When you purchase a new vehicle directly from a dealership, you may have more than one choice of engine. All other things being equal, the larger the engine (the greater the volume of the cylinders) and the more cylinders it has, the greater its fuel consumption. In addition, smaller engines usually cost less.
That does not mean that a bigger engine is never a good choice. For some applications, a larger, more powerful engine may be the most fuel-efficient option. If you often tow heavy loads, for example, a small engine may burn more fuel because it must operate beyond its most fuel-efficient range.
Under normal driving conditions, smaller engines deliver better fuel economy than larger engines. Choose the smallest engine that meets your everyday needs.
Vehicles with smaller, turbocharged engines can be efficient and may deliver some fuel and cost savings. However, most buyers select one of these devices to increase power output from a car’s normal-size engine – a choice that tends to increase fuel consumption, especially if you frequently take advantage of the higher performance you’ve paid for.
| Vehicle | Engine size | Annual fuel consumption (20 000 km) | Annual fuel cost ($0.68/litre) | Annual savings from smaller engine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-sized car | 2.0 litre (4-cylinder) |
2066 litres | $1,405 | 178 litres | $121 |
| 3.0 litre (6-cylinder) |
2244 litres | $1,526 | |||
| Sport utility vehicle | 2.0 litre (4-cylinder) |
2227 litres | $1,514 | 819 litres | $558 |
| 4.0 litre (6-cylinder) |
3046 litres | $2,072 | |||
| Pickup truck | 4.2 litre (6-cylinder) |
2893 litres | $1,967 | 691 litres | $470 |
| 5.4 litre (8-cylinder) |
3584 litres | $2,437 | |||
*Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest litre and dollar amount.