Example: Jeep Cherokee
The 2017 Jeep Cherokee’s 184-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is underwhelming when the SUV is being driven outside of the city center. Luckily, Jeep offers a capable 271-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 power plant that nicely propels the Cherokee on- and off-road. It is available for just a $1,745 upcharge, and is definitely worth the extra money.
Example: BMW 3 Series
The 2017 BMW 320i, 330e, and 330i have a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, which was recently named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines. Upgrading to the 340, which has an inline six-cylinder engine under the hood, and get access to around 80 more horsepower and a drop in the zero to 60 mph time by nearly one second, all without sacrificing too much fuel efficiency. For most drivers, the four-cylinder engine provides enough power, but the six-cylinder can offer more fun behind the wheel. Though at $7,000 more, it may not be worth the extra cost.
Example: Ford Explorer
The 2017 Ford Explorer’s engine offerings are a good example of bigger not always being better. The base 3.5-liter V6 engine performs well but doesn’t wow. To get better fuel economy and achieve nearly the same power, you may want to upgrade to the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is only a $495 surcharge. In higher trim levels, the four-cylinder engine is standard.
Example: Honda Accord
Honda offers their base model 2017 Accord with a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. For commuting, passing on the highway, and driving around town, the base engine is suitable. Upgrading to Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 power plant gets drivers access to 278 horsepower, but at the cost of fuel economy, lowering in-town efficiency estimates by six mpgs. The V6 engine is only available in the Accord’s top of the line model, which starts at $30,995. If you’re already planning on spending upwards of $28,900 on the Accord EX-L, you may want to go ahead and spend the money for more for a powerful engine.
Example: Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet has put a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque under the hood of its base model Colorado. While the engine performs okay, the optional 3.6-liter V6 or 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel give drivers a more enthusiastic response that performs well when towing. The turbodiesel engine achieves an excellent 22 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway, but upgrading to that engine will cost you thousands of extra dollars.
Example: Volvo XC90
Despite the power of the 2017 XC90’s base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, its upgraded 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged four-cylinder engine will propel the XC90 down the road with the type of power that is suitable for a vehicle of its size. The $5,000 upgrade is well worth it.
Example: GMC Terrain
Under the hood of the base model 2017 GMC Terrain you’ll find a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that is generally considered underpowered. A 301-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine is available for less than $2,000 more and is worth the upgrade. Neither engine offers good fuel economy.
More Tools From U.S. News & World Report
If you’re looking to get your hands on one of these vehicles, head over to our lease and finance deal pages. There, you’ll find a list of the best deals manufacturers are currently offering.
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Small and Fuel-Efficient or Big and Powerful?
Six-cylinders good. Four-cylinders bad? Not necessarily. Engines have evolved nearly as fast as the vehicles they’re in, making the line between which size is best blurry. Add in turbocharging, fuel economy concerns, and light weighting to make the line blurrier.
In this age of power, it’s not the case that one engine’s cylinder configuration is drastically better than others. Rather, buyers must be aware of all the factors that go into making an engine more powerful to determine which configuration is right for them.
Let’s start with the basics. Four- and six-cylinder engines are the most common passenger vehicle engines in the world. Usually, four-cylinder engines have a displacement under three liters while six-cylinder engines displace over three liters.
Four-cylinder engines come in a variety of configurations but an inline four-cylinder engine is the most popular. Inline refers to the fact that the engine’s four cylinders are lined up side by side in a straight line. When looking at car specs, you will often see this type of engine listed as I-4 or L-4.
A six-cylinder engine can come in a variety of configurations including a V6 where there are six cylinders lined up in the shape of a V, a flat six where there are two rows of three cylinders side by side, and a straight-six where the cylinders are lined up in a single row. The most common type of six-cylinder engine in passenger vehicles is a V6.
Turbochargers are frequently added to engines. They can help engines have improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, more torque, and a larger power output. When turbochargers are added to engines, frequently the displacement of the engine can be made smaller and it will still have as much power as a larger engine that does not have a turbocharger.
Is it worth the upgrade? In some models, upgrading from the base four-cylinder engine may be worth the extra money. In other models, the decrease in fuel economy and big jump in price may make it not worth getting the bigger engine.