Jul 15, 2008

Four-bangers Rise Again

A hundred years ago the Ford Model T was introduced -- powered by a four-cylinder engine. In fact, many early motor cars used four cylinders -- some of mammoth dimensions -- but because of their firing characteristics, early four-cylinder engines weren’t very smooth, inspiring the coinage of the term “four-banger.” That rather dubious reputation has clung to four-cylinder engines for a century, but things are changing. Once the ugly stepchild of the car lot, the four-cylinder category now makes up one of the fastest-growing segments of the auto market. As drivers search for money-saving alternatives, they are finding the compromise of getting better miles per gallon versus power and performance easier to make.

One example of the changing market is the popular new Chevrolet Malibu. With a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines, 80 percent of buyers this month chose the gas-saving four-cylinder version, compared to less than 20 percent two years ago. The 2009 Hyundai Sonata, a competitor of the Malibu, is also experiencing increased sales of its four-cylinder versions versus those of previous years. To keep up with the growing trend, manufacturers are equipping these cars with more refined engines and added luxuries, making them viable competition for their higher-end counterparts. These days, buyers are finding that four-cylinder engines are as smooth and powerful as six-cylinder engines of years past. That means they can have their efficiency and enjoy it, too.