Best Car Engines in India: Legendary Car Engines That Defined India’s Roads

When you buy a car, you’re not just choosing a body style, a set of features, or a badge, but you’re putting your trust in the engine that drives it all. For Indian buyers, the engine has always been the true measure of a car’s worth. It decides whether the vehicle will run smooth for lakhs of kilometres, deliver the punch you need on highways, or sip fuel efficiently enough for daily commutes.

Among the many manufacturers, Japanese giants like Honda, Toyota, and Maruti Suzuki have consistently built the best engines that Indians swear by. 
 

In this article, we highlight the best car engines in India that have not only powered cars but also shaped trust, reputation, and loyalty in the Indian market:

Honda

If there is one engine manufacturer that every Indian car buyer would swear by, it would be Honda. Honda’s legendary reliability is rooted in its petrol engines, which have been present in the Indian subcontinent since before the turn of the century. Honda has mostly sold only petrol cars in India, and these engines are known for their refinement, linear acceleration and coming from an enthusiast, their wonderful exhaust note. The VTEC system that Honda has pioneered over the years further adds to the allure behind its engines. The Honda i-VTEC is often praised as one of the most refined car engines in India, especially in terms of NVH performance. These engines are also known for their high mileage life.

1.5-litre i-VTEC (City)

If there’s one engine that truly introduced India to Honda’s magic formula of performance and refinement, it’s the 1.5-litre i-VTEC. This four-cylinder petrol motor showed everyday car buyers that an engine could be both smooth and exciting at the same time. At low speeds, it feels calm and peppy, but press the throttle harder and its high-revving character comes alive, delivering a blend of refinement and fun that very few engines can match.

The unit became iconic in the Honda City, though it also powered models like the BR-V and more recently, the Elevate. Paired with a CVT gearbox, it makes for an effortless and relaxed city commuter. But to really unlock its playful side, the manual transmission is the one to go for.

1.8-litre i-VTEC (Civic)

Back in 2006, Honda raised the stakes with the Civic, a car that was stylish, luxurious, and brimming with technology. But what truly cemented its place in enthusiasts’ hearts was the 1.8-litre i-VTEC under the hood. On paper, it looked like just another petrol motor, but behind the wheel, it was a revelation. Smooth, free-revving, and gloriously addictive, this engine loved to scream all the way to its 7,000 rpm redline.

Unlike modern turbo-petrols that deliver short bursts of power, the Civic’s naturally aspirated i-VTEC built its energy in a linear, almost musical way, crackling with excitement the higher you revved it. It was that rare combination of reliability and sheer driving thrill, something Honda perfected like no one else.

Though the Civic was discontinued in 2012 and made a brief comeback in 2019 with the same engine (this time paired only with a CVT, which dulled its edge), the legend of the 1.8 i-VTEC remains intact. For purists, it still stands as one of Honda’s best engines to ever hit Indian roads.

Toyota

Another Japanese carmaker known for its bulletproof engines is Toyota. Some of Toyota’s greatest engines are high displacement engines, and their reliability levels extend to both petrol and diesel engines. Toyota engines are generally over-engineered, especially in the case of their older models, which means that Toyota cars generally reach the end of their life but their engines continue to function perfectly. Once upon a time, Toyota engines were also known for their simplicity, however, they have become complex in the modern era. Regardless of that, Toyota remains one of the best engine developers and manufacturers with some of the most reliable engines in India.

2.8-litre 1GD-FTV Diesel (Fortuner)

When you think of Toyota, the first thing that comes to mind is bulletproof reliability, and their diesel engines embody that reputation. At the heart of this legacy today is the 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV diesel, a powerhouse that surprises with its brute strength. Producing over 200 bhp and up to 500 Nm of torque, this motor is built to conquer long highways and unforgiving terrain alike.

Currently powering models like the Fortuner and Hilux (and earlier, certain trims of the Innova Crysta), the engine has become synonymous with durability and mile-munching ability, something that has helped cement its reputation as one of Toyota’s best engines available in India today.

2.5-litre D-4D Diesel (Innova)

If there’s one engine that turned Toyota into a household name in India, it has to be the 2.5-litre D-4D diesel. Found under the hood of the first-generation Innova, this unit didn’t chase headline figures. Instead, it delivered what Indian buyers valued most, which was longevity, minimal maintenance fuss, and reliability that bordered on unbreakable.

With just over 100 bhp, the numbers weren’t dramatic, but the high torque available at low revs made it ideal for hauling passengers and luggage with ease. More importantly, this relaxed performance meant less strain on the engine, allowing many Innovas to clock lakhs of kilometres without breaking a sweat. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the 2.5 D-4D gave Toyota its legendary reputation for durability in India.

Maruti Suzuki

The third manufacturer on this list is also part-Japanese and that is saying something about the small island nation. Amongst the best petrol engine cars in a budget, Maruti Suzuki’s petrol engines have always been the mainstay of their lineup and over the years, they have been known for their efficiency, performance and reliability. This is a trifecta that many engine makers wish to achieve but only some are able to make it to the promised land. In fact, the 1.3 litre diesel engine that Maruti Suzuki used to source from the Italian brand – Fiat before the BS6 era was known for achieving the same benchmarks as their petrol engines. If all of this was not enough, Maruti Suzuki engines are also quite frugal to maintain.

K15 Series (Brezza)

The biggest engine currently made by Maruti Suzuki itself (since the Invicto uses a Toyota-sourced motor) is the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated K15. This engine powers a wide range of cars including the Brezza, Ertiga, XL6, and the Grand Vitara. What makes it stand out in the mass market is its all-round ability.

It’s dependable, easy to maintain, and extremely user-friendly. The low-end torque is good enough for everyday driving, and the engine stays refined across most RPMs. Another big plus is efficiency—despite being a 1.5L petrol, it delivers excellent fuel economy, making it one of the most balanced engines in its category.

G13B Engine (Esteem)

Maruti has always built engines that balance efficiency and performance, and the G13B was one of the best examples. This 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder motor came with 4-valves per cylinder which was quite advanced for its time. Displacing 1289cc, it produced 85 PS of power, with the peak coming in at 6,000 rpm, while torque topped out at 4,500 rpm. Like most old-school naturally aspirated petrols, it loved being revved and stayed smooth even at the top end.
 

Its big-bore, short-stroke design with a 9:01 compression ratio helped it make the most of its performance potential. While not many casual car buyers may know about it, enthusiasts certainly do. The G13B powered cars like the Maruti Esteem and the first-gen Swift, and many tuners even swapped it into the Maruti Zen for serious performance upgrades.

A part of Suzuki’s JDM lineup, the engine was highly tuneable, and with the right modifications, it could easily put out far more power than stock. For many petrolheads, the G13B still holds legendary status in Maruti’s engine history.
 

Maintenance tips for prolonging engine life

Like all machines, engines deteriorate as they are used. However, if taken care of properly, a car engine has the potential to last its lifetime without requiring any major overhaul. You can undertake small steps to ensure that your engine stays in a healthy condition:

• If you like squeezing out the maximum performance from your engine, make sure you use fully synthetic engine oil. Moderate drivers can get away with synthetic blends as well, as long as the engine is not often subjected to high stress.
• You should drive gently up until the engine reaches its operating temperature. Just like an overly hot engine can destroy itself, an engine that is not up to temperature can also cause itself damage if it is used in an aggressive manner.
• Bad quality fuel has the potential to cause damage to your engine. Always fill up fuel from reputable petrol pumps that you know offer genuine quality fuel. In case, you need to fill up from an unknown petrol pump, you should only fill up the required amount and also use fuel additives.
• The air intake system is crucial for a healthy engine, and therefore, the air filter must be cleaned periodically and replaced at least once a year.
• You should get your engine serviced on time, and try to follow the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals. There is no harm in going in early for a service, if you feel that the engine has been used in harsh conditions since the last oil change.

Future of car engines in India

Car engines have come a long way in the last decade itself. However, with the push for cleaner fuels and alternative forms of propulsion such as electric motors heating up everyday, the future of engines remains up in the air. Over time, internal combustion engines will be phased out. The alternative scenario is that these engines will need to use carbon neutral fuels, and Porsche is working on making fuel which is made by extracting the carbon dioxide present in the air. In the short- to medium-term future, internal combustion engines will continue to power cars but electric motors could end up being the long term solution.