model, and the new Mustang also weighs about the same. While this doesn’t seem like a lot for a muscle car, the engine makes the car a much more manageable daily driver thanks to improved fuel economy. Additionally, thanks to the High Performance package, you can add features like a 3.55:1 Torsen limited-slip differential, summer tires, and a tuned suspension that turns it into a genuine canyon carver. Don’t sleep on the Ecoboost.

The only downside is that you can no longer get a manual gearbox with the EcoBoost motor, and have to settle for the 10-speed automatic unless you get the V8.

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6 Alfa Romeo Giulia

2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4

We don’t care that the Alfa Romeo Giulia was first introduced in 2016; to this day, it’s still one of the most beautiful sedans on the market. Fiat-Chrysler has a knack for design and Alfa’s only US sedan was one of the best as it featured the brand’s iconic styling in a sleek package. While the 500-horsepower Quadrifoglio version will always have a special place in our hearts, we know that amount of power just isn’t necessary for most people, and Alfa has done away with it anyway, leaving the turbocharged four-cylinder as the only option.

Does this mean the Giulia is officially washed up? On the contrary, the four-cylinder has all the power necessary to make the most out of the Giulia’s excellent platform, even if it doesn’t rev that high or sound that great. But the chassis it’s installed in makes all the difference, and with one of the sharpest steering racks we’ve ever encountered, it’s impossible not to smile while hooning the Giulia around. If you’re in the market for a compact luxury sedan, the Giulia is definitely still worth checking out.

7 BMW 2 Series (230i)

2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4

*BMW M240i xDrive Coupe pictured, 230i images not available at time of writing.

With the growth spurt of BMWs over the last 15 years, the closest thing you can get to what the E36 and E46 3 Series once were is now the 2 Series Coupe, available in base form with a 2.0-liter turbo four-pot with a claimed 255 hp that actually punches way above that. Now based on the CLAR platform, it’s bigger and more stable than the previous generation, but despite being highly competent, it’s still fun to drive, especially in rear-wheel drive form. It’s still more compact than the 4 Series, and arguably it’s the better-looking of the two coupes. With an affordable starting price, it’s also a car that feels more luxurious than its pricing may suggest.

8 Volkswagen Golf R

2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4

The Volkswagen Golf R is the ultimate expression of the beloved hot hatch. It’s been with us for two decades now, and over the years it’s gotten more refined and upscale, offering one of the best blends of luxury and performance in the Volkswagen lineup. With the introduction of the eighth generation of the model, hopes were high, but the results were disappointing thanks to frustrating interior controls and driving dynamics that didn’t live up to its predecessors. Hopefully, both of these are fixed with the recent facelift that also brings horsepower up to 328 from 315. All good news, right? Wrong, as the manual transmission option has been dropped on the model for the first time, leaving only the DCT in our place, and slowly crushing our hopes and dreams.

9 Mazda MX-5 Miata

2.0-liter Naturally Aspirated Inline-4

You simply can’t have a list of the best four-cylinder sports cars on the market without including the Mazda MX-5 Miata. This may very well be the four-cylinder sports car, as no other is as beloved and well-respected as the Miata. The fourth-generation model has been on sale for 10 years now, and despite all that time, it looks, drives, and handles superbly. Is there a part of us that still wishes the model had more power? Definitely, but that’s why we’re so excited about the Mazdaspeed successor that the company is already testing on the Nürburgring. Given how good the last one was, we’re extremely excited to see what Mazda cooks up next.

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10 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4

You didn’t think we’d include the Civic Si on this list and not its natural competitor, the Jetta GLI, did you? VW may have just handed the Jetta GLI its second facelift of this generation, but this tends to be a case of “if it ain’t broke…” with a side of trying to keep things affordable for the modern enthusiast. And it caters to gearheads beautifully, retaining a six-speed manual gearbox when even the Golf GTI has ditched, it while providing ample power from its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. To quote CarBuzz road tester Ian Wright, after his recent drive of the 2025 model: