Small, Compact, Lightweight, and relatively more fuel-efficient are advantages of using a four-cylinder engine. A 4-cylinder engine is a good option for some people when choosing an SUV, thanks to the several benefits I mentioned before.
So, What are The best 4-Cylinder SUVs I can Buy Today?
The 15 cars on this list within the segment of SUVs with 4-cylinder engines offer different features in many ways that will significantly help to find the best one to choose from.
2022 Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer is a popular name within the SUV segment of the car marketplace. The latest version under the 2022 model year comes with six different trim levels to choose from.
The base trim is offered at $34,000 with a 2.3-liter V4 engine under the hood producing up to 300 horsepower.
In terms of fuel economy, the rear-drive hybrid version is the best one with 27 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
Ford remains to produce the Explorer with a V6 engine under the Platinum and ST trims that favor a better performance for those who need it better than fuel economy level.
2022 Subaru Ascent
Next on the list of the best V4 SUVs to choose from today is the 2022 Subaru Ascent. This car is one of Subaru’s newest models to be released shortly.
The manufacturer offers four trim levels for the latest release of this car. The lowest trim of Ascent is offered at $34,000, while the highest trim is provided at $47,000.
Under the hood of this car in all trim levels is a 2.5-liter V4 with 260-hp of peak power to produce.
It comes in an all-wheel-drive system with Subaru’s CVT. The best fuel economy can be achieved at the two lower trims of 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Finally, Toyota is on this list with the 2022 Toyota Highlander. Most versions of this car will be powered by a V6 but the Hybrid.
The Hybrid version comes with a 2.5-liter inline-4 paired with an electric motor to deliver up to 243 horsepower in total.
The all-wheel-drive Hybrid trim can produce 35 mpg highway and 35 mpg city which is nothing but great for a car offered at $35,000 for the base trim version.
2022 Volvo XC90
This car has not been announced just yet for the 2022 year model. Yet, there have been some expectations regarding the new version of the Volvo XC90 to come shortly. It is best to look at the previous model version to expect some improvements for next year’s model.
The previous version comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Direct Injected Turbocharged Engine to deliver 250 hp of power.
It is offered at $48,350 with a fuel economy level of 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.
2022 Mazda CX-9
Mazda has not announced the latest year model for the CX-9, but car enthusiasts have been buzzing about it.
Improvements are expected to be carried out by the previous version with a possible starting price of $34,500.
It is expected that a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 will power the new version. A six-speed automatic transmission will handle the delivery of 250 horsepower to the wheels.
In terms of fuel economy, it is expected that the new CX-9 will produce 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
2022 Chevy Equinox
It turns out that Chevrolet has made no significant changes to Equinox’s new 2021 year model. It is ranked 6th in the Compact SUVs list by U.S. News & World Report.
The price of this car is the best selling point, with only $25,000 for the lowest trim and $33,000 for the highest trim. This one is one of the most affordable 4-cylinder SUVs you can buy in the US right now.
A 4-cylinder engine can be selected: either a 1.5-liter or 2.0-liter turbocharged one that offers 170 hp of power.
The car comes with a front-wheel-drive system with 30 mpg, and the all-wheel-drive option comes with 28 mpg in terms of fuel economy.
2022 Buick Envision
The All-New 2021 Envision from Buick is set to hit the market in early 2021. The starting price of the lowest trim is $24,100, while the highest trim is at $40,000, Such an excellent Bargain for this Compact Luxury SUV.
The fuel economy of the 2021 Buick Envision is 26 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway.
The possible engine for the 2021 year model is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission system. The peak power of the car is expected to be 197 horsepower.
2022 BMW X1
The BMW X1 is among the popular car models expected to renew its manufacturer in 2022.
Thus, it is good to look back at the 2021 version and expect some improvements for the future model.
The car is offered as low as $36,195 with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine capable of boasting 228-hp out of its turbocharged system.
Unfortunately, the mpg rating is only 29 mpg combined out of its estimated 31 mpg. Hopefully, that will improve for the 2022 year model to come.
2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
This one is one of the best fuel economy 4-cylinder SUVs on our list. The RAV4 Hybrid from Toyota is the perfect pair of its hybrid-powertrain dominance and its best-selling SUV for years.
Outstandingly there are seven different versions to choose from, with the cheapest one being offered at $30,000. The powertrain department has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine plus two electric motors to deliver 219-hp of peak power in the standard all-wheel drive.
The hybrid’s fuel economy is far greater than the gas-powered version in 41 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe
The most prominent South Korean car manufacturer is back with the latest year model for Santa Fe.
The 2022 year model is available in 3 trims only priced at $27,000 for SE’s base trim. Under the car’s hood is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with only 185 hp of power.
There is a turbocharged engine option as well to consider. The car can produce 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway for the standard front-wheel-drive version.
2022 Audi Q5
It is possible to consider the 2022 Audi Q5 to be a bit expensive because the lowest trim level is offered at $44,295
The performance section of the 2022 Q5 is powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder and a 7-speed automatic transmission plus Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
The car is capable of delivering its peak performance level at 261 horsepower. The hybrid upgrade offers higher peak performance at 362 horsepower.
The official estimation of the fuel economy has not been officially released yet for this car.
It may not be too far from the 2021model, with 22/28 mpg for the standard and 25/29 for the hybrid versions.
2022 Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester has made its way to the list of the best-selling and most reliable SUVs in the USA.
The Forester is known for its exceptional reliability and minimal repair costs. The Subaru forester is favored by those living in the suburbs, thanks to its reliable engine performance and AWD system.
The Subaru Forester is equipped with a 182 horsepower four-cylinder engine and an all-wheel drive, making it superior in all terrains such as mud and snow or ice.
2022 GMC Terrain
GMC Terrain is a premium SUV from the famous car manufacturer GMC. The new year model is listed amidst the future models on the official website of GMC.
The car comes with three trim levels available, Denali is the highest trim. It is powered by a 1.5-liter engine paired with a 9-speed transmission to deliver 170 hp of peak power.
2022 Honda CR-V
In its 2022 year model, Honda CR-V remains a compact and versatile SUV for many people to meet their needs for an excellent commuting car. Pricing is undoubtedly one of the best things about the vehicle that the cheapest version is priced only at $26,500.
Honda offers a staggering set of 8 trims, with half of them being hybrid versions. The standard engine is a 1.5-liter 190-hp turbocharged engine.
That engine is combined with one of the best CVT systems in the car industry today to deliver a smooth performance. The fuel economy level of the gas engine version is 28/34, while the hybrid version is 40/35.
2022 Volvo XC60
Volvo offers the 2022 XC60 within the price range of $42,000. European cars are very common to be a bit pricey compared to Japanese cars.
The car is powered by a turbocharged inline-4 2.0-liter engine capable of delivering 250 horsepower at peak.
The fuel economy is expected to be at 23/30 for this car.
Is a 4-Cylinder Engine Good?
The main idea of car manufacturers to shift to V4 instead of the more powerful V6 is the gas mileage.
A V6 engine will use more gas than a V4. Thus, the car will be more efficient in gas consumption by changing the machine to a V4 from a V6.
A 4-cylinder engine is a good choice because it can deliver a balanced power output and gas mileage, especially in SUVs that are meant to be driven a lot regularly.
What is the Benefit of 4-Cylinder Engines?
The clear advantage of a smaller engine is lower fuel consumption. Within today’s car world, more people favor better fuel economy over performance.
Most people who need to drive a car every day will prefer any vehicle with a better fuel economy.
Other than that, the V4 engine will be lighter than the larger V6 engine.
Fewer cylinders inside the engine bay mean a lighter car in its overall weight. Eventually, that will lead to better handling as well.
Verdict
SUVs have been somewhat popular in recent years because they are commonly versatile.
The latest development of SUVs that favor more of the fuel economy level for regular car use makes it even more popular.
Today’s cars do not have to be fast at all times because versatility and efficiency are much more needed by many people who own and drive a car every day.
In the end, there is no reason not to consider buying a highly efficient and versatile SUV for all of the driving and commuting needs of today.
Best 4-Cylinder SUVs on the Market Right Now Pictures
