Six of the best car engines ever made

Electric cars are the future, and we're rather happy about that at cinch. It's why we've made this EV basics page here to help newbies get to grips with them. But we're also car people, which means there'll always be a special place in our hearts for car engines that can excite. There's nothing quite like a thumping petrol motor to get the pulse going...

It wasn’t easy, given how many great engines are out there, but we’ve whittled down the selection to six offering real technical greatness, from recent times. It doesn’t matter what engine size you go for, there’s something fantastic to suit everyone – as our list below proves.

Three cylinders: 1.0-litre Ford Fiesta EcoBoost

Even the humble 1.0-litre engine of Ford’s Fiesta EcoBoost is capable of bringing a big smile to your face because this EcoBoost three-cylinder is stronger and more capable than the numbers suggest. Firstly, in the little Fiesta, it feels punchy and keen, making a great thrumming soundtrack when you work it hard.

The engine’s plucky character suits this used Ford hatchback perfectly, as do the running costs because this little turbocharged engine can manage 50mpg along with as much as 125hp. All this from an engine that, when all the surrounding pipework is removed, is barely bigger than a cereal box. Talk about great engineering.

Four cylinders: 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5

Many were surprised when Mazda announced it was putting a 2.0-litre engine in the latest MX-5, because most rivals were equipping their cars with smaller, turbocharged alternatives. But Mazda had a trick up its sleeve because the four-cylinder engine – which works in the old-fashioned way without a turbocharger – uses special technology to enhance its power and efficiency.

In a car as light and nimble as the fourth-generation MX-5, that’s made for a perfect blend of power, enthusiasm and fuel economy. The 2.0-litre model has 184hp at high revs, yet it can offer over 40mpg on a run. Despite being more traditional in its approach, Mazda’s engine has very modern capabilities.

Five cylinders: 2.5-litre Audi RS3

Plenty of manufacturers claim to have unlocked supercar performance in smaller models, but few actually live up to the mark. The Audi RS3, with its turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, is one of the few that does. In contrast to the car’s understated looks, the five-cylinder engine’s soundtrack – a highly distinctive digital warble – is telling of the rapid performance on offer.

This is a 400hp car, which with all-wheel drive is capable of charging from zero to 62mph in 4.1 seconds. In truth, the RS3 can’t rival the likes of proper sports cars when it comes to handling, but for a five-seat hatchback (you can also get a saloon version) to be so ferociously fast and vocal, this is one tremendous machine.

Plus, there are plenty of deals to be had on a used Audi model.

Six cylinders: 3.0-litre BMW M2 Competition

While not quite as explosive in performance as the all-wheel drive RS3, the rear-wheel drive BMW M2 Competition is considered by many as the more alluring offering. It’s all to do with cohesion, or rather the matching of the brilliant six-cylinder engine of 3.0 litres to a car that handles like a proper sports car. It’s a recipe fit for future classic status, and there are used BMW options already on the market.

If you’ve ever heard one of BMW’s six-cylinder engines in action, you’ll know what sort of silky-smooth music to expect. With 410hp, the M2 Competition’s turbocharged engine is also very muscular, matching its voice to a delivery of power that grows and grows the longer you keep your foot down. Just be prepared to make lots of petrol station visits if you do…

Eight-cylinders: 5.0-litre Jaguar F-Pace SVR

If you have pockets deep enough to fund its thirst, the 5.0-litre V8 engine of Jaguar’s F-Pace SUV is a behemoth capable of raising hairs all day long. A Jaguar eight-cylinder sounds more like a tropical thunderstorm than engine, with 550hp delivered brutally by every measure. In a car as big as the F-Pace, it makes for lots and lots of road presence. People will hear you before they see you.

But, remarkably, despite all that aggression, Jaguar’s 5.0-litre engine can also calm down and operate calmly, burbling along as this big cat trundles about. It’s never particularly frugal, true, but arguably the most impressive thing about this eight-cylinder is the breadth of its character. Jaguar will retire it from active use soon, too, which gives us even more reason to appreciate it now. You'll have to grab a used Jaguar in the future to enjoy this car.

Wildcard – Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid

Not content with producing a V8 engine with a drinking problem, the boffins at Porsche have done what they do best and engineered their way to a solution. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is the most extreme expression of their answer, because it combines turbocharged V8 power with a significant hybrid system, using a battery-powered electric motor. The result is a super saloon capable of scaring proper supercars.

With both halves of the car’s engine systems working together, this hybrid used Porsche produces – are you sitting down? – 700hp. With all that technology aboard, the car weighs 2.3 tonnes, not much less than a Range Rover, yet it can sprint from zero to 62mph in 3.2 seconds thanks to its hybrid muscle. Astonishing. Not only that, with enough grunt from the electric motor to handle city driving on its own, fuel economy can average at 100mpg. That’s what happens when you mix the best of today with the technology of tomorrow.