We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Stuck in traffic, maybe a long day at work, and suddenly, you get that unmistakable itch for pure, unadulterated speed. That primal feeling deep down when you just desperately want to put your foot firmly down and go, to feel the rush of acceleration and the wind in your hair (or maybe just the AC blasting in your face). Here comes the solution for you in the form of fastest 4 cylinder cars.
But you don’t actually need a gas-guzzling, environmentally questionable monster of an engine to get that exhilarating thrill anymore. Turns out, some of the most genuinely exciting and surprisingly rapid drives on the market today come from some unexpectedly efficient and technologically advanced places.
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We’re about to explore an exciting countdown, showcasing the fastest 4 cylinder cars that definitively prove you absolutely can have your speed fix and (perhaps even more importantly in today’s world) still manage to afford to fill up the gas tank without wincing too much. So, let’s ditch the stereotypes and get started!
7 Of The Speediest Four Cylinder Automobiles of 2025
Following are the speediest four cyl automobiles:
7. 2025 Acura Integra Type S – 167 MPH
America isn’t exactly overflowing with love for hot hatchbacks, but a few stubbornly refuse to disappear. Among them, the Civic Type R has been king of this small hill for ages. But maybe, just maybe, you’re after something less loud, yet still plenty punchy? Then, buddy, you’re looking at the 2025 Acura Integra Type S.
The same beating heart as its Honda cousin, the same slick six-speed stick shift, and yeah, front-wheel drive all the way. Suspension is basically a twin. But Acura decided to dial it back, and smooth it out. A sharper suit, a power bump to 320 horses (310 lb-ft twist), and a suspension setup that won’t shake loose your breakfast. This impressive output solidifies its place among the fastest four cylinder turbo vehicles available today.
So, does this make it the smarter pick of the two Japanese bruisers? That’s a matter of taste, isn’t it? MotorTrend clocked the Type S at 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds—shaving almost 2 full seconds off the base Integra’s sluggish 7.0-second run. And compared to the Civic Type R they ran last? Just 0.2 seconds off. Not bad. The quarter-mile? 13.7 seconds later, it’s gone. Top speed is allegedly 167 mph.\Of course, none of this comes cheap. If you want one, get ready to fork over at least $53,795. Worth it? Your call.
6. 2025 Honda Civic Type R – 169 MPH
Once a dream on U.S. soil, the Honda Civic Type R finally roared into American showrooms for the 2017 model year, an arrival long overdue. Ever since, it’s been a magnet for driving purists, perfectly balancing raw excitement with real-world usability.
Fast-forward to 2023, and a fresh iteration landed—styling a tad toned down, aero bits trimmed—but the turbocharged 4 cyl vehicles like this one prove that a smaller engine can still pack a serious wallop. The turbocharged heart beats stronger than ever, spitting out 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
A six-speed manual transmission? Of course. Who cares if the wings got smaller when the essence remained untouched? It’s a razor-sharp, road-legal go-kart, yet somehow, it pulls off grocery runs without a fuss. It fights for dominance against Toyota’s GR Corolla—a rabid beast in its own right. And both of them aim squarely at a long-reigning champion.
Volkswagen’s Golf R, a name nearly synonymous with the hot hatch kingdom. Numbers don’t lie. At Car and Driver’s proving ground, the Type R screamed from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, devouring the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 106 mph. The top speed is 169 mph; a Civic outpacing Bimmers and AMG-badged Mercs. For 2025, no tweaks. Just an $800 price bump. The sticker now shows $46,690.
5. 2025 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance – 174 MPH
The new Mercedes-AMG C63 sedan is all about downsizing—but in a way that somehow makes it even more powerful. Instead of that old-school 4.0-liter V8, now there’s a tiny, turbocharged 4 cylinder vehicles powerplant of just 2.0-liter under the hood. Feels like half the car, right? Not even close.
That little engine teams up with a plug-in hybrid system, creating a mind-blowing 671 horsepower and an earth-moving 752 lb-ft of torque when everything’s firing together. This is a prime example of what the speediest stock 4 cyl automobile can achieve through hybrid technology.
Sure, the ride’s gained some weight, but it’s still way quicker than before. It’ll outrun its predecessor in a straight line, no problem. Car and Driver put a Euro-spec version to the test—and it shot from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. That’s 0.7 seconds faster than the old model. Mercedes says it’ll go up to 174 mph. Pricing starts at $87,200. Fully loaded goes for $89,250.
4. 2025 Alpine A110 R Ultime
The Alpine A110 is going out with a bang, and I gotta say, it’s a wild send-off. Only 110 of these special edition models are being made, each finely tuned beast is called the A110 R Ultime. This thing isn’t just another limited-run vehicle with a fancy paint job—it’s one of the quickest, most extreme four-cyl sports rides money can buy.
And speaking of money, well, it’s definitely not cheap. Indeed, when considering what’s the fastest 4 cylinder car, exclusivity often comes at a premium. The regular A110 R already gets a boost over the base model, bumping its 1.8-liter turbocharged 4 cylinder cars engine from 249 to 288 horsepower.
But the Ultime is a different story. Alpine went even further, throwing in a beefier turbocharger and a titanium exhaust from Akrapovic. The end result is a ridiculous 340 hp. Torque is up from 236 lb-ft to 310 lb-ft. That’s a serious jump, so much so that Alpine had to upgrade the transmission to handle the power.
This thing is a featherweight, barely tipping the scales at around 2,400 pounds. That power-to-weight ratio is insane. Thanks to that, and a fresh Launch Control system, it rockets from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds. Flat out, it’ll do 177 mph. The price starts at €265,000. That’s $289,000; the fast moving, priciest four-cylinder ever, maybe.
3. 2025 Porsche 718 Boxster S – 177 MPH
The Porsche Boxster is pretty much saved the entire Porsche brand from going belly up in the ’90s. Without it, who knows where they’d be? But nothing lasts forever, and Porsche’s finally pulling the plug on this gas-powered legend. By the middle of 2025, it’ll be history.
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning one, now’s your last shot before it’s gone for good. Considering the fastest 4-cylinder cars of the 2000s, Porsche has consistently been a contender, and this model carries that legacy.
The 718 Boxster S, along with its hardtop sibling—the 718 Cayman S—both pack a punch with a 2.0-liter flat-four engine sitting snug in the rear. With a turbo slapped on, these bad boys push out 350 horsepower. Porsche claims they zoom from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds, topping out at 177 mph—assuming you have summer tires on.
Want to shave off a couple of tenths of a second? The Sport Chrono Package can do that, but it’ll cost you an extra $2,610. Not exactly pocket change. If your wallet’s feeling a little light, there’s the base 718 Boxster or Cayman. Same turbo tech, but with a slightly smaller 2.0-liter engine pushing out 300 hp.
It’s about $12,000 cheaper than the S, but you still get impressive numbers—171 mph top speed and 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. The Cayman S starts at $86,795. Prefer the wind in your hair? The Boxster S kicks off at $88,895. Either way, you better act fast—this icon won’t be around much longer.
The Porsche Boxster is pretty much saved the entire Porsche brand from going belly up in the ’90s. Without it, who knows where they’d be? But nothing lasts forever, and Porsche’s finally pulling the plug on this gas-powered legend. By the middle of 2025, it’ll be history.
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning one, now’s your last shot before it’s gone for good. Considering the fastest 4-cylinder cars of the 2000s, Porsche has consistently been a contender, and this model carries that legacy.
The 718 Boxster S, along with its hardtop sibling—the 718 Cayman S—both pack a punch with a 2.0-liter flat-four engine sitting snug in the rear. With a turbo slapped on, these bad boys push out 350 horsepower. Porsche claims they zoom from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds, topping out at 177 mph—assuming you have summer tires on.
Want to shave off a couple of tenths of a second? The Sport Chrono Package can do that, but it’ll cost you an extra $2,610. Not exactly pocket change. If your wallet’s feeling a little light, there’s the base 718 Boxster or Cayman. Same turbo tech, but with a slightly smaller 2.0-liter engine pushing out 300 hp.
2. 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman S – 182 MPH
Porsche makes some crazy sports vehicles. Automobiles like 911 are legends. And if you’re looking for a used one, you might actually score a deal that’ll leave a Mustang GT and a 4-cylinder Camaro in the dust. But let’s talk about something newer—the 718 Cayman S. It isn’t just another quick little coupe. No, this thing is one of the fastest 4 cylinder cars out there.
Under the hood, it’s got a turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four pushing 350 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. Sounds decent, right? Well, that power translates to a 0-60 time of just 3.6 seconds. Blink, and you might miss it.The top speed is just as wild.
With the seven-speed dual-clutch auto, it’ll hit 179 mph. But if you go for the six-speed manual, that bumps up to 182 mph, making it one of the fastest automobiles in the world in 4-cylinder engine segment. Absolute beast. Porsche really outdid themselves with this one. And if you want in, be ready to drop at least $86,795.
1. 2025 Lotus Emira – 182 MPH
Lotus has always been about making small, lightweight vehicles, and the 2024 Emira sticks to that same playbook. But don’t mistake that for boring—it’s still a blast to drive. This “junior supercar” comes with two engine choices, which is pretty cool. One’s a 3.5-liter Toyota-sourced V6, while the other is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder from AMG. Now, you’d think the bigger engine would be the obvious winner in terms of power, right? Turns out, not really.
Thanks to a little thing called forced induction (plus whatever AMG wizardry they’ve got going on), that smaller four-cylinder packs a serious punch. It proves you don’t necessarily need a roaring V8 from a traditional muscle car to achieve adrenaline-charged velocity. Both motors churn out 400 horsepower, at least that’s what Lotus says on their spec sheet. But torque is where things get interesting.
The four-banger actually edges out the V6, pushing 354 lb-ft compared to 310 lb-ft. Not to mention, four-cylinder engines are just naturally more compact than V6s, which likely shaves off some weight. Probably, it is why the AMG-powered Emira First Edition hits a top speed of 182 mph and launches from 0 to 60 in just 3.8 seconds. That’s a little quicker than the V6 version, which tops out at 180 mph and needs 4.2 seconds to reach 60.
Now, if you’re thinking about buying one, prepare your wallet. The AMG-powered Emira First Edition kicks off at $102,250. Yeah, not exactly pocket change. But for a lightweight supercar at that price, honestly, it is kind of tempting.
