The Best Gasoline Engines Every Car Enthusiast Should Know!

Today, good gasoline engines are highly valued by traditional riders. They can be strong yet economical and durable. This determines their popularity. Not sure which petrol engine to choose? Check out the list!

Gasoline Engine Rating - Accepted Categories

First, a little clarification - the purpose of this article is not to list the best engines in separate plebiscites. Rather, this gasoline engine rating focuses on all the designs that drivers and mechanics think are getting the best reviews. Therefore, do not be surprised by large V8 units or modern representatives of successful downsizing. The important parameters we considered were:

• saving;
• durability;
• resistance to extreme use.

Small recommended gasoline engines over the years

Petrol engine 1.6 MPI from VAG

Let's start by taking off smoothly, without excess power. The petrol engine that has been successfully installed in many models for decades is the VAG 1.6 MPI design.. This design remembers the 90s and, moreover, still feels good. Although it is no longer mass-produced, you can find many cars on the streets with this engine with a maximum power of 105 hp. This includes:

• Volkswagen Golf and Passat; 
• Skoda Octavia; 
• Audi A3 and A4; 
• Seat Leon.

Why did this design make it to the list of the best gasoline engines? Firstly, it is stable and works great with gas installations. It should be noted that it is not without drawbacks, and one of them is the cycling of engine oil suction. However, apart from this, the whole design does not cause any special problems. You will not find here a dual-mass flywheel, a variable valve timing system, a turbocharger or other equipment that is expensive to repair. This is a gasoline engine designed according to the principle: "fill up the fuel and go."

Renault 1.2 TCe D4Ft petrol engine

This unit is not as old as the previous one, it has been installed on Renault cars, for example, Twingo II and Clio III since 2007. Initial attempts to downsize often ended in huge design failures, such as the commemorative VAG 1.4 TSI engine designated EA111. What cannot be said about 1.2 TCe. 

If you are interested in reliable gasoline engines, this one is really worth recommending.. No variable valve timing system, very simple and proven design based on the old version 1.4 16V and 102 hp. make driving very enjoyable. Sometimes difficulties arise mainly with a dirty throttle and spark plugs that need to be replaced every 60 thousand kilometers.

Petrol engine 1.4 EcoTec Opel

This is a copy that fits into the most economical gasoline engines.. It was introduced to Opel cars i.e. Adam, Astra, Corsa, Insignia and Zafira. Power options in the 100-150 hp range. allowed for the efficient movement of these machines. Also, it didn't have too much fuel consumption - mostly 6-7 liters of petrol - which is a standard average. 

As if that weren't enough, the engine from the first version, with multipoint fuel injection, works great with the LPG system. When it comes to dynamics, you can stick with the option found in the Insignia and possibly the Astra, which was a little on the heavy side, especially on the J version.

Petrol engine 1.0 EcoBoost

Reliability, 3 cylinders and over 100 hp per liter of power? Until recently, you may have had doubts, but Ford proves that its tiny engine really works great. Moreover, he is able to effectively drive not only the Mondeo, but also the Grand C-Max! With fuel consumption, you can drop below 6 liters, unless you have a very heavy leg. A place in the ranking of the best gasoline engines is reserved for this design, not only because of the minimum appetite for fuel. It is also distinguished by high durability, reliability, decent performance and… susceptibility to tuning. No, this is not a joke. Reasonable 150 HP and 230 Nm is more of a matter of improving the engine map. And what is most interesting, such cars drive thousands of kilometers.

Which powerful gasoline engine is reliable?

VW 1.8T 20V petrol engine

This is probably one of the most readily tuned models when it comes to recommended petrol engines in European cars. In the basic version of the AEB from 1995, it had a power of 150 hp, which, however, could easily be raised to a reasonable 180 or even 200 hp. In the sports version with the designation BAM in the Audi S3, this engine had an output of 225 hp. Designed with a very large "stock" of material, it has become almost a cult unit among tuners. To this day, they make it, depending on the modification, 500, 600 and even 800 hp. If you are looking for a car and are an Audi fan, you already know which petrol engine to choose.

Renault 2.0 Turbo petrol engine

163 HP in the basic version of Laguna II and Megane II from a two-liter engine - a sufficient result. However, French engineers went further, and as a result they managed to squeeze 270 hp out of this very successful unit. However, this variant is reserved for those few who want to drive the Megane RS. This 4-cylinder inconspicuous engine does not bother its users with expensive repairs or frequent breakdowns. It can also be confidently recommended for gas supply.

Honda K20 V-Tec petrol engine

If we collect the best gasoline engines, there must be room for Japanese developments.. And this two-liter daring monster is the beginning of the upcoming range of many Asian representatives. The absence of a turbine, high revs and variable valve timing have long been a Japanese recipe for high power. For a moment, you might think that since these engines are so inhumanly screwed under the red field of the tachometer, they should not be particularly durable. However, this is nonsense - many consider gasoline engines to be the least reliable.

In fact, this model is an example of a virtually flawless engine. With proper handling and maintenance, it covers hundreds of thousands of kilometers and is loved by tuning enthusiasts. Want to add a turbo and get 500 or 700 horsepower? Go ahead, with K20 it's possible.

Honda K24 V-Tec petrol engine

This and the previous instance are practically indestructible gasoline engines. Both were only discontinued due to stringent emission regulations. In the case of the K24, the driver has just over 200 hp. The engine is mainly known from the Accord, where he had to deal with a car weighing 1,5 tons. K24, next to K20, is considered an extremely simple, modern and at the same time incredibly durable engine. Unfortunately, there is sad news for supporters of gas energy - these cars do not work perfectly on gas, and valve seats like to burn out quickly.

The least fail-safe gasoline engines with more than 4 cylinders

Now it's time for the best high performance gasoline engines. Those that could share several vehicles with their engine.

Volvo 2.4 R5 petrol engine

To begin with, a naturally aspirated unit with a beautiful sound and high reliability. While not an automotive engine with exceptional fuel efficiency, it pays for itself with exceptional durability. It was available in several variants both turbocharged and non-turbocharged, but the latter is more durable. Depending on whether the engine used the 10-valve or 20-valve version, it produced 140 or 170 hp. That's enough power to drive big cars like the S60, C70 and S80.

BMW 2.8 R6 M52B28TU petrol engine

193 hp version and a torque of 280 Nm is still popular in the secondary market. The in-line arrangement of 6 cylinders provides a beautiful sound of the unit, and the work itself is devoid of sudden and unpleasant surprises. If you're wondering which gasoline engine is the least trouble-free, then this one is definitely at the forefront. 

The entire line of M52 engines consists of 7 modifications, with different power and displacement. The aluminum block and the well-established Vanos valve timing system do not cause any problems for users, even if regular maintenance is slightly neglected. The unit also works with a gas installation. Every BMW fan will be wondering which engine is the least trouble-free in his car. Certainly the M52 family is worth recommending.

Mazda 2.5 16V PY-VPS petrol engine

This is one of the newest engines on the market, and its use was initially limited to the Mazda 6. In short, it is contrary to modern automotive trends of installing a turbine, reducing the number of cylinders, or using DPF filters. Instead, Mazda engineers designed a block that can behave similarly to a compression-ignition design. All because of the increased compression ratio of 14:1. Users do not complain about car engines from this family, even though their operation was much shorter than other models.

3.0 V6 PSA petrol engine

The design of the French concern dates back to the 90s, on the one hand, this may be a defect associated with the level of operation. On the other hand, owners appreciate the old tech and the best petrol engines that don't push too hard. They will repay you with a high work culture and above-average longevity. This is a V6 engine from PSA, which was installed in the Peugeot 406, 407, 607 or Citroen C5 and C6. Good cooperation with LPG installation improves driving economy because this design is not the most economical. For example, a Citroen C5 in its 207-horsepower version requires about 11/12 liters of gasoline for every 100 km.

Mercedes-Benz 5.0 V8 M119 petrol engine

An extremely successful unit, of course, inaccessible to every user for obvious reasons. Used in cars from 1989-1999 and was used to power luxury cars. Drivers could not complain about the lack of power, at most the high fuel consumption. In terms of reliability, this unit is designed for many years of maintenance-free driving, and it is. When it comes to the best petrol engines used over 20 years ago, this one is definitely worth highlighting..

The Least Reliable Gasoline Engines You May Not Have Heard Of

Hyundai 2.4 16V petrol engine

According to users of this car, the 161-horsepower version is such a stable design that you can only look under the hood into the oil interval. Of course, this is not a machine without flaws, but the simple and durable engine deserves special recognition. And these are the characteristics of the best gasoline engines, right? If you care about an Audi or BMW badge, driving a Hyundai might not be all that fun at first glance. Fortunately, this is only an appearance.

Toyota 2JZ-GTE gasoline engine

Although this unit is well known among tuners and enthusiasts of pushing power to the limit, for someone it is certainly out of reach. Already at the production stage, the 3-liter in-line engine was prepared for the most difficult conditions. Although the official power of the unit on paper is 280 hp, in reality it was slightly higher. Interestingly, the cast-iron block, closed cylinder head, forged connecting rods and oil-coated pistons mean that this unit has been used in motorsport for many years. 1200 or maybe 1500 hp? It is possible with this engine.

Lexus 1LR-GUE 4.8 V10 petrol engine (Toyota and Yamaha)

An engine that is smaller than conventional V8s and weighs less than standard V6s? No problem. It is the work of the Toyota and Yamaha engineers who together created this monster for the premium brand, that is, Lexus, that deserves the highest recognition. In the eyes of many motorists, this unit is one of the most advanced among most gasoline engines. There is no supercharging here, and the power of the unit is 560 hp. If you are interested in the best petrol engines, this design is definitely one of them..

The engine block and head are made of aluminum, the valves and connecting rods are made of titanium, which significantly reduces the weight of the unit. Would you like to own this gem? This collectible car is worth more than PLN 2 million on the secondary market.

Which gasoline engine is the least reliable? Summary

Over the years, many vehicles have been created that are considered the best in given categories. However, for the most part, time shows how true the Engine of the Year election turns out to be. Of course, the above units are one of those that can be recommended with full confidence. You can’t deny yourself - the best gasoline engines, especially in used cars, are those that have had the most caring owners..