Modern Car Engines Pack More Power Than Decades-Old Performance Cars Despite Shrinking Size
Carmakers have significantly increased engine power output over the past two decades, achieving performance levels of past sports cars and hot hatches with smaller, cleaner, and more efficient powertrains.
Modern family cars now possess the same power output as performance hot hatches from 30 years ago, a trend driven by manufacturers' efforts to increase horsepower from smaller, more efficient engines. Analysis from data specialists Vehicle Data Global (VDG) reveals a 28.9% increase in average engine power output over the last two decades. This ingenuity is largely a response to increasingly stringent environmental legislation aimed at reducing emissions.
Increased Power from Smaller Engines
Carmakers have employed technologies like turbocharging and mild-hybrid systems to achieve these gains. Turbocharging forces more compressed air into the combustion chamber, boosting power, while hybrid systems contribute power from electric motors. VDG found that the average engine capacity has fallen by 7.8% since 2005, from 1,771cc to 1,633cc. Concurrently, the average power per liter has risen by 42.9% to 69.1kW per liter. The median engine size has decreased from 1,599cc to 1,498cc, while median power has climbed from approximately 107 bhp to 138 bhp.
Performance Benchmarks Surpassed
The trend is illustrated by specific vehicle examples. A Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI e-TEC mild hybrid now offers a power output comparable to legendary 1990s hot hatches like the Vauxhall Astra GSi and Renault Clio Williams, despite its smaller engine size. Similarly, the Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T mild hybrid produces around 156 bhp, exceeding the output of the six-cylinder, 2.5-liter Triumph TR6 PI from the early 1970s. The Ford Puma 1.0 EcoBoost mild hybrid generates approximately 153 bhp from its 999cc three-cylinder engine, delivering about 16% more power than the 1980s Ford Escort RS Turbo, which had a larger 1.6-liter engine.
Shifting Engine Preferences
VDG's analysis also highlights a growing popularity of smaller engines, driven by their practicality and efficiency. Registrations for 1.0-liter engines increased from 3.3% in 2005 to a peak of 18% in 2020. While engine downsizing appears to be plateauing, with little change in average capacity in recent years, power outputs continue to rise, indicating further efficiency gains. Ben Hermer, operations director at VDG, noted that the old assumption of larger engines inherently being more powerful is no longer true, and that manufacturers have successfully met emission reduction targets without sacrificing performance. This engineering achievement suggests that the traditional adage of "no replacement for displacement" may be obsolete.