30 Four-Cylinder Engines With More Speed Than A V8

28. Dodge GLHS

In the early ‘80s, Carroll Shelby teamed up with Dodge to create his version of the compact Omni. Dodge named it the Omni GLH and it was a proper hot hatch as well as one of the best affordable performance models in those days. Nobody expected Dodge could produce a hot hatch to beat their European competitors, but with Shelby’s help, they did just that.

Shelby took the 2.2-liter four-cylinder and added a turbocharger to produce a total output of 175 HP. Also, the Omni GLH could go from 0 to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. And that was not only impressive, but it was also highly competitive for the times.

29. Volvo V60 Polestar

The V60 Polestar is an interesting station wagon, as well as one of the best driving cars in its class. As the successor to the classic 850 R Wagon, the V60 brings elegance, quality and craftsmanship. In fact, Volvo managed to put power, stealth and performance in their exclusive Polestar package.

Under the hood is 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine with 345 HP and intelligent all-wheel drive. This combo is capable of 0 to 60 mph times of just over five seconds. Yet it still provides a decent fuel economy and functioning, just as any regular Volvo station wagon.

30. Ford Mustang SVO

Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department introduced a special Mustang SVO for 1984. It featured a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 175 HP, which was quite the power output for a small engine. As a light car, the ‘84 Mustang SVO was hot at the moment.

The package included four-wheel disc brakes, a stiffer suspension and sharper steering, transforming the little Mustang into a capable sports car. For 1985, the SVO upped the power to an impressive 205 HP. And that turned the eyes of the motoring public to those third-generation Mustangs.

These are the top 30 cars with four-cylinder engines that are faster than a V8. Have you found your favorite? If you buy one of these, be sure to check the speed limit since you’ll be tempted to drive faster.