What does 1.5L equivalent to with a T?
2 Answers
1.5L is equivalent to 1.2 to 1.3 with a T. Under the same displacement conditions, engines with a T are more powerful than those with an L. 1.5L refers to a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, while 1.5T refers to a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. The 'L' in 1.5L stands for naturally aspirated, which means liters, and the 'T' indicates the addition of a turbocharger to the naturally aspirated engine. 1.5T means a turbocharger is added to the 1.5L naturally aspirated engine. Under the same conditions, the performance of a 1.5T engine is equivalent to that of a 1.8L engine.
I've driven quite a few cars, and the power difference between naturally aspirated engines and turbocharged ones is indeed significant. The performance of a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine is generally equivalent to that of a small-displacement turbocharged car around 1.0T, especially in terms of responsiveness at low RPMs. However, when the turbo kicks in around 2000 RPM, the torque surge and the resulting acceleration push noticeably surpass that of a naturally aspirated engine. Simply put, in daily commuting scenarios, the difference in feel between a 1.5L naturally aspirated and a 1.0T turbo is minimal. But when driving on highways or overtaking uphill, the explosive power of a 1.5T turbo is comparable to that of a 1.8L or even 2.0L naturally aspirated engine. It also depends on the specific model's tuning—some sporty cars push their 1.5T engines aggressively, delivering performance on par with 2.2L naturally aspirated engines, so you can't judge just by the displacement label.
