Every 4-Cylinder Sports Car Proving Size Isn't Everything – CarBuzz

Performance cars come in many different shapes and sizes, from sleeper sedans that combine practicability, reservedness, and pace to supercars that push the laws of physics to their limit. For gearheads not looking to spend a fortune to have fun, traditional two-door sports cars are an excellent option. Four-cylinder sports cars are fuel-efficient and cheaper to maintain, and they offer fun for a fraction of the cost of a supercar.

With EVs taking over, and cars with large engines being retired at a rapid rate, choosing a potent sports car with a four-cylinder is becoming an ever smarter choice in 2024. These are all the examples of the breed currently available on the new market in the US.

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12 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata: 181 hp

2024 MX-5 Specs

The Mazda MX-5 is the quintessential two-seater sports car, mainly due to its small and light body that is bolted to a simple rear-wheel drive chassis. Having first hit the market way back in 1989, the MX-5 has developed significantly but still stays true to its original formula.

The current-day model has remained affordable when compared to many of its rivals and, thanks to independent suspension all round, it is also one of the best balanced and agile sports cars on the market.

11 2025 Toyota GR86: 228 hp

2025 GR86 Specs

The GR86 is built to a similar formula to the MX-5, in that it is designed to be enjoyable at lower speeds. This makes it better for gearheads that spend most of their driving lives on the public road, rather than the track.

That said, its 2.4-liter inline-four sends a solid 228 hp to the rear wheels. Toyota purposefully ships the GR86 with worse tires than it needs simply to make it slide around and feel more alive, making it popular with drivers who enjoy going sideways.

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10 2023 Audi TT: 228 hp

2023 TT Specs

The TT is one of the most stylish sports cars on the road, though underestimate it at your peril. It differs from traditional Japanese sports cars because the power is transferred to all four wheels, which at least makes it more predictable when driving in dodgy weather conditions.

While therefore not being as balanced through the bends due to more weight being at the front, the TTs finely-tuned chassis still provides a hoot on an empty backroad. It may have gone out of production, but there is still some dealer stock left.

9 2025 BMW 230i: 255 hp

2025 230i Specs

The BMW 230i is a sports car that can be used every day, as it features a decently spacious cabin and a good-sized trunk. It’s unmistakably a BMW performance car from the side, as it features the usual long bonnet and short tail design seen on most of the marque’s spicy entries.

The torquey turbocharged 2.0-liter engine sends its power to the rear wheels, as is tradition for a BMW. The extra weight it carries over the likes of its Z4 cousin means it isn’t quite as alive when attacking a back road, though it’s a good choice for those who want a side of practicality with their sports cars.

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8 2025 BMW Z4: 255 hp

2025 Z4 Specs

Drivers after a cheap-to-run sports car will struggle to beat the BMW Z4, which is available with the same turbocharged four-pot as the 230i. While sharing pretty much identical running gear to the 230i, its smaller frame ensures it is lighter, and can therefore sprint to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

It’s not as spacious as the 230i due to only two seats, while the folding roof also takes room away from the trunk. It’s difficult to replicate the feeling of having the wind through your hair as you clip every apex in sight, though.

7 2024 Toyota Supra: 255 hp

2024 Supra Specs

Much has been said about Toyota’s decision to source BMW running gear, and the rest, for the fifth-generation Supra. The entry-level model gets the same turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 as the 230i and Z4, so it gets the same power figures.

Still, Toyota’s engineers got to work on ensuring the chassis and engine could perform to their maximum potential on their new creation. The Supra can launch to 60 mph in only 5.0 seconds, making it the quickest of the trio of sports cars utilizing the powerplant. The four-cylinder model has been dropped for the 2025 model year, but there is still some stock left at dealers.

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6 2023 Chevrolet Camaro: 275 hp

2023 Camaro Specs

The Camaro wasn’t all about American muscle, as it could also be had with a 2.0-liter I4 engine for those looking to enjoy one of America’s greatest performance cars on a tighter budget. Despite not possessing quite the roar of a V8-powered variant, it possesses enough power to get you into trouble.

It also comes with a generous amount of equipment as standard too, such as climate control and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While nowhere near as powerful as its more muscular siblings, your wallet will be significantly heavier.

5 2024 Ford Mustang: 315 hp

2024 Mustang Specs

Like the Camaro, Ford’s iconic Mustang muscle car can be had with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. The turbocharged Ford powerplant brings way more in the way of muscle though, and its ten-speed automatic gearbox ensures it can bang through the gears effortlessly.

The lighter four-pot also ensures that the handling of the Mustang is more balanced thanks to superior weight distribution when compared to its V8 counterpart. The best thing is, the timeless Mustang looks can be enjoyed without stopping off at a gas station every five minutes.

4 2024 Porsche 718 (Cayman and Boxster): 350 hp

2024 718 Cayman and Boxster Specs

Understanding not every one of its customers sits on a fortune, Porsche went with the times and decided to introduce four-cylinder versions of its Cayman and Boxster models. The engine is placed in the middle in both, making them better balanced than their 911 relative, though the latter is the one you’ll want for a bit of wind-in-your-hair driving.

3 2025 Lotus Emira: 355 hp

2025 Emira Specs

Lotus’ distinctive Emira is at its most potent with the Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-liter V6, though it can also be specced with an AMG-designed 2.0-liter I4. The British brand’s engineers elected to place the engine in the center of the car to improve weight distribution, while its body was specifically designed to produce a significant amount of downforce at high speed to improve grip and stability.

With these elements combined with a finely-tuned Lotus chassis, the Emira is one of the most commanding four-cylinder sports cars on the market.

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2 2024 Mercedes-AMG SL43: 375 hp

2024 SL43 Specs

The SL43 may not be one of the most hardened sports cars on this list, but it’s certainly one of the most powerful. It has a tuned version of the engine found in the Emira, with the extra power coming from a mild-hybrid system. This affords the vehicle an extra 15 hp over the Lotus, though its extra weight hurts it in the twisties.

Its curvaceous body and drop-top make it ideal for posers, while the engine ensures it can shift if needed.

1 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 43 Coupe: 416 hp

2025 AMG-GT 43 Specs

Feeling its 2.0-liter I4 had more potential than its showing in the SL 43, Mercedes’ AMG engineers got to work on extracting some more grunt for use in the four-cylinder version of the AMG-GT. Considering it’s still placed under the hood at the front of the car, the car has a superior weight distribution to its bigger V8-powered sibling at 46/54 front to rear.

As the most powerful four-cylinder sports car on sale today, the AMG-GT 43 provides strong power as well as efficiency.

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