Forced induction is one of the best methods of cranking out impressive power figures for high performance applications. That’s why most automakers have dumped naturally-aspirated V8s in favor of turbocharged inline-six engines, like the 2025 Ram 1500 range.
However, they do carry a reputation for being less reliable than naturally aspirated engines. There are, in fact, a number of turbocharged engines that seem to last forever if well maintained. Some can even handle an insane amount of modifications, like the first entry on this list.
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They’re not all Toyota motors, either.
The following list is made up of the most reliable turbocharged engines. To compile this list, we’ve looked at engine-related recalls, customer complaints, and the powertrain’s reputation overall if it has been or was in production for a long time.
10 Toyota 2JZ-GTE VVT-i
Toyota Mk IV Supra
|
Engine |
3.0L Inline-6 twin turbocharged |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
267 hp |
|
Torque |
318 lb-ft |
|
Year manufactured |
1997 |
The 2JZ-GTE VVT-i is part of the popular Toyota JZ series of 24-vale DOCH inline-six gasoline engines built from 1990 to 2007. It is the most powerful engine of the series and built for the performance-based Toyota Supra. It is made of a strong and durable cast iron engine block with oil jet sprayers for cooling the pistons, and is topped with an aluminum cylinder head that is forced fed with sequential twin-turbochrgers and an air intercooler. The engine is well known for its tuning capabilities, achieving figures around 1000 hp without changing the hot forged internal components of the engine.
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Few inline-six motors garner the same adoration as the 2JZ when it comes to tuning potential, but the BMW B58 comes close.
9 BMW S63 V8 Twin Turbo
BMW M5 Competition
|
Engine |
4.4L Twin Turbo V8 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
617 hp |
|
Torque |
553 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
2011 – present |
The S63 is an M-performance version of the more troublesome BMW N63 4.4L V8. It was introduced in 2011 in the mighty BMW M5, which was the first turbocharged model to carry that badge. The V8 engine features two twin-scroll turbochargers and a pulse tuned, cross-engine exhaust manifold that constantly feeds exhaust pulses to the turbos at every 180-degree rotation. Later versions of the engine included Valvtronic – variable valve lift – that worked together with the Vanos and also had a higher compression ratio with higher bar boost for the turbo, resulting in the red line being increased from 6800 rpm to 7200 rpm.
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8 Chevrolet 2.0L Turbo (LTG)
Chevrolet Camaro
|
Engine |
2.0-liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
279 hp |
|
Torque |
295 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
2024 |
The LTG is a 2.0L inline-four twin scroll turbocharged direct injection version Gen 3 Ecotech gasoline engine. It features an electronically controlled wastegate valve, an air intercooler, a stainless steel dual-scroll exhaust manifold and a rotacast aluminum cylinder head with sodium filled exhaust valves for improved thermal conductivity. The engine is used in an array of GM vehicles with its most powerful output in the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro.
7 VW EA888
Volkswagen GTi
|
Engine |
2.0-liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
316 hp |
|
Torque |
310 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
2022 – present |
The EA888 engines are a series of three- or four-cylinder engines being used throughout the Volkswagen group, including the Porsche Macan, Audi TTS and VW Golf R. The engine is built of a thin walled cast iron block with lightweight internals and has been designed with direct fuel injection, high precision sintered camshaft lobes, variable valve timing, and lift for intake and exhaust valves. The cylinder head is aluminum and features a water-cooled exhaust manifold, and it is turbocharged by a KKK K03 turbocharger.
6 Toyota 3SGTE
ToyotaCelica GT-Four
The legendary 3GTSE was famously found in the WRX Toyota Celicia as well as in the MR-2. The motor forms part of the Toyota S series family produced from 1986 to 2017, spanning four generation models. The S series are inline-four engines that are made of cast iron blocks and the aluminum cylinder heads are designed around LASRE technology for lighter weight. The engine is based on the 3GSE non-turbo engine. It features aluminum dual overhead cams, a 16-valve cylinder head designed by Yamaha with pentroof combustion chambers and features a cross flow intake and exhaust layout. The pistons are also made of aluminum and are designed with piston oil jet squirters. It has a forged crankshaft and connecting rods.
5 Mercedes-Benz M276 DE30LA
Mercedes-Benz SLC 43
|
Engine |
3.0L turbocharged V6 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
385 hp |
|
Torque |
384 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
2019-2021 |
The Mercedes-Benz AMG SLC 43 possessed the most powerful version of the M276 DE30LA – a turbocharged version of the M276 engine. It is a 3.0L 24-valve direct injection twin turbocharged V6 engine made up of an aluminum block with Nanoslide cylinder wall coating for reduced friction and less weight than cast iron sleeves. It is equipped with dual overhead camshafts with 2-stage timing and hydraulic vane-cell camshaft adjusters for the independent variable valve timing. A 60-degree vee-angled design is incorporated for improved refinement. The engine is water cooled, has a wet sump, and the cylinder head is made of lightweight aluminum.
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Don’t forget about V6 engines just yet. There are still loads of exceptional cars powered by this common engine configuration.
4 Saab B202
Saab 900T
|
Engine |
2.0-liter 16v Inline-4 turbocharged |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
138 hp |
|
Torque |
201 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
1981-2010 |
The Saab B202 is part of the Saab H series of engines – not to be confused with flat engines. The H stands for high compression, which was an upgrade from its predecessor, the Saab B engine. The H Saab engines are a group of slanted in-line 4’s. It spawned in 1984 when a 16-valve cylinder head with dual overhead cams was added to the earlier single cam shafted B201 engine.
The engine is built of a grey cast iron block, aluminum head and features hydraulic valve lifters with a pentroof chamber design. It was equipped with either a Garrett T25, Garrett GT1752S or a MHI TD04HL-15G-S in the older Saab 900T models.
Related
Turbocharging is an art perfected by most manufacturers today, but in the 1970s it was black magic. This is the car that brought it to the masses.
3 Subaru EJ257
Subaru WRX STI
|
Engine |
2.5-liter turbocharged Inline-4 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
304 hp |
|
Torque |
311 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
2008 – present |
The Subaru EJ257G forms part of the Subaru EJ engine family of four-stroke gasoline engines that was introduced in 1989, and was specifically engineered for the WRX STI. This popular engine series is known for its 16-valve horizontal flat four engines. The EJ257G is a 2.5L turbocharged high performance boxer engine built of an aluminum semi-closed block and head with sequential multi-port fuel injection and dual overhead camshafts that control the variable valve timing for the intake and the exhaust profiles.
2 BMW B48
BMW M240i
|
Engine |
3.0L turbocharged straight 6 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
382 hp |
|
Torque |
369 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
2015 – present |
The B58 straight 6 3.0L is employed by a plethora of BMW performance models, including the flagship M240i of the 2024 BMW 2 Series range. It is made of an aluminum closed-deck engine block matched with an aluminum cylinder head. The engine has an increased compression ratio and increased displacement compared to its N55 predecessor. It features a twin-scrolled turbocharger and a water-to-air intercooler system that is integrated into the intake plenum. It uses BMW’s double VANOS variable valve timing with direct fuel injection, and Valvtronic – variable valve lift, derived from the N55. The bottom end is made up of a forged steel crankshaft and forged connecting rods for strength and durability.
1 Honda K20c1
Honda Civic Type R (FK2)
|
Engine |
2.0-liter Tubrochared VTECH Inline-4 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
306 hp |
|
Torque |
295 lb-ft |
|
Year Manufactured |
2015 – present |
The K series range of engines are aluminum-built, four-cylinder DOCH gasoline engines designed with roller rockers, and a coil-on-plug – ECU controlled – ignition timing system. The K20c1 is a 2.0L 16-valve VTECH with a mono-scrolled turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler. The engine is a popular fixture in the Civic Type R, and is also used to power the insane Ariel Atom.
The engine block features cast iron cylinder sleeves with plateau honing, and reinforced main bearing caps. The internals are made of a lightweight forged steel crankshaft, heat-forged high strength steel con-rods, and lightweight pistons. It has an aluminum cylinder head with water-cooled exhaust ports. Additionally, the engine is equipped with variable valve timing control for the intake and exhaust, and is also equipped with variable valve timing and lift electronic control for even more performance.
