10 of the Best Used Cars with a 4-Cylinder Engine

2016 Volvo S60 red parked ・ Photo by Volvo

If you think the best used cars with four-cylinder engines are just a bunch of basic econoboxes, you haven’t kept up with the latest advances in powertrain technology. Thanks to advanced engineering features, along with the increasing popularity of turbochargers, four-cylinder engines can now be found in an impressive range of all-out sports cars and upscale luxury models from brands like Audi and Lexus.

Of course, for the many shoppers still interested in going green, there are plenty of four-cylinder fuel-sippers available, too. In fact, four-cylinder engines add extra efficiency even to those upscale entries, but while keeping costs down as compared to larger powerplants. If you’re focused on cost, you should check out pre-owned options like the ones here.

2014 Toyota Prius

As mentioned, the best used cars with four-cylinder engines are often relatively fuel-efficient, and that’s certainly the case with the 2014 Toyota Prius. With a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine as part of its gas-electric hybrid powertrain, the 2014 Prius has EPA ratings of 50 mpg city/46 mpg highway/48 mpg combined — numbers only a handful of cars can beat even today.

But just as important for used-car shoppers are the car’s strong reliability ratings: The 2014 Prius led the Compact Car segment in the most recent J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, finishing ahead of non-hybrids like the Buick Verano and Honda Civic. (And yes, because J.D. Power looks at vehicles after three years in service, the 2017 study evaluated the 2014 model year.)

Photo by Toyota

2016 Honda Accord

The all-new 2018 Honda Accord is already racking up rave reviews from customers and critics alike, but it was only two years ago that Honda refreshed its mid-size sedan to similar acclaim. The 2016 Accord welcomed a long list of upgrades, including sophisticated connectivity technology such as Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.

That year, the automaker also introduced its “Honda Sensing” safety package to the Accord, providing forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control. The standard four-cylinder engine here is good for 185 horsepower, 181 pound-feet of torque, and EPA ratings of up to 27 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30 mpg overall.

Photo by Honda

2015 Chevrolet Malibu

Backed by top grades for predicted reliability from Consumer Reports, and a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot from Chevy, the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu is another standout option. Indeed, the mid-size 2015 Malibu offers a choice of two of four-cylinder engines. The standard 2.5-liter is the fuel-efficient pick, supplying EPA ratings of 25 mpg city/36 mpg highway/29 mpg combined with 196 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque.

Drivers who want to add some muscle can opt for a 2.0-liter turbo that dials up 259 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque — and despite its increased performance, that engine can still touch 29 mpg on the highway.

Photo by General Motors

2015 Subaru Impreza

There are many excellent used Subarus with four-cylinder engines, including the 2015 Impreza compact sedan or hatchback. Subaru uses boxer-style powerplants, a configuration that's sort of like a V4 engine, but with the cylinders laid flat so the pistons seem to be “punching” away beneath the hood. The result is a car with a lower center of gravity, for improved handling.

As for the Impreza itself, its standard 2.0-liter engine serves up 148 horsepower, 145 lb-ft of torque and EPA ratings of up to 28 city/36 highway/31 overall. The 2015 model year also saw Subaru introduce its EyeSight safety package for the Impreza — with adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and lane-departure warning — and earn a superior predicted-reliability score from Consumer Reports.

Photo by Subaru

2014 Hyundai Elantra

Many of the best used cars with four-cylinder engines are also well known for their value, like the 2014 Hyundai Elantra compact. Now, the 2014 Elantra doesn’t come with some of the bells and whistles available with newer, higher-priced cars, but it does have outstanding predicted reliability, a 2014 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and two engine options.

The standard 1.8-liter leads the Elantra lineup with EPA grades of 27 mpg city/37 mpg highway/31 mpg combined, and a new-for-2014 unit, with direct injection and 2.0 liters of displacement, can make 173 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque for the Sport model. Also available: leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, a rearview camera and LED exterior lighting.

Photo by Hyundai

2016 Lexus IS

Moving on to some of the best used cars with four-cylinder engines and premium pedigrees, the 2016 Lexus IS is a compact sport sedan supported by its brand’s well-deserved reputation for reliability. For our purposes, though, the car’s key selling point is a standard 2.0-liter engine that was new for 2016 and relies on a twin-scroll turbocharger for responsive delivery of 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

A further advantage for the engine is its efficiency: Paired with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission in the IS 200t, that unit can earn EPA ratings of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. 

Photo by Lexus

2015 Lincoln MKZ

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ leverages a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, the MKZ brings 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque to the table, yet without being a glutton for gasoline. Instead, the MKZ scores EPA grades of 22 mpg city/33 mpg highway/26 mpg combined with its turbo engine; with its hybrid powertrain, also based on a four-cylinder engine, the car’s fuel-economy marks move to 41 mpg city/39 mpg highway/40 mpg combined.

The 2015 MKZ’s predicted reliability scores from Consumer Reports? They’re also on the high-end of the spectrum — and complemented by luxuries like leather-trimmed multi-contour massage-function front seats with heating and ventilation.

Photo by Lincoln

2016 BMW 2 Series

Meanwhile, the 2016 BMW 2 Series showcases a sportier approach than most used cars with four-cylinder engines. For starters, its 2.0-liter turbocharged unit produces 240 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque — and can take the 228i xDrive Coupe from zero to 60 mph in a scant 5.3 seconds.

Then there’s the car’s athletically inclined two-door body style, which can be ordered with either a traditional hard-top or a power-retractable soft-top for an open-air driving experience. It’s also worth emphasizing what that “xDrive” designation means. Namely, that the BMW 2 is one of the few choices here that can offer the benefits of all-wheel drive, although, just to be clear, rear-wheel drive is standard.

Photo by BMW

2014 Buick Verano

One of the top non-hybrid compact cars in the most recent J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, the 2014 Buick Verano also receives top predicted-reliability scores from Consumer Reports. The 2014 Verano also joins other entries on our list by providing two four-cylinder engine choices.

Beyond a competitive standard engine that combines 180 horsepower, 171 lb-ft of torque, and 31 mpg on the highway, the Verano offers an unexpected bonus for enthusiasts: a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit that raises output to 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque and can be mated to a six-speed manual transmission — for the same 31-mpg in highway driving.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Volvo S60

This is the year that the predicted-reliability ratings for Volvo’s mid-size sedan reached the same high level as the car’s safety ratings, allowing the 2016 Volvo S60 to take the final spot on our roster of the best used cars with four-cylinder engines.

To appeal to a wider range of customers, the S60 is among the cars here with two powertrain choices that fit our criteria. That said, they’re both based on the same 2.0-liter starting point, with one version turbocharged to provide 240 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque — and EPA ratings of 26 city/37 highway/30 overall — and the second featuring a turbocharger and a supercharger, for a jump to 302 horses and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Photo by Volvo