Paradigm Shift? Four Cylinder Engines Become America's Top Choice In 2011

Reality tends to dictate choices even though in the USA reality is often ignored for as long as possible.

Cheap Gas allowed people to convince themselves that 4 cyl Engines were "Non-Luxurious" while 6 or 8 cylinders were automatically better.

Now as Gas becomes more expensive, people are having to drop fantasy and actually look at these vehicles.

After a couple road trips in the Impreza I honestly don't want another 4 banger. Passing is dangerous without any power!

Really ?

2.0L turbo with 211hp is too slow for you to pass in a country with 55-75mph speed limits ?

I REGULARLY drive 2.0L TDIs in the UK with only 143hp and manage to cruise comfortably in 6th gear at 110mph and drop to 5th to overtake.

The level of absurdity in your statements are frightening.

I have a 2007 BMW 118i with a 2.0-l 143-horsepower 190 Nm 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and I've never, ever, had a problem with quick overtaking on any road. Intelligent driving is also part of, um, driving.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the American driving school system is a complete and utter joke from what I gather. You're literally taught that the only way you can "safely overtake" is with a 39439348334-hp V8 car. Period.

I've driven weaker cars here in Europe (VW Lupo 1.0 for example) and overtaking has never been an issue to me. I simply wait for the right moment, select the right gear and overtake. It's that simple.

I'm sorry but 10-20s passing is stupid imo

@ Joe_Limon - Definitely agree with you on this. I had a 2009 A4 with the 3.2 V6 engine in it (liked it but have sold). I think the article is a little misleading. I now have a 2011 Audi A4, but could NOT get the V6 I wanted or once had, unless I jump into the S4 model or move up to the A6 level. My wife has a 3 series and they have the inline 6 engine in their 3 series cars. Sometimes you don't actually have a choice if the manufacturer doesn't "offer" one in a model.

The 4 cyl weighs less, better on fuel and has plenty of power to weight power when it has direct injection and turbo charged, the larger trucks will require larger engines like ford's ecoboost v-6 in the f-150.I would drive a F-150 with a 4 cylinder if it was at least a 3L with 120hp per L, lets compare that to my 5.7L v-8 im my 1993 F-250, it had only 220.hp.Although I will miss the v-8 growl.

The facts are a little skewed. Consider that there are less V6-engined cars on sale in the US. Hyundai no longer offers one in the Sonata, Buick not offering one in the Regal, and there are plans to stop offering them in the next gen Malibu. And the list goes on and on. The current generation of 4s are pretty convincing as alternatives for 6s, but there is something to be said about the feel of a six when it's being thrashed around a bit. Let's not even talk about what a V8 feels like. Such is life though.