Best five-cylinder cars
Here are some of the five-cylinder cars (and a pick-up) you’ll find on the BuyaCar website
Many car enthusiasts get hot under the collar when the topic of discussion turns to the five-cylinder engine. Smoother than a four-cylinder engine, the five-cylinder engine is also notable for its evocative soundtrack.
Although the history of the five-cylinder dates back nearly a century, production didn’t start in earnest until the 1970s. Mercedes introduced a five-cylinder diesel in 1974, making the 240D the fastest diesel-powered passenger car in the world. Three years later, Audi introduced the 100 5E with a five-cylinder petrol engine, before adding a turbocharged version to create the 200 5T.
Notable five-cylinder cars include the all-conquering Audi Quattro rally car, Ford Focus RS and ST, Land Rover Defender and multiple performance Volvos and Audis. While you’re unlikely to find any of these classics on the BuyaCar website, we’ve pulled together a list of five-cylinder cars you can.
1. Audi RS3
Our pick Audi RS3 Sportback
Used deals from £25,750
Monthly finance from £571.21*
The RS3 is Audi’s smallest RS model, but it packs quite a punch. In its current form, the RS3, which is available as a five-door Sportback or four-door saloon, is powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing a not insignificant 400hp. It’ll hit 62mph in just 3.8 seconds, with Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system helping to harness all that power.
Alternatively, you could consider the previous-generation Audi RS3. You still get a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 400hp, but the 0-62mph time increases to 4.1 seconds. We think you’ll live with the additional 0.3 of a second, not least because used prices start from around half that of a new RS3.
2. Ford Ranger
Our pick Ford Ranger 3.2 TDCi Wildtrak
Used deals from £14,995
Monthly finance from £299.40*
Visit the vans section of our website and you’ll discover a Ford Ranger pick-up with a five-cylinder engine. This hugely capable workhorse is a genuine rival to a family SUV, with a car-like interior, a raised driving position and reasonable running costs. The 3.2-litre five-cylinder TDCi diesel engine was available on the high-end Wildtrak model, before being discontinued in 2020.
The Ranger Wildtrak Double Cab features everything that’s standard on the Limited model, plus 18-inch alloy wheels, eight-inch touchscreen media display with sat-nav, a reversing camera, sports styling and interior ambient lighting. Manual and automatic versions are available, both with four-wheel drive as standard.
3. Audi RS Q3
Our pick Audi RS Q3 Sportback
Used deals from £35,900
Monthly finance from £530.33*
Launched in 2013, the RS Q3 was the first Audi crossover to wear the RS badge. At launch, the RS Q3 was powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 310hp, but this was increased to 340hp in 2014. Two years later, Audi unveiled the RS Q3 Performance model, with power boosted to 367hp.
In 2021, Audi introduced an all-new RS Q3, with a 400hp five-cylinder engine shared with the RS 3 and TT RS. It’ll hit 62mph in just 4.5 seconds, which is an incredible figure for a compact SUV with space for your family and their luggage. There are three trim levels: standard, Sport Edition and the luxury Vorsprung.
4. Cupra Formentor VZ5
Our pick Cupra Formentor VZ5
Used deals from £15,750
Monthly finance from £246.69*
The Cupra Formentor is a sporting SUV offered with a choice of petrol and hybrid powertrains. It’s a relatively rare sight on the BuyaCar website, but one model stands out as the rarest of them all: the Formentor VZ5.
Limited to just 999 models, the VZ5 is powered by the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine from the Audi RS Q3, but with power capped at 390hp. Despite this, the Formentor VZ5 will hit 62mph in 4.2 seconds, making it quicker than its Audi sibling. Highlights include bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels, quad exhaust tailpipes, massive brakes, aggressive body styling and four-wheel drive.
5. Audi TT RS
Our pick Audi TT RS Coupe
Used deals from £10,490
Monthly finance from £287.07*
The TT TS is the flagship of the Audi TT range. Available as a stylish coupe or a roadster, the TT RS is powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 400hp. In coupe guise, it’ll sprint to 62mph in just 3.7 seconds, with the roadster completing the dash in 3.9 seconds. It might be slightly slower, but you’ll be able to enjoy the five-cylinder soundtrack in all its glory.
This is a genuine rival to sports cars like the Porsche Cayman/Boxster, Alpine A110 and BMW M2, not least for that glorious ‘five-pot’ engine. Opt for the roadster, and you can lower the roof in just ten seconds flat; it’s like having an Audi R8 supercar on the ‘cheap’.
6. Volvo V60
Our pick Volvo V60 D5 SE Nav
Used deals from £9,449
Monthly finance from £322.18*
Volvo has a history of building fabulous five-cylinder cars, but that stopped when the company ventured down a route of four-cylinder end electrified powertrains. Don’t be too disheartened, because it’s still possible to find Volvos with five-cylinder engines on the BuyaCar website.
You’ll find five-cylinder petrol and diesel engines in the likes of the old V40, S60, V60, S80, XC60, and XC70, with prices starting from around £10,000 on the BuyaCar website. It’s the best of both worlds: the safety of a Volvo with the soundtrack of a five-cylinder engine. Swede dreams!
*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:
48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.