Counting how many distinct cylinder counts each model offered in a given year — the four-versus-six decision that used to be the main thing a buyer configured.
| Year | Cylinder options per model | Configurations per model |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 1.36 | 8.50 |
| 2000 | 1.31 | 3.62 |
| 2010 | 1.31 | 3.81 |
| 2020 | 1.27 | 3.87 |
| 2025 | 1.06 | 4.11 |
| 2026 | 1.06 | 4.11 |
Stable for thirty-six years, then gone in five
From 1984 to 2020 the figure barely moved — between 1.27 and 1.36. Then it fell to 1.06 in half a decade. At 1.06, the overwhelming majority of models offer exactly one engine and the number is a rounding artefact of the few that don't.
The overall variety shrank too: 56 distinct engine displacements on the US market in the 2010s, 45 in the 2020s.
Meanwhile configurations per model went slightly up, from 3.87 to 4.11. There are just as many versions to choose between — they differ by trim, drivetrain and equipment rather than by engine.
Why manufacturers stopped offering the choice
Emissions certification costs money per engine, per model. Every powertrain variant has to be tested and certified. Cutting from two engines to one halves that cost immediately.
The turbo made it unnecessary. A single boosted four-cylinder covers the range that used to need a four and a six — which is the entire downsizing argument, even if it doesn't deliver the economy it promised.
Electrification simplifies further. An EV has one powertrain by definition, and the one-speed reduction gear is now the single most common transmission in the database.
Fleet averages punish variety. A thirsty optional V6 drags a manufacturer's fleet number down even in small volumes.
Why this matters to a used buyer specifically
It means the used market is currently the last place the choice exists. A five-to-fifteen-year-old model often still has both the naturally aspirated six and the turbo four, and the difference between them in economy, running cost and character is real.
It also raises the stakes on identifying what you're looking at. When every car of a model has the same engine, you can't get it wrong. When a 2016 model has three, the listing may be describing a different car from the one in the photographs — and a single model year can span 18 mpg across its powertrain options.
What to do
Decide which engine you want before which model. On the used market that's still a live decision, and it drives fuel cost, insurance and repair exposure.
Verify from the VIN, not the advert. Positions four through eight encode the powertrain the car left the factory with. A VIN check decodes it, and sellers state the wrong one routinely.
Check the fuel grade the engine requires. Nearly 70% of turbo engines specify premium, which adds around $500 a year and never appears in an mpg comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Do new cars still offer engine choices?
Barely. The average model offered 1.27 different cylinder counts in 2020 and 1.06 in 2025 — meaning almost every model now comes with exactly one engine. Distinct displacements on the market fell from 56 in the 2010s to 45.
Why did manufacturers stop offering multiple engines?
Emissions certification costs money per powertrain per model, a single turbo four now covers the range that needed a four and a six, electrification simplifies further, and fleet fuel-economy averages penalise thirsty optional engines.
Are there fewer versions of each car now?
No — configurations per model actually rose slightly, from 3.87 in 2020 to 4.11 in 2025. The versions differ by trim, drivetrain and equipment rather than by engine.
Where can I still choose an engine?
The used market. A five-to-fifteen-year-old model often still offers both a naturally aspirated six and a turbo four — which makes identifying which one a specific car has more important, since a single model year can span 18 mpg.
Denis Kataev is a serial solopreneur and the founder of ForCar. With 15+ years in software engineering and 10 years in SEO, he builds data-driven products end to end — backed by a sharp eye for design. At ForCar he mines proprietary vehicle datasets, turning raw numbers into buying advice you can actually trust.
Keep reading
All articles →
Fifty States Saw Insurance Rise. Michigan Is the One Where It Fell.
The state with a reputation for the most expensive car insurance in America is the only one that actually cut the bill. What changed there says a lot about which half of a policy is expensive.
Diesel Peaked in America in 1984. Dieselgate Killed Something That Was Already Dead.
The story everyone tells is that Volkswagen's emissions scandal destroyed diesel in America. The share numbers say the collapse happened thirty years earlier and the scandal arrived at a funeral.
97% of Engines Now Use the Technology That Causes Carbon Buildup. Nobody Warns Used Buyers.
One engine technology took over the entire market in a single five-year window, faster than turbocharging or hybrids. It also introduced a maintenance problem that only shows up on the used market.