Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

When buying a four-cylinder car, should I worry about the ease of the vehicle moving uphill? Are they powerful enough—and must it be ≥2.4L?

I'm in the market for something better at fuel economy, even a hybrid, for the first time ever—and all I have ever known are V6 engines.

19 Answers

Relevance
  • zipper
    Lv 7
    2 years ago

    I had a VEGA and in the PA mounts I had trouble going up a mountain, I had to go up in first gear. I would stay with the V6 engine myself I feel they are safer on the roadway.

  • 2 years ago

    I had a 3 cylinder car with a 660 cc engine, it was awsome on hills

  • F
    Lv 7
    2 years ago

    I had a 4 litre jeep in the 90s, it had 170bhp and did 15 mpg. You can get many 2 litre diesels with more power than that now, that will give you 50mpg.

  • Jay P
    Lv 7
    2 years ago

    Displacement alone does not dictate power output. In other words, there is more than one way to design an internal combustion engine.

    Then there are other factors such as vehicle weight, gearing, and aerodynamics which all play a part in how a vehicle performs.

    My car has a naturally aspirated 1.8L 4 cylinder gasoline engine. I'm not going to win many drag races with it but it performs fine for general driving use, including passing on the highway if I need to.

    But just to prove a point, I also have a 650 cc ( 0.65L ) motorcycle. The engine displacement is almost 2/3 smaller compared to my car but because of the power-to-weight advantage, my motorcycle can easily outperform my car.

  • Anonymous
    2 years ago

    My 2015 Equinox with a 2.4 engine has no issues with hills. And it's heavier than most cars with engines that size.

    In fact, I drove a 2018 model with a 2.0 engine and it performed quite well also.

  • 2 years ago

    I have no idea what you mean about 'must it be 2.4l'.

    My current car, a 2009 Kia Rondo, has a 4 cyl, 2.4l engine that puts out 175 HP. My last car was a Ford Taurus with a 3.0l 6 cyl engine that put out 140 HP.

    So, worry less about the cylinder count, and look at HP and torque.

  • 2 years ago

    Yes they are they can do a lot of power even toe a boat

  • Anton
    Lv 6
    2 years ago

    My 1972 Pinto, 2.0L manual, went up the Grapevine out of Los Angeles, doing 70 mph in top gear.

  • .
    Lv 7
    2 years ago

    Unless your routine commute involves steep roads, I wouldn't worry about it. Just stay in the slow lane behind the semi-trucks.

  • Anonymous
    2 years ago

    VW make four cylinder 180 bhp 2 litre diesels that achieve 60 mpg. Much better torque than a normally aspirated gas engine.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.