Car Engine Sizes Explained
FixMyCar discusses everything you need to know about engine sizes.
Ellie Dyer-Brown
Friday February 27 2026
8 min read
Everyone has different priorities when shopping for a new car. Some will favour looks, while others care more about reliability. Whatever your preferences, one thing you shouldn’t overlook is engine size, which can impact everything from performance to fuel efficiency.
In this guide, we break down what engine size means, how it’s measured, and what to consider before you choose.
In a nutshell: Engine size is the total capacity of a car’s cylinders (measured in litres or cc). It can influence how the car performs, how much fuel it uses, and what you might pay for running costs like tax and insurance. However, engine size matters less than it used to because turbocharged engines can help smaller cars deliver strong power and efficiency, so it’s best to choose based on how and where you drive (city, motorway, towing), not the number alone.
What does engine size mean?
Engine size isn’t about the physical size of an engine. It’s actually about the capacity of the engine cylinders, measured in litres or cubic centimetres (CC). The more litres an engine has, the bigger it is (and the more fuel it can burn).
You can usually find your car’s engine capacity on your V5C document. It’s a three- or four-figure number, such as 1,242cc, showing the car’s exact cubic centimetres of capacity. It’s usually rounded up or down to the nearest tenth of a litre for the sake of simplicity – so 1,242cc becomes 1.2 litres.
What does turbocharged mean?
Many modern engines are turbocharged to give them more power. A turbocharger works by using exhaust fumes to drive a turbine, which pushes extra oxygen into the engine’s cylinders, allowing them to burn more fuel. More fuel equals more power, so a smaller engine with a turbo can sometimes be more powerful than a bigger one that isn’t turbocharged.
Learn more about how a turbocharger works here.
What engine size is my car?
There are a couple of ways to find out your car’s engine size. The first is to look at your V5C. It will be listed under ‘engine capacity’ as an exact cc figure. The second is to enter your registration on the Government’s vehicle information checker.
You can use the chart below for quick reference to some of the most popular engine sizes.
| Litres | Cubic centimetres |
|---|---|
| 1.0 | 1,000 |
| 1.2 | 1,242 |
| 1.5 | 1,500 |
| 2.0 | 1,983 |
| 2.0 | 2,000 |
| 2.2 | 2,196 |
| 2.2 | 2,213 |
| 3.0 | 2,967 |
| 3.2 | 3,212 |
Does engine size matter?
Engine size matters to an extent, but less than it used to. Larger engines offer more power, torque and towing capacity, whereas smaller engines can use modern technology like turbochargers to produce similar power while being more efficient.
While engine size can be a useful point of comparison when you’re looking for a new car, it should be considered alongside other factors – such as whether the vehicle is turbocharged - and not in isolation.
When engine size matters
Large engine: Best for SUVs, trucks, towing and long-distance driving.
Small engine: Best for commuting, city driving and lower fuel costs.
| Benefit | Larger engines | Smaller engines |
|---|---|---|
| Better for long-distance, high-speed travel | ✅ | ❌ |
| Better urban fuel economy | ❌ | ✅ |
| Performance improvements | ✅ | ❌ |
| Less expensive | ❌ | ✅ |
| Faster throttle response | ✅ | ❌ |
| Better resale value | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cheaper road tax | ❌ | ✅ |
| Better for towing | ✅ | ❌ |
How does engine size affect performance?
It used to be the case that a car with a larger engine would provide more power – and therefore better performance - than a similar-sized car with a smaller engine. But turbochargers have been a game-changer.
Nowadays, smaller turbo engines can produce more power than larger non-turbocharged engines. However, there’s a huge difference in how that power is delivered and what it feels like from behind the wheel.
The difference
If you put your foot down in a car with a large engine and no turbo, you will feel the pull of the acceleration almost immediately.
In a car with a smaller turbocharged engine, there will likely be a delay (known as “turbo lag”), as it can take a moment for the turbo to build boost.
Engine size isn’t the only factor affecting performance. It’s also worth considering the car's size and weight. A 1.4-litre engine in a supermini should deliver responsive acceleration and strong fuel economy. In contrast, the same engine in a large SUV will have to work much harder – and use significantly more fuel - to achieve the same performance.
Find out how to get the best fuel efficiency from your car.
How does engine size affect fuel economy?
Small engines usually consume less fuel than large engines under the same driving conditions. So if you decide to buy a car with a big engine, be prepared for higher running costs.
That said, many other factors can impact how many miles you get per gallon of fuel, as we discuss here.
Engine size buying guide
What to consider
Speed
If you want a car that can go fast, look for a high-power, larger capacity engine or a hot hatch (these typically have 2.0-litre engines that can still deliver a decent amount of power).
Running costs
Large engines typically use more fuel and produce more emissions (resulting in higher road tax). If you’re an urban driver and low running costs are your priority, a small car with a turbocharged 1.0-litre engine would suit your needs nicely.
However, if you do lots of long journeys, a bigger petrol or diesel engine would likely use less fuel.
Check out our money saving tips in this guide.
Motorway driving
A mid-size diesel engine is the best option for drivers who spend most of their time on motorways. It will provide strong fuel economy and a good amount of power for overtaking.
Urban driving
Town and city driving is best served by a car with a smaller engine.
1.0-litre engines
Most 1.0-litre engines have three or four cylinders, and many have a turbocharger for additional power. They typically produce up to 125hp and have excellent fuel economy when used for urban driving. However, their fuel economy isn’t as good on motorways.
Examples: Hyundai i10 (pictured above), Ford Focus, Kia Picanto
1.0-2.0-litre engines
1.0-2.0-litre engines are commonly found in mid-size SUVs and family hatchbacks. Many are turbocharged, producing around 150hp, and they often advertise similar real-world fuel economy figures to those of cars with smaller engines. However, they are usually more expensive.
You might choose this engine size if you do a mix of short journeys and motorway trips.
Examples: Suzuki Swift (pictured above), Toyota GR Yaris, Ford Fiesta ST
2.0-3.0 litre engines
Engines of this size are typically found in estate cars, SUVs and large saloons. They offer significantly more power but are much less fuel efficient. Their power is often in the range of 200-300hp.
Drivers who need to tow heavy trailers or caravans often opt for engines of this size.
Examples: Land Rover Defender (pictured above), Porsche Cayman, Mazda CX-5
3.0+-litre engines
Today, engines larger than 3.0-litres are rare. They come with six, eight, 10 or 12 cylinders and are mostly found in large SUVs and high-end performance cars.
Examples: Audi Q7, Range Rover Sport, Audi R8
What size engines do hybrid vehicles have?
The engine size in hybrid cars varies. The Kia Niro hybrid has a 1.6-litre engine, while the Toyota Prius has a 1.8-litre engine.
Engine size also varies in plug-in hybrids:
Volkswagen Golf GTE – 1.4-litre
Volkswagen Passat – 1.5-litre
BMW 3 Series 330e – 2.0-litre
BMW X5 – 3.0-litre
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid – 3.0-litre V6
Frequently asked questions
Yes – cylinder capacity, engine size and cylinder displacement are all the same thing. They refer to the total volume of all cylinders in the engine, measured in litres or cubic centimetres (cc).
It’s usually the case that cars with big engines are more expensive to insure than those with smaller engines. This is because bigger engines can produce more power and go faster, which makes them riskier to insure.
In most cases, the two most important qualities of a first car are that it’s easy to drive and affordable to buy and run. Cars with an engine size of 1.2-litres or below usually tick these boxes.
Modern engines larger than 1.2-litres or those with a turbocharger are best suited for motorway driving. Make sure you check the fuel efficiency and power output figures, as these will tell you more about the vehicle’s suitability than engine size.
Cc stands for cubic centimetres. It is a measurement of engine size that tells you the total volume of an engine’s cylinders.
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Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Manager. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.