For those of us who don’t get to enjoy a lot of cylinders under our hood, a loud and high-revving engine easily comes at a close second. It’s the thing that separates a boring commuter from a thrilling budget track toy or project car.
With horsepower being a function of torque and high engine RPM, higher redlines usually mean more power relative to the engine’s size. Therefore, designing an engine to rev higher is essentially a great alternative to strapping in a turbocharger or having to increase engine displacement at the cost of efficiency. The Japanese have cracked that code before most other nations, which is why JDMs are so revered among gearheads and enthusiasts on a budget.
Apart from being synonymous with high-performance cars, high redlines also provide the benefit of better engine notes. Consequently, a list of the highest-revving four-cylinder engines will naturally contain some of the best-sounding ones as well.
No matter if there’s 500 or just 100 horsepower under the hood, a high-revving engine is enough to bring a smile to any gearhead’s face. And luckily for many of us, there are plenty of high redlines to be had on the 4-cylinder end of things.
10/10 2013-2020 Subaru BRZ (Scion FRS/Toyota GT86) – 7400 RPM
It’s hard to find any serious gearhead who doesn’t appreciate the BRZ’s traditional sports car chassis and RWD layout, especially when paired with a manual transmission. For most, the main complaint has always been that the car is just too good for the engine, which doesn’t sound like a complaint at all. Indeed, the naturally-aspirated flat-four made just 200 hp, but that was still more than enough to make the BRZ and GT86 twins incredibly thrilling on the track and good country road.
What the naturally aspirated boxer-four lacked in power (200 hp), it made up for in revs. The first generation model lasted for seven years and revved 400 rpm higher than its 2022 successor, hitting a 7400-RPM redline and producing its peak 200 hp at 7000 RPM and 151 lb-ft of torque at 6400 RPM. It also got a small bump of 5 hp and 5 lb-ft in 2017 for the manual transmission versions only. Still, it will do 0-60 in about 6.3 seconds and reach a top speed of a respectable 147 mph.
9/10 Porsche 718 – 7500 RPM
Honda isn’t the only manufacturer that makes small four-cylinder engines with ear-piercingly high redlines. The Germans have been at it for quite a while, but mostly with higher cylinder counts to boot.
With the new 718, Porsche has also added an incredible high-revving four-pot into the mix. Porsche claims it improves efficiency by using up to 13 percent less fuel.
Most people fishing in this budget range will not be happy with just four cylinders under the hood, but all that aside, the new 718 makes for an incredible sports car. Despite its redline being set at 7000 RPM, this car will safely rev to 7500 if you hold the gas pedal long enough. Porsche offers two four-cylinder options: a 2.0L and 2.5L, both turbocharged and making peak power at 6500 RPM (making 300 hp and 350 hp, respectively).
8/10 2007 Honda Civic Type R FN2 – 7800 RPM
In the long history of the Honda’s Type R performance car lineup, the FN2 Civic Type R is far from its best creation. It received mixed reviews upon launch, in part due to a seemingly downgraded suspension and handling versus the predecessor, causing it to snowball into unpopularity.
Today, the 2007 Honda Civic Type R FN2 can easily be considered underrated, with a fun engine and decent power on tap. It makes 201 hp at 7400 rpm and 144 lb-ft at 5900 RPM. However, the engine revs up to 7800, giving it that distinctive Honda VTEC kick, along with a great note.
7/10 2001 Acura Integra GS-R – 8000 RPM
Among serious JDM enthusiasts, old-school Fast and Furious fans, and alike, the 2001 Integra GS-R needs no introduction. It’s a legend in the community that not even the new 2022 revival can live up to.
A massive part of the reason why this old JDM car is so popular is of course its 1.8-liter, DOHC VTEC inline 4 – a small but deadly unit producing 170 hp at 7600 RPM. An incredible project car chassis combined with an engine redlining at about 8000 RPM makes the GS-R an absolute fan favorite even today.
6/10 Honda EK9 Civic Type R – 8400 RPM
The first and still one of the most desirable Honda Civic Type R models ever produced, the EK9 is a stalwart of the hot hatchback segment. Even 25 years since it was introduced, the EK9 proves that enthusiasts need not look at new or expensive hot hatches to get all the thrills (and revs) they’ll ever need.
Technically already a classic car, the EK9 is still an affordable project car designed for thrills, and if you don’t believe this when reading the specs sheet, the screaming 8400-RPM redline can be very persuasive.
5/10 2005 Lotus Elise (And Exige) – 8500 RPM
Almost two decades after their debut, the Elise and Exige siblings are still some of the most thrilling four-cylinder sports cars on the used market. They owe this to their lightweight chassis and Toyota’s incredible contribution in the engine department. Powered by Toyota’s 2ZZ-GE 1.8-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine, these cars are your best bet for high-rev thrills if you’re set on buying British.
Weighing in at just 1975 lbs, the Elise reaches 60 mph in just 5 seconds. Push the gas pedal long enough and the engine will reach a head-spinning 8500 RPM, with peak 190 hp produced at 7800!
4/10 Honda Civic Type R (FD2) – 8600 RPM
Many Honda fans will agree that the FD2 is the best Civic Type R ever built. It may not be as quick or powerful as the new FL5, but what it lacks in power it makes up for in spirit. Everything about the car is perfect, from its fitting design to its stance, and most importantly its engine. It’s the highest-revving Civic ever made and the best way to enjoy that eponymous high-RPM Honda VTEC sound with a roof over your head.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter K20A naturally-aspirated unit producing 225 horsepower at 8000 RPM. However, it redlines at an orchestral 8600 RPM, with many owners pushing the rev limiter even further.
3/10 Honda S2000 – 8900 RPM
The Mazda Miata is fun, but the Honda S2000 is where it’s really at. If you’re a JDM enthusiast looking for the most thrilling budget convertible out there, the S2000 is your best bet. Finding these is, however, becoming increasingly difficult due to just how revered they are among enthusiasts. In fact, many buyers still pick expensive used S2000 examples over brand-new sports cars due to just how fun the high-revving V-TEC engine and convertible sports car design is.
It may have become a meme at this point, but in the S2000, the VTEC really does kick in – and when it does, it feels like you’re working with much more than 240 hp. The highlight, however, is the engine note. Despite rocking just four cylinders under the hood, the S2000 is easily one of the best-sounding cars ever made, and that’s saying something.
2/10 Caterham R500 – 9000 RPM
Created as Caterham’s most extreme and enthusiast-friendly model, the R500 is a blood-curdling thrill when unleashed on the road. It doesn’t just owe that to its amazing power (263 hp at just over 1000 lbs, but also the sheer sound of its four-cylinder engine. Revving up to 9000 RPM, the sound of the engine alone is enough to scare other drivers on the road into letting you pass.
With that crazy naturally aspirated engine and featherlight weight comes a 0-60 time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 146 mph, which is more than you’d ever want to go in this thing.
1/10 Honda S500 – 9500 RPM
Honda’s first passenger car, the S500 also one of its coolest. Leave it to Honda to give the first true consumer car (a Kei model at that) a 9500-RPM redline. The model would set the tone for Honda’s consumer cars ever since and immediately earn enthusiasts’ favor.
The S500 left the factory floors in 1963. When it did, it used a 492-cc dual-overhead inline-four unit developed using Honda’s motorcycle expertise. The engine produced just 44 horsepower but revved almost as high as a modern F1 car. With revs going up to a stratospheric 9500 RPM, this small Kei convertible also outrevs modern supercars like the Lexus LFA (9000 RPM) and Ferrari LaFerrari (9250 RPM). So, if you’re fishing for a cool JDM classic, the Honda S500 is an absolute gem.
