The engine is one of the key elements of your vehicle, being essential for keeping it running. In the past, the most common were the well-known combustion engines, but nowadays, technological advances have made it possible to design all kinds of engines.
What types of engines are currently available on the market? Let's take a look!
How are car engines classified?
In reality, there is no specific way to classify them, as each one does so following a criterion such as the type of combustion, the design, the number of cylinders, or the number of strokes.
However, in the end, what matters most is the type of combustion or energy that powers the engine, don't you think? So, let's look at them according to this criterion!
The 5 types of car engines
Let's look at the 5 models we can come across when looking for a car:
Petrol engines
The most classic type of vehicle engine, also known as a combustion engine, as it works by burning fuel to generate energy.
Their strong point is that their manufacturing is more economical, especially compared to other types of car engines, so the vehicles that use them tend to be more affordable, positioning themselves as those offering the best value for money.
Furthermore, if your car's engine stops working, you can buy a second-hand engine for very little, extending its useful life.
Advantages of petrol engines:
- Petrol vehicles are cheaper than diesel or hybrid models.
- They are lighter and smaller engines, which influences the agility and handling of the vehicle.
- Their operation is smoother, and as a general rule they are quieter than diesel engines.
- They have greater power at high revs.
- In some cases, their maintenance is lower compared to cars with a diesel engine.
- There are many more models available than the other types.
- In cold climates, they have a better response.
- They emit fewer particles when equipped with a filter.
- They are perfect for short or city journeys.
Diesel engines
It is actually a type of combustion engine, but instead of petrol it uses diesel to run. They stand out for their high efficiency, consuming less than petrol engines, and generate greater torque to deliver great performance while driving.
In their early days they were designed for commercial and heavy vehicles, but nowadays we can find them in passenger cars from prestigious brands such as Volkswagen or Audi. It is also very easy to find spare parts for a diesel engine at a very attractive price.
Advantages of diesel engines:
- They are more efficient and offer better kilometres-per-litre performance compared to petrol engines.
- They provide more torque, making them ideal for carrying heavy loads, towing, or achieving better response at low revs.
- Its useful life is longer.
- CO2 emissions are lower compared to a petrol engine.
- They are the best option for long journeys.
Electric engines
One of the most modern types of car engines. As its name suggests, they do not run on combustion; they operate through a storage battery, which must be recharged every "x" kilometres.
As for the charging method, it can vary from one type to another; some are recharged by connecting to the power grid and others regenerate energy while driving, drawing on alternative energy sources or through a regenerative braking system.
Advantages of electric engines
- They do not emit polluting gases or particles during operation.
- They are quieter than combustion engines, which reduces noise pollution.
- The cost of electricity per kilometre driven is cheaper than petrol or diesel.
- Having fewer moving parts, they do not require as much maintenance.
- Acceleration is instantaneous.
- In some cities, certain advantages can be obtained, such as being exempt from taxes, free parking, or access to low-emission zones.
- You can recover energy when braking or decelerating, increasing braking efficiency.
Hybrid engines
It is a fairly modern type of engine. Its name comes from the fact that it combines the combustion engine system with the electric one.
Of course, there are several models of hybrid engines, such as mild hybrids, or MHEVs, which offer a small assist to the combustion engine. The other type are plug-in hybrid engines, or PHEVs, which are recharged by connecting them to the grid. The latter are more powerful and offer greater range than MHEVs.
Advantages of hybrid engines:
- They result in lower petrol consumption, as they combine combustion engine technology with an electric motor.
- It emits fewer polluting gases than vehicles with a traditional combustion engine.
- Driving is more efficient in the city, as at low speeds it is propelled by the electric motor.
- The electric battery recharges during braking and deceleration.
- They are more autonomous than electric engines.
- If you obtain the ECO label, you gain access to low-emission zones and tax benefits.
- Driving is smooth and quiet.
Gas engines
This type of engine is not as common, but it is increasingly common to see vehicles using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Unlike combustion engines, such as petrol or diesel, they do not emit as much carbon dioxide. Hybrid gas engines can also be found, which combine petrol and gas operation.
Advantages of LPG engines:
- The gas used as fuel is cheaper than petrol or diesel, which means a great saving on refuelling.
- They emit less CO2, NOx and particles than petrol and diesel engines.
- Some models can run on both gas and petrol.
- The engine is quieter than the petrol model.
- The engine does not wear out as much, since gas combustion is cleaner.
- You can obtain the ECO label to enjoy certain tax benefits.
Which one should you choose?
In the end, choosing the type of engine is a very personal decision, and one you should consider taking into account several factors such as:
- The use you are going to make of the car. If you are going to use it infrequently, you might be better off with a gas or electric engine. On the other hand, if you are going to cover long distances or travel a lot, a diesel or petrol engine will suit you better.
- Your budget is very important, but perhaps you could try to stretch it a little to buy a car with an engine that suits your needs.
- Think about the future maintenance costs of the engine, as the price varies enormously from one model to another.
- Analyse the pros and cons of each type of engine to decide which one best fits your needs and, above all, your driving style.
Will I be able to change the type of engine in the future?
It is true that, in some cases, the type of engine in a car can be changed, for example, replacing a petrol engine with an electric one or a diesel one.
However, this entails an enormous expense since it is not enough to change the engine — many other changes need to be made to the vehicle's mechanism. Something that, on the other hand, must be done by an expert mechanic.
In the end, the expense will be so significant that it will be more cost-effective for you to buy a car with that type of engine than to pay for the conversion.