Some four-cylinder sports cars are genuine speedsters, and these were the fastest 4-cylinder cars of the 2010s

They say that size doesn't matter. What matters is the way you use it. Perhaps that's why we are witnessing the rapid rise of three-cylinder engines, after the car world has been looking down upon this configuration for far too long. While the likes of the Toyota GR Yaris are producing six-cylinder power with an engine half the size, it might take longer for the tiny engines to take over the world because the four-cylinder engine is still the most widely used engine type.

The current four-cylinder engines are producing more power than the average V8 produced three decades ago. Cracking the magical 300hp mark is no longer a big deal, thanks to the miracle of advancements like turbochargers, direct fuel injection, and variable valve timing. Hence, four-cylinder engines can be designed to attain an excellent combination of power and fuel economy in a cheap to own and run package. Also, this engine's popularity increased exponentially after the introduction of Euro 6 carbon emission regulations, which forced manufacturers to begin downsizing from big V8s to smaller engines. Some four-cylinder sports cars are genuine speedsters, and here are the fastest 4-cylinder cars of the 2010s.

The base model of the Ford Mustang features a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine that punches out 310hp and 350lb-ft of torque. These figures are far from the 735hp from the Mustang Shelby GT500, but they are impressive nonetheless. The four-cylinder Mustang is no muscle car, but it is fast.

The Ford Mustang Ecoboost uses the Focus RS-derived mill with broader horsepower and torque curves. The power is more usable and outperforms most older V8-powered Mustangs, with a top speed of 145mph and acceleration from zero to 60mph in 5.5 seconds.

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In 2013, Richard Hammond described the Audi S3 as a wolf in sheep's clothing, and thanks to its laid-back charisma, it might be the fastest slow-looking car ever produced. Under the hood is a 2-liter TSI engine, outputting 306hp and 295lb-ft of torque. These aren't earth-shattering figures compared with close hot hatch competitors like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S or the Audi RS3, which returns about 100hp more. But, behind the sensible looks and figures is a beast capable of reaching an electronically limited 155mph top speed.

Throughout the 2010s, the Audi S3 stuck with its long-standing tradition of high straight-line speed and all-wheel-drive dependability.

The Volkswagen Golf is as iconic as nameplates go, and the Golf R is the top model of the car that became the hard-to-replace Beetle's real successor. On paper, the Golf R is essentially a Golf GTI but with more power and a four-wheel-drive system. The car blends speed and sophistication to make for a unique driving experience.

The Golf first wore the R badge in 2002, in R32 guise, and by the end of the 2010s, it was making 288hp and 280lb-ft of torque from a potent turbocharged 2-liter engine. With an option of a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission, the car could reach a 155mph top speed. The new generation has seen a power increase to an impressive 315hp.

We love the muscle of the V8 Camaros, and the 2.0T entry-level Camaro is the easiest entry into Camaro ownership. Coming with a 275hp 2-liter inline-four, the Camaro 2.0T 1LE is the track-ready Camaro for the masses to get them acclimatized with the world of muscle before taking on the V8 monsters. But this car is also worth keeping because it offers power you can actually use on a daily basis.

Some have argued that the car is devoid of character and passive in response, and they would rather spend more to own the V6 version. Still, it can pull serious punches and max out at 155mph, which isn't slow by any standards.

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This SLC offers a smaller and less expensive two-seat retractable hardtop convertible option if the premium Mercedes SL-Class roadster is beyond your budgetary allocations. It ships in two guises, the performance-oriented AMG SLC43 and the SLC300, which features a 241-hp turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder engine. Both come with a rear-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The four-cylinder engine in the SLC300 feels punchy and flexible, and it sounds better as the revs build up. But these cars are built to cover a long distance rapidly, rather than sprinting through corners. If you step on the gas hard and long enough, you will max out at 155mph.

While the Alfa Romeo comes with a shoddy interior and finicky convertible top, it has the driving pleasure of a supercar. It can make every commute a special, soul-stirring drive. It was, arguably, Alfa's first genuine driver's car in decades, and is proof of the brilliant lengths a tiny turbo-four can take you when stuck in a lightweight body.

This affordable Italian Spider is powered by a 1.7-liter turbo-four making 238hp and 258lb-ft of torque in a car weighing a mere 2500 pounds. The zippy power to weight ratio makes the Alfa Romeo 4C a serious sprinter, with an acceleration of zero to 60mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 160mph.

Recently, Subaru said it wouldn't be building another gas-powered WRX STI, and they are exploring an electrified version for the next generation. Bittersweet news for die-hard fans who have enjoyed the iconic car for decades. The rally-bred sports sedan has evolved from its Impreza roots through five generations, but the constant has always been the trusty flat-four engines. In 2019, the Japanese automaker released the WRX STI 209, the most powerful factory-built Subaru ever.

The car squeezes every drop of juice from the EJ-series 2.5-liter turbo flat-four engine to give 341hp and 330lb-ft of torque. The power is delivered to all-wheel drive via a six-speed manual transmission like a traditional STI, maxing out at about 162mph top speed.

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The Ford Focus RS first hit the market in 2002, and the hot hatch per excellence proved a capable rally car that could be driven every day. A snarling beast fit for civil society. Ford even snuck in a "Drift Mode" if you felt the itch to burn some rubber after work. Sadly, the fan-favorite was axed in 2018.

Powering the AWD manual hot hatch is the 2.3-liter EcoBoost 6MT pushing 350hp and 325lb-ft of torque. The Focus RS had a top speed of 165mph, making it the fastest, sharpest, and most exciting hatchback you could buy.

Mercedes squeezes out 416hp and 369lb-ft of torque from the lowly 2-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine featured in the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 S AMG, making this the most powerful production four-cylinder engine in the world. This power results in impressive acceleration returns, with the CL45 S AMG sprinting from zero to 60mph in four seconds, which is only 0.2s slower than the V8-powered C 63 S.

When equipped with the optional AMG Driver's Package, the car can reach a claimed top speed of 168mph.

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The four-cylinder engine in the Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster can't hold a candle to the six-cylinder beast that powers the higher trims, including the Cayman GT4 or the 718 Spyder. But this doesn't mean the 718 Cayman and Boxster are slow, in fact, they're actually the fastest four-cylinder production cars from the 2010s.

The Porsche 718 Cayman S assumes the mantle of a pure sports car, squeezing a formidable 350hp and 309lb-ft of torque from the flat- 4 turbos 2.5-liter engine, which can attain a top speed of 177mph.

Bryan is a content marketer who works as a staff writer for HotCars.com where he covers a variety of topics, from the first Motorwagen to the latest Electric vehicles. A writer by day and a programmer by night. When he is not writing about cars, catch him tinkering with his old motorcycle.