What is the equivalent of a 2.4L displacement in terms of turbocharged engines?
3 Answers
A 2.4L naturally aspirated engine is roughly equivalent to a 1.6-1.8T turbocharged engine. Generally, the power output of a turbocharged engine can reach about 1.3-1.5 times that of a naturally aspirated engine with the same displacement. Displacement (Swept-volume) is a specialized term in hydraulic transmission, referring to the volume of fluid inhaled or discharged per stroke or cycle. The volume between the piston's top dead center and bottom dead center is called the cylinder displacement. If an engine has multiple cylinders, the sum of all cylinders' working volumes is called the engine displacement, usually expressed in liters (L). Engine displacement is one of the most important structural parameters, representing the engine's size more accurately than cylinder diameter or the number of cylinders. Many engine performance indicators are closely related to displacement. In China, vehicle classification is based on engine displacement. Micro cars have a displacement of ≤1.0L, standard cars range from 1.0-1.6L, mid-level cars from 1.6-2.5L, upper mid-level cars from 2.5-4.0L, and premium cars have a displacement >4.0L. Engine displacement determines a car's fuel consumption; larger displacement engines consume more fuel but also provide stronger power. However, if a small-displacement engine is poorly adapted, it may not be more fuel-efficient than a larger-displacement engine and could even consume more fuel. Small-displacement cars are generally cheaper, with micro or standard cars not only having lower vehicle taxes but also significantly lower fuel consumption and maintenance costs. Introduction to Naturally Aspirated and Turbocharged Engines: Naturally Aspirated (English: Naturally-Aspirated) is a type of car intake system that relies on atmospheric pressure to force air into the combustion chamber without any supercharger. Naturally aspirated engines offer smoother power delivery and more direct throttle response compared to turbocharged engines. Turbo-Boost is a technology that uses exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine (Internal-Combustion-Engine) to drive an air compressor (Air-compressor). Its primary function is to increase the engine's air intake, thereby enhancing power and torque, making the car more powerful. Installing a turbocharger can increase an engine's maximum power by 40% or more compared to a non-turbocharged version. The same engine can output greater power after turbocharging. Turbocharging technology was originally developed for aircraft engines to address insufficient air intake at high altitudes. Turbochargers are the only mechanical devices that can increase engine output power without altering working efficiency. A turbocharging system mainly consists of a turbine housing and a compressor. The turbine housing's inlet connects to the engine's exhaust manifold, while the outlet connects to the exhaust pipe. The compressor's inlet connects to the air filter pipe, and the outlet connects to the intake manifold. The turbine and impeller are mounted inside the turbine housing and compressor, respectively, and are rigidly connected on the same shaft.
I've studied this misconception before - displacement and turbocharging are by no means linearly convertible. The 2.4L refers to the total cylinder volume of the engine, while the T represents turbocharging technology - essentially putting an 'oxygen mask' on the engine. Having driven many cars, I can say a naturally aspirated 2.4L Accord makes about 185 horsepower, while a 1.8T Tiguan squeezes out 160hp, yet their real-world power feels quite similar. The key lies in manufacturer tuning: take 2.0T engines - the Audi A4 produces 190hp while the BMW 3 Series achieves 258hp. For rough estimation, in city traffic, a 2.4L NA engine performs similarly to a low-power 1.5T variant, but when overtaking on highways with turbo engaged, a 2.0T clearly dominates. I strongly recommend test driving for comparison - don't be fooled by numbers.
After 20 years in auto repair, I often get asked this kind of question. Let me put it this way: Last time, a customer came in for maintenance with his 2.4L CR-V, insisting it felt less powerful than his neighbor's 1.5T Civic. I showed him the data: The 2.4L CR-V produces 186 horsepower, while the 1.5T Civic only makes 177 hp. The difference is that turbocharging allows smaller engines to deliver torque earlier—like using a wrench to tighten a bolt, where a turbocharged car applies full force from the start. In real-world driving, a 1.8T Magotan can indeed accelerate half a second faster than some 2.4L models. But it's crucial to note that aftermarket turbo modifications may cause engine failure—factory tuning is the safety boundary.
