Why Does a Three-Cylinder Engine Have More Horsepower Than a Four-Cylinder?

[DelilahLee]

The reason a three-cylinder engine can have more horsepower than a four-cylinder engine lies in the different tuning of the engines. The horsepower of an engine cannot be judged solely by its displacement. Structurally, a three-cylinder engine has one less cylinder than a four-cylinder engine, making it more compact. Many car owners assume that the absence of one cylinder in a three-cylinder engine would result in inferior performance. However, if the four-cylinder engine is naturally aspirated while the three-cylinder engine is turbocharged, there may not be a significant difference in power output. Take the Honda Lingpai as an example: the older model was equipped with a 1.8L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, while the newer model features a 1.0T turbocharged three-cylinder engine. In terms of power, the 1.8L engine delivers a maximum power of 100 kW and a maximum torque of 169 Nm, whereas the 1.0T engine produces a maximum power of 90 kW and a maximum torque of 173 Nm. Although the power of the three-cylinder engine is slightly reduced, the torque is actually improved.