The automotive landscape in the United States is shifting gears, and it’s not just about the cars themselves—it’s what’s under the hood. Recent data unveils an interesting trend: the ascendancy of three-cylinder engines, while the reign of the six- and eight-cylinder powerhouses is facing a slowdown.
Prior to 2019, the share of new car sales in the U.S. for vehicles with three-cylinder engines was essentially zero. However, the penetration of three-pots has increased every quarter since Q1 2019, climbing to 5.6% at the end of Q2 2023 and approaching 6.2% through part of Q3. According to the associate director for loyalty solutions and industry analysis at S&P Global Mobility, Tom Libby, this is because of rising demand for ‘subcompact-plus’ utility vehicles like the Buick Encore GX, Ford Bronco Sport, and Chevrolet Trailblazer.
Indeed, data published by S&P Global Mobility has found that personal registrations for new subcompact-plus vehicles in the U.S. reached 589,026 through July compared to 123,033 registrations for new subcompact vehicles. On average, consumers looking to get into a subcompact-plus vehicle will have monthly payments averaging around $462, a $40 increase from average subcompact monthly payments.
Read: BMW M Says It Won’t Downsize To 4-Cylinder Engines Like Mercedes-AMG Did
Four-cylinder engines remain the most popular powertrain in the U.S. In fact, their share of the market has increased to 57.2% over the past year. Meanwhile, demand for six-cylinder vehicles has fallen with them now accounting for 26.8% of sales, down from 28.6% last year. The share of eight-cylinder engines has also fallen from 11.5% in 2022 to 10.9% this year.
Libby notes that the fall in sales of eight-cylinder models can be largely attributed to car manufacturers now offering more powerful six-cylinder engines that are also more fuel-efficient. A clear example of this is the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer which have ditched their available naturally-aspirated V8s and are now only sold with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six.
