A few years ago, three-cylinder engines were seen as unusually quirky. They were the powerplants of choice for ‘character’ cars such as the Smart City Coupe, or super-frugal models such as VW’s 1.4 TDI.
Today, though, it’s a different matter. A three-pot is becoming increasingly more mainstream, as we move towards a word of low-capacity turbocharged power, with engines that are as fuel efficient as most diesels, but are arguably less polluting.
There are several three-cylinder engines to choose from, but here are our favourite five, along with the cars in which to find them:
Ford 1.0 EcoBoost
Ford’s three-cylinder EcoBoost is a three-times winner of the Engine of the Year award, and it’s hardly surprising as it punches well above its weight.
Designed and engineered at Ford’s engineering centre in Dunton, Essex, the engine has been part of the Ford family since 2012, appearing in models ranging from the Fiesta to the Transit Courier. The 999cc engine varies in power from 97bhp to 138bhp, the latter of which is an astonishing amount of power for such a small engine.
It’s at its best, though, in 121bhp form, where it powers the Fiesta, Focus, B-Max, C-Max, EcoSport, Mondeo and Transit Courier.
Volkswagen 1.0 TSI
The Volkswagen Group’s 1.0 TSI engine started life in the city triumvirate of VW Up!, Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii. But it was in turb0charged form in the Mk 7 Golf that it really came to life, with the new 114bhp output supplementing the city cars’ 74bhp and 59bhp units.
The engine has since gone on to power the Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Octavia, SEAT Leon, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Arona, Skoda Karoq, Audi A1 and Audi A3, such is its versatility.
It’s not quite as punchy as the Ford EcoBoost, but it’s a more than credible alternative, especially if you prefer the German brands’ more upmarket appeal.
Renault 0.9 tCe
One of the smallest three-cylinder engines on the market is also one of the most fun. Renault’s 0.9 tCe is surprisingly potent for its 899cc capacity, while CO2 emissions of just 99g/km in the Clio and Captur models also make it one of the most tax-friendly.
The engine is also found in the Dacia Sandero and Logan MCV ranges, meaning that modern fuel-efficient three-cylinder engines are more accessible than ever.
BMW B38
BMW’s plan with its three-cylinder engine was always to use it in large as well as small models, and it made its intentions clear in 2013 when it launched the hybrid-assisted i8 sports car.
In the i8, the 1,499cc turbocharged unit developed 228bhp, but it’s in lower performance packages that it is now most prevalent.
The engine is available with power outputs of 74bhp and 101bhp in 1.2-litre form, and 134bhp as a 1.5-litre.
The lower capacity engines were used in the MINI up until 2017, but these have since been replaced by the 1.5, which appears in the MINI One, MINI Cooper, MINI Countryman, MINI Clubman and MINI Paceman. It’s also found in the BMW 1-Series and 2-Series Active Tourer and the X1. Where it surprises most, though, is in the fleet-friendly 318i – it’s not a quick car by BMW standards, but it’s lively enough, efficient and good to drive.
PSA PureTech
PSA Group, which owns Peugeot, Citroen, DS and now Vauxhall, is one of the more recent arrivals to the three-cylinder party.
It’s 1.2-litre PureTech engine, which is manufactured in both Europe and China, was named 2017 ‘Engine of the Year’ and is available in 90 different vehicles globally, with power outputs of 110bhp and 130bhp.
In the UK, the engine is found in the Citroen C3, C4, Cactus, Berlingo, Peugeot 308, 3008, 5008, Partner and the DS3. It’s a great example of a three-cylinder engine, as lively as it is refined.
