10 Small Cars with Relatively Big Engines

2018 BMW M2 driving ・ Photo by BMW

Many performance driving enthusiasts have always been drawn to smaller cars with the greatest engine power. That used to mean squeezing a big V8 engine into a small car chassis, but not anymore. Today’s pocket rockets are sport compact and subcompact vehicles with turbocharged four-cylinder or V6 engines that provide plenty of power in the same small package.

Here are 10 great examples of small cars that pack a big punch. They carry a wide variety of sticker prices, and they come from nine different automakers, but each one is guaranteed to put a grin on your face.

2018 Fiat 500 Abarth

Fiat’s diminutive 500 Abarth is not only the least expensive hot rod you can buy, but it also has a particular Italian flair. Its eager 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged engine has up to 160 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque available for acceleration, and the lightweight Fiat-Abarth chassis with Koni performance suspension makes good use of the power.

Buyers can choose between an old-school five-speed manual transmission or a modern fast-shifting six-speed automatic. Both driveline options power the front wheels. The Fiat 500 Abarth will accelerate from zero to 60 in 6.9 seconds and still gets up to 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. An optional Beats Audio six-speaker stereo completes the package. The 2018 Fiat 500 Abarth carries a sticker price of $18,990 with current incentives.

Photo by FIAT

2018 Ford Focus RS

2018 is the last year to buy the impressive Ford Focus RS. Ford has announced the end of this generation of the Focus along with most of its other passenger cars. But for now, the Focus RS hatchback boasts a best-in-class 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with 350-horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, all-wheel-drive, and a Quaife limited slip differential.

The Focus RS features four different driving modes: Normal, Sport, Track, and even Drift. A Brembo big brake kit is installed at the factory, and the Focus comes with underbody aerodynamics. The 2018 Ford Focus RS does the 0-60 run in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 165 mph. Fuel economy is 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, and the sticker price is $41,995.

Photo by Ford

2019 Subaru WRX STI

In the world of performance sport compacts, the Subaru WRX STI is a living legend. The STI wrings 310 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque from its 2.5-liter flat four engine, using a single turbocharger and top-mounted intercooler. The driveline is a six-speed manual transmission equipped with Subaru’s signature symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

The STI will cover zero to 60 in just 5.3 seconds, up to a top speed of 159 mph. Fuel economy is 17 mpg in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway. You can get behind the wheel of the 2019 Subaru WRX STI for $37,480.

Photo by Subaru

2019 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop

The latest and greatest from MINI is the 2019 John Cooper Works Hardtop. MINI powers the JCW with a 2.0-liter direct-injected twin-scroll turbocharged engine with variable cam timing technology inherited MINI’s parent company, BMW. The JCW engine produces 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, and it offers buyers the choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission to drive the front wheels.

With the manual gearbox, the MINI JCW covers 0-60 in 6.1 seconds. The automatic will do the same run in 5.9 seconds. Both transmissions give a top speed of 153 mph. List price on the 2019 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop is $33,250.

Photo by MINI

2018 VW Golf R

The best of Volkswagen’s performance line is the 2018 VW Golf R. This all-out performance subcompact model features Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system and a 2.0-liter turbocharged with 292 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The engine can be mated to a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG twin-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters. With all that, the Golf R rockets from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, to a top speed of 150 mph.

Speed isn’t all in the engine, though. The Golf R comes with adaptive suspension control that offers three settings from soft to firm to let you balance comfort with performance. The Golf R returns 21 mpg in city driving or 29 mpg on the highway. Sticker prices for a 2018 VW Golf R start at $40,635.

Photo by Volkswagen

2018 Ford Fiesta ST

One of the hottest performance cars on the market is the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST. Powered by a turbocharged and direct-injected 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine, the subcompact Fiesta ST delivers 197 horsepower and 202 pound-feet of torque. Engine power is routed to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. This Fiesta is equipped with Ford’s AdvanceTrac stability system, which controls wheel spin by modulating engine torque and selectively applying brake force.

The Fiesta ST makes the 60 mph run in 6.7 seconds and will take you to 143 mph. Fuel economy reflects the smaller and lighter Fiesta platform at 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Serious performance enthusiasts will appreciate the optional Recaro seat package and the optional 17-inch gloss black wheels with red brake calipers. The 2018 Ford Fiesta ST starts at $20,160 with current incentives.

Photo by Ford

2018 BMW M2

The smallest of BMW’s benchmark M series is the two-door M2 coupe. With a 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, the M2 is rated at 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. The M2 comes with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic. Both gearboxes drive the rear wheels, and the M2 will accelerate from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds with the manual or 4.1 seconds with the automatic.

The M2’s top speed is normally governed to 156 mph, but BMW offers a driver’s package that includes a one-day performance driving course at the BMW Performance Center. At the Performance Center, the top speed limiter will be raised to 168 mph. The 2018 BMW M2 retails for $55,495.

Photo by BMW

2018 Honda Civic Type R

Honda thrilled the world in 2018 with the introduction of the Civic Type R. This hot-rod Honda comes with a 2.0-liter single-scroll turbocharged engine rated at 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The direct-injected engine also features a three-mode drive system with normal, sport, and +R settings. The Type R comes with a six-speed manual transmission, a Brembo brake kit, widebody fenders, and a rear wing that can’t be missed.

The Civic Type R is good for 4.9 seconds on the 0-60 test and has a top speed of 170 mph. As a Civic, it still gets 22 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway. The 2018 Honda Civic Type R sells for $35,595.

Photo by Honda

2019 Nissan 370Z Nismo

Nissan’s flagship performance model is the GT-R, but for small car performance, the 370Z Nismo is the model you want. This coupe comes with a 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine certified at 350 horsepower and 276 pound-feet of torque. The Nismo edition comes with a six-speed manual transmission with an Exedy high-performance clutch, or a seven-speed automatic. In both cases, the 370Z is a rear-wheel drive vehicle with a viscous limited slip differential in back.

The 370Z Nismo will reach 60 mph in five seconds flat, and take you to a top speed of 155 mph. Fuel economy is EPA-estimated at 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The 2019 Nissan 370Z Nismo carries a sticker price of $46,575.

Photo by Nissan

2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Hyundai’s entry in the performance compact market is the unique Veloster Turbo. The three-door Veloster is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Buyers can choose a six-speed manual or seven-speed EcoShift twin-clutch automatic. The Veloster has front-wheel drive with torque-vectoring front axles and several drive modes to choose from.

The Veloster Turbo can do 0-60 in 6.2 seconds, and it has a top speed of 145 mph. Fuel economy returns are 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. New for 2019, the Veloster Turbo models have a nicely upgraded multi-link rear suspension for improved handling and lower overall weight. The 2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo retails at $23,785 for the R-Spec trim.

Photo by Hyundai