Great Cars With 3-Cylinder Engines: If It’s Three, It’s for Me

With the red-hot Toyota GR Corolla, we thought this would be a good time to sing the praises of this underdog engine layout. Some automakers use inline-3s for fuel economy, while others have found a way to make them powerful. Here is our list of new and used vehicles with 3-cylinder engines. This list includes everything from the infamous to the spectacular.

1. 2014-2020 BMW i8

With radical styling that the cars in “Demolition Man” would envy, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) BMW i8 was sold as a coupe or convertible. At the time, it was the only supercar available with a 3-cylinder engine. That engine worked with an alternating-current synchronous electric motor/generator and an 11.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. That combination put out 369 total horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, and all-wheel drive (AWD) came standard. The i8 had 0-60 times as good as 4.2 seconds, as well as 69 MPGe and 27 mpg combined. See BMW i8 models for sale

2. 2020-Present Buick Encore GX

Larger, better equipped, and with more standard and available safety than the recently discontinued Encore, the GX has a choice of a 137-hp, 1.2-liter turbo three or a 155-hp, 1.3-liter turbo three. Get the 1.2-liter for worse fuel economy (26 mpg city/30 mpg highway) and less horsepower. Or choose the 1.3-liter, which uses a 9-speed automatic (with AWD models) and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with front-wheel drive (FWD), for an EPA-rated 30 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. As you might expect, we recommend the 1.3-liter. See Buick Encore GX models for sale

3. 1984-1988 Chevrolet Sprint

Not quite as powerful as the BMW i8, the Sprint’s calling card was fuel economy. Chevy started this project as its M-car. It wasn’t going to be profitable enough, so Chevy sold it to Suzuki for a 5% stake in the company and had Suzuki build it for them. This 3-door hatchback was not only affordable but, at the time, had the best fuel economy in the United States: 48 combined mpg/44 city/53 highway. It used a 1.0-liter, 49-hp engine; the Sprint Turbo was good for up to 70 hp. This car, also known as the Suzuki Swift in America, marked the start of the partnership between Chevy/Geo and Suzuki for several models in the 1980s and 1990s.  See Chevrolet Sprint models for sale

4. 2021-Present Chevrolet Trailblazer

This is another example of an I-3 being used for fuel economy and a lower price. In the Trailblazer, one of Chevy’s current subcompact SUVs, you can choose between two turbocharged powerplants: the 137-hp 1.2-liter or the 155-hp 1.3-liter. Both are FWD with a CVT, but if you get the 1.3-liter with AWD, it comes with a 9-speed automatic. The 1.2-liter is FWD only; the best fuel economy you can get is 29 city/31 highway. See Chevrolet Trailblazer models for sale

5. 2021-Present Ford Bronco Sport

When Ford brought the Bronco back, it created a whole family of 2- and 4-door Broncos. The littlest and most on-road friendly is the Bronco Sport. It still has decent off-road chops, but it certainly can’t go where the hardcore Bronco can. The Bronco Sport is more of a Subaru Crosstrek competitor than a Wrangler fighter — it’s suitable for mountain bikers, hikers, and people who camp. If you get into the base model, the Big Bend, or the Outer Banks, you’ll get the 181-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter engine (known internally as the Dragon). It comes with standard AWD and fuel economy as good as 28 mpg on the highway. See Ford Bronco Sport models for sale

6. 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport

While there have been no announcements of a 2023 EcoSport, and rumors abound that 2022 was the last year for it in the U.S., 2021 was the final year you could get a 3-cylinder EcoSport. However, the turbocharged 1.0-liter, 123-hp engine (known internally as the Fox) isn’t one that’s easy to recommend. Sure, it gets 29 mpg, but in a subcompact SUV of this weight, sacrificing some fuel economy around town is worth the extra 43 hp you’d get with the 2.0-liter inline-4. But the EcoSport is easy to park — and hey, how about that swing-out tailgate? See Ford EcoSport models for sale

7. 2020-Present Ford Escape

Significantly updated for the 2023 model year, the Escape’s base engine is the same Dragon 1.5-liter EcoBoost as in the Bronco Sport. Same horsepower and torque — and the vehicle uses a version of the same platform as the Bronco Sport. But if the Bronco is taking the black diamond trail and the Bronco Sport is heading to the campsite, the Escape is more likely to hang out at the trailhead parking lot. While it still has some off-road capability, it lacks the GOAT (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) modes and available features like skid plates and a locking rear differential. The Escape is a good choice for families looking for a more traditional compact SUV. See Ford Escape models for sale

8. 2011-2017 Ford Fiesta

There are an awful lot of Ford models on this list, aren’t there? The Fiesta was on the market (the second time) from 2011-2019, and the I-3 was dropped after 2017. Its 1.0-liter base engine is the same as the one in the EcoSport (the Fox) — 123 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy in this subcompact sedan/hatchback is much better than in the EcoSport. Here, it’s 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. See Ford Fiesta models for sale

9. 2015-2018 Ford Focus

The last Ford on this list, the Focus, used the turbocharged Fox 1.0-liter as its base engine from 2015 to 2018. As with the Fiesta, the base 1.0-liter was the antithesis of the feisty, high-performance ST. But it’s hard to pooh-pooh a compact car that gets up to 41 mpg without the advantage of a hybrid powertrain. See Ford Focus models for sale

10. 1989-2001 Geo/Chevrolet Metro

Remember Geo? That brand made up of rebadged models from Isuzu, Toyota, and Suzuki? OK, well, I do, as my dad’s Geo Metro was the car where I learned to drive stick. The Metro’s engine may have been unrefined, but this little car that replaced the Chevy Sprint netted up to 52 mpg from its 1.0-liter 55-hp engine. Not super powerful or spacious or loaded with features, the Metro was singularly focused on fuel economy. And in that department, it excelled. See Chevrolet Metro models for sale

11. 2023 Jeep Renegade

The subcompact SUV with cute Wrangler-esque styling is available with a 1.3-liter turbo three starting in the 2023 model year. Working with a 9-speed automatic transmission and standard 4-wheel drive, the 177-hp engine nets 29 highway mpg — or 27 in the Trailhawk. See Jeep Renegade models for sale

12. 2023 Koenigsegg Gemera

The model year is an estimate at best, but the Gemera is a super-cool, high-performance supercar powered by a 3-cylinder engine. In this case, it’s a 154-pound 2.0-liter twin-turbo that works with three electric motors. Total system power is said to be 1,700 horsepower (bhp) and 8,113 lb-ft of torque. The Gemera is the first 4-passenger model Koenigsegg has made and will have a limited run of 300 units. And as if the specs of this car aren’t ludicrous enough, it’s said to have a 0-62 (0-100 km/h) time of 1.9 seconds with a top speed of 249 mph. See hybrids for sale

13. 2014-Present Mini Cooper/Countryman

The Mini Cooper made a 1.5-liter turbo three the standard engine for the Mini Cooper starting in 2014. The Countryman followed suit in 2017. This 134-hp engine is available with either a 6-speed manual or an automatic transmission. While that isn’t a ton of horsepower for an SUV, the Mini’s agile handling, responsive steering, and well-designed transmissions make this engine more fun than it should be. Not only that, but the fuel economy is as good as 38 mpg on the highway in the Cooper and 33 mpg in the Countryman. In addition, this engine is the basis for the PHEV SE Countryman All4, which has 17 miles of all-electric range — 300 total — and 73 MPGe. See Mini Cooper models for sale

14. 2014-Present Mitsubishi Mirage/G4

The Mirage nameplate has been around since the ’80s, but its 2014 model-year reboot saw an all-new (to us) subcompact car. Smaller than the compact it was back then, the newer car had a 3-cylinder for the first time in America. The Mirage — and the G4 sedan launched in 2017 — exist to be cheap, efficient transportation. Its 74-hp, 1.2-liter I-3 gives the Mirage 37 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway with the automatic. Fuel economy is not as good with the 5-speed manual. As Micah Muzio, video production manager at Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, described the driving experience when it first launched, “Acceleration is lackadaisical, and the sounds that accompany it are an assault on the senses. The silver lining to all this slow, loud movement is found in the Mirage’s fuel economy numbers, which rival the efficiency of many hybrids.” See Mitsubishi Mirage/G4 models for sale.

15. 2021-Present Nissan Rogue

All-new for the 2021 model year, Nissan made a move in 2022 to improve the Rogue’s fuel economy. The new Rogue launched with a 181-hp, 4-cylinder VC-Turbo engine. Later in that model year, the 3-cylinder was part of a pilot program in the Nissan Rogue; its combination of more power and better fuel economy made it the only engine available starting for the 2022 model year. This engine is a 3-cylinder version of the company’s VC-Turbo direct-injected engine. This 1.5-liter version has an impressive 201 hp and fuel economy of 30 city/37 highway. See Nissan Rogue models for sale

16. 2008-2017 Smart ForTwo

Ah, the Smart ForTwo. In some ways, it was treated unfairly, and in other ways, the criticisms were spot on. This tiny car that looks like a shoe is surprisingly roomy inside for both the driver and the passenger. Offered as a convertible or hatchback, the ForTwo with the gas engine finished its run with an 898 cc (0.9-liter) engine that churned out 89 hp. This last iteration before going fully electric — and then going away entirely in 2019 — received improvements to the interior and the drivetrain that made it much more pleasant to drive. See smart fortwo models for sale

17. 1987-1994 Subaru Justy

Would you like an example of how far Subaru has come? Look at the Justy. The subcompact Subaru Justy was one of the first models to have an available CVT. That was arguably the most positive attribute. Powered by a 1.2-liter I-3, these were the days before Subaru committed to standard AWD for mainstream models. This front-driver was available with AWD starting in 1988. The Justy certainly seemed to be behind the times during its entire run. When it first came out, the 66-hp engine was carbureted. It took until 1990 to get a fuel-injected, 73-hp engine — and even then, it was an option. Subaru introduced a 5-door body style for 1990. The base model had vinyl seats until 1993 when they were replaced by cloth. By this point, the Justy was being phased out and made way for the Impreza, which went on sale in 1993. See Subaru Justy models for sale

18. 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Why not finish up this list with the car that inspired it? The GR Corolla is the latest hot hatch to hit the market, and it’s legit. It was designed and built by Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s performance division. The GR Corolla is Toyota’s answer to the Volkswagen Golf R, the Honda Civic Type R, Subaru WRX, Hyundai Elantra N, and the Mini Cooper JCW. And it’s a true contender, pulling 300 hp out of a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine in a very lightweight car, for an excellent power-to-weight ratio. The GR Corolla uses an AWD system that lets you adjust the torque split for your driving needs. A 6-speed manual is your only transmission choice. It’s going to be hard to find one at first, but it will be worth the wait to get one. See Toyota Corolla models for sale

Great Cars With 3-Cylinder Engines

1. 2014-2020 BMW i8
2. 2020-present Buick Encore GX
3. 1984-1988 Chevrolet Sprint
4. 2021-present Chevrolet Trailblazer
5. 2021-present Ford Bronco Sport
6. 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport
7. 2020-present Ford Escape
8. 2011-2017 Ford Fiesta
9. 2015-2018 Ford Focus
10. 1989-2001 Geo/Chevrolet Metro
11. 2023 Jeep Renegade
12. 2023 Koenigsegg Gemera
13. 2014-present Mini Cooper/Countryman
14. 2014-present Mitsubishi Mirage/G4
15. 2021-present Nissan Rogue
16. 2008-2017 Smart ForTwo
17. 1987-1994 Subaru Justy
18. 2023 Toyota GR Corolla