10 Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Sports Cars That Pack A Punch
Horsepower is one of the most important factors when shopping for a sports car. With a low power rating, a sports car would not be as fun to drive. After all, there's nothing like the feeling of the rush of acceleration as you get pushed back into your seat when taking off from the line.
Fortunately, most sports cars in the market have plenty of power and most of them make it through the use of turbocharged four-cylinder engines. These engines promote great fuel efficiency while giving the car enough power to make every drive engaging and fun. Here are 10 sports cars that are motivated by punchy force-fed four-cylinder engines.
2025 Hyundai Kona driving down a road
10 Cheapest Four-Cylinder SUVs You Can Buy Today
Four-cylinder SUVs are the way to go if you value efficiency and compactness over utility. Here are 10 of the cheapest examples in the market today.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds. The following entries were chosen for their engines and are ordered by their MSRP.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
228 Horsepower
William Clavey | TopSpeed
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is a bit more of a family sedan than a sports car, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to drive. Under its hood is a turbocharged inline-four that sends 228 horsepower to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 228 hp |
Torque | 258 lb-ft |
Driveline | FWD |
0-60 MPH | 6 seconds |
Top Speed | 126 mph |
And while we obviously recommend driving the car with three pedals, the dual-clutch automatic is no slouch. It shifts quickly and smoothly, allowing that power to get to the ground in an instant. Considering its easy drivability and inherent sportiness, the Jetta GLI is the perfect car for those with families and daily commutes that want an added dose of fun in their day.
2023 Audi TT
228 Horsepower
Audi
You can currently find an Audi TT on the used market at a fair price, and we would say that it's worth every penny you'll spend on it. The Audi TT is a sleek-looking sports coupe with four seats and a turbocharged engine that produces over 200 horsepower, making it fun to drive and practical to boot.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Horsepower | 228 hp |
Torque | 280 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 5.2 seconds |
Top Speed | 130 mph |
It's also fairly capable in all-wheel-drive guise, as the brand's Quattro system allows the TT to stick to the ground with ease, no matter what kind of terrain you drive it on. However, we don't recommend trying to go off-road with it because it's not made for that.
2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
237 Horsepower
Alfa Romeo
The 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is a fun-to-drive convertible that can make every day a track day, no matter where you drive it. The 4C's sharp handling characteristics and crisp steering response make it feel like a larger go-cart, and its turbocharged four-cylinder engine feels punchy and powerful.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 1.7-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 237 hp |
Torque | 258 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 4.2 seconds |
Top Speed | 160 mph |
As an added plus, the Alfa Romeo 4C also looks great no matter which angle you stare at it, but there is some compromise to its beauty. The 4C's interior is pretty cramped and sparse, so don't expect to take it on a long road trip, unless you and the passenger don't mind being very close to each other for an extended period of time.
2023 Acura Integra rear shot
10 Cars That Make The Most Out Of A Four-Cylinder Engine
There are many four-cylinder cars in the current market, but these 10 know how to use every bit of their displacement.
2025 BMW 2 Series
255 Horsepower
BMW
Luxury coupes are hard to find nowadays, considering everyone wants a sedan or an SUV for the added practicality, but the BMW 2 Series is soldiering on as one of the last of a dying breed. The 2 Series comes in a few different flavors, including a spicy M2 and a four-door Gran Coupe. However, the latter is offered in front-drive form and doesn't offer the same type of driving excitement as the two-door versions.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 255 hp |
Torque | 295 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 5.1 seconds |
Top Speed | 130 mph |
That said, we recommend checking out the base 230i for some budget-friendly fun. The entry-level model is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower, which is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel-drive configuration is also available for that trim level, but sadly, a manual transmission is not.
2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0
255 Horsepower
Toyota
Toyota recently discontinued the GR Supra 2.0, most likely due to a lack of interest. That means that you can currently find used models for fairly cheap, which we think is a great deal. The GR Supra 2.0 is powered by a BMW-sourced turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out less than 300 horsepower, but it's still enough to push you back in your seat upon take-off.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 255 hp |
Torque | 295 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 4.8 seconds |
Top Speed | 155 mph |
The only unfortunate part is that the Supra 2.0 only comes equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but it's a good one. The car shifts smoothly and provides drivers with plenty of thrills, but also does double-duty as a competent daily driver.
2025 Hyundai Elantra N
276 Horsepower
Hyundai
The Hyundai Elantra is a compact commuter car that is meant to take its passengers from point A to B safely and comfortably. But who wants one of those when the Elantra N can make the journey to your destination three times as fun? The Elantra N makes every drive a fun one with its punchy turbocharged four-cylinder engine, sporty suspension, and sport seats.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 6-speed manual |
Horsepower | 276 hp |
Torque | 289 lb-ft |
Driveline | FWD |
0-60 MPH | 5.1 seconds |
Top Speed | 155 mph |
Sit inside this little pocket rocket, and you'll be amazed that it's the same car as the base Elantra. Hyundai really did a number with the Elantra N by giving it nearly 300 horsepower, a limited-slip differential, and a six-speed manual transmission, making it an extremely fun compact car.
Cars-With-Turbocharged-Four-Cylinders-That-Feel-Like-V6s
10 Cars With Turbocharged Four-Cylinders That Feel Like V6s
These 10 cars that show that the V6 engine can be easily outperformed by a good turbocharged four-cylinder.
2025 Porsche 718 Boxster
300 Horsepower
Porsche
There is no denying that the Porsche 718 Boxster is a true driver's car. Even in its base form, the 718 Boxster can put a smile on anyone's face with its punchy turbocharged engine, which is matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Don't let that auto-shifting transmission fool you, its Porsche's patented PDK transmission, which shifts faster than any human ever could.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Horsepower | 300 hp |
Torque | 280 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 4.3 seconds |
Top Speed | 171 mph |
In addition to having 300 horsepower, the Porsche Boxster never fails to deliver a fun drive, thanks to its drop-top architecture and well-balanced ride. While the base model doesn't have as much power as its up-level siblings, which have larger engines, it still provides a very engaging experience.
2025 Honda Civic Type R
315 Horsepower
Honda
The 2025 Honda Civic Type R is one of the most fun-to-drive and practical cars on the market. Based on the popular Honda Civic, the up-level Type R builds on the chassis by adding a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with over 300 horsepower, a slick-shifting manual transmission, and a sporty interior with race-inspired bucket seats.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 6-speed manual |
Horsepower | 315 hp |
Torque | 310 lb-ft |
Driveline | FWD |
0-60 MPH | 4.9 seconds |
Top Speed | 169 mph |
To help put the power to the ground, the Civic Type R incorporates the use of a limited-slip differential, wide tires, and a unique suspension geometry that prevents torque steer and aids in getting more traction. With all those components at work, the Honda Civic Type R provides a very fun drive, whether you're commuting to work or bombing down your favorite backroad.
2025 Ford Mustang EcoBoost
315 Horsepower
3/4 front view of 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost
Car enthusiasts loved to hate the Ford Mustang EcoBoost when it first arrived on the market 10 years ago. Nowadays, that hate has subsided, especially since Ford has proven that you don't need eight cylinders to make a car fast. Sure, the Mustang may lose a bit of its muscle when it's powered by a four-cylinder, but it's still quick.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 10-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 315 hp |
Torque | 350 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 4.5 seconds |
Top Speed | 145 mph |
That little force-fed engine produces over 300 horsepower, which is sent to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic. In addition to this power, the Mustang EcoBoost is fairly fuel-efficient, garnering up to 32 mpg on the highway.
2025 Volkswagen Golf R
328 Horsepower
Volkswagen
The 2025 Volkswagen Golf R is the pinnacle of hot hatchbacks considering everything it has to offer. Not only does it come standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces over 300 horsepower, but it also has an all-wheel-drive setup that gets its power to the ground with a dual-clutch transmission.
Performance Specifications
Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four |
Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Horsepower | 328 hp |
Torque | 310 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 4.6 seconds |
Top Speed | 167 mph |
Volkswagen did away with the manual transmission, which is unfortunate. But we think the Volkswagen Golf R is plenty fun to drive in automatic guise, especially considering the transmission shifts quickly and smoothly. Additionally, the Golf R is well-suited to being driven on the street, but it really shines on a track where the four-cylinder's powerband can really be explored.
