The seven most fun cars with engines under 2.0‑litres

Ford Racing Puma – 1.7-litres

It feels strange to be talking about the Ford Puma Racing as a classic, but quite incredibly it is 23 years since its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The new, rather generic Puma SUV may have destroyed the model’s reputation to the younger generation, but the memory of the original Racing Puma still lives on strong.

The standard Puma already had a great chassis that gave confidence to drivers, but when the Racing Puma entered the fray with its flared wheel-arches and chunky appearance, cult classic status was all but guaranteed. With just a 1.7-litre engine, the Racing Puma quickly became the representative of the argument prioritising handling over power.

Suzuki Cappuccino – 0.6-litres

If there was ever a car to prove that size doesn’t matter when it comes to fun, it is the Suzuki Cappuccino. To follow Japanese Kei car specifications, the Cappuccino has a three-cylinder turbocharged 0.6-litre engine, but weighing in at just 725kg means that it’s a lively little thing. 

Optimum power of 64PS (47kW) comes at 6,500rpm, but the rev counter dials all the way to 11 (or 12,000rpm), so prepare for a nest of buzzing hornets when you put your foot down. Your main issue with this Kei car will be fitting in it. However, if your arms and legs are short enough, you’ll be having much more fun than any powerhouse two-seater set up. 

Fiat Panda 100HP – 1.4-litres

Those of you who’ve read any of my other articles may have seen the Fiat Panda 100HP mentioned before. Any chance to wax lyrical about how good this little car really is I’ll jump at. Well, with a 1.4-litre engine, it is the definition of a small engined fun car. With its six-speed manual transmission, you’ll be fully engaged at all times.

The reason why the revvy 1.4-litre engine can outperform much larger engined cars is the fact it uses all of its ability all of the time. A concept that seems to be lost to a lot of the motoring community. Those with a 5.0-litre V8 trying to get the power down before the next roundabout will not be having anywhere near the fun that the Panda 100HP driver bouncing off the limiter doing 31mph in a 40mph is having. I’ve also never met another Fiat Panda 100HP owner who hasn’t had the ‘Sport’ mode engaged 100 per cent of the time.

Peugeot 205 GTi – 1.9-litres

Just scraping into the list with a 1.9-litre engine is the Peugeot 205 GTi. One of, if not, the greatest hot hatch of all time, the 205 GTi probably stands head and shoulders above anything else in this list on the fun scale. The set-up is just perfect for the UK B-road. You may have to be wary of a little bit of lift-off oversteer, but that’s all part of the fun, right?

There are a lot of people who’d argue that the smaller 1.6-litre engine 205 GTi is actually the better of the two, but while we’re strictly keeping it under 2.0-litres for this list, we may as well go for the full 1.9-litre with its 130PS (96kW).

Toyota GR Yaris – 1.6-litres

A strong challenger for the GOAT hot hatch crown, the homologation special GR Yaris caused quite the stir when journalists managed to get behind the wheel in 2020. Moving away from the growing trend of bigger engines and more weight, the breath of fresh air that was the GR Yaris weighed a mere 1,280kg allowing it to get from 0-62mph in just 5.5 seconds.

What powerplant is needed to achieve those levels of acceleration? That’s right, a tiny 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo engine. Gazoo Racing managed to squeeze a mighty 260PS (191kW) from it making it the most powerful three-cylinder in the world. If that wasn’t fun enough already, pair it with a mandatory manual gearbox and a very light all-wheel-drive system and you have a road legal machine that’ll give you as close a feeling to being a WRC champion as possible. 

Note: If you’ve bought the car without the ‘Circuit pack’ you may as well have thrown £30,000 into a fire.

Mazda RX-7 FD – 1.3-litre

Some of you may feel like I’m cheating, but any chance to include a Wankel engine, I’m going to take it. The rotary engine produces 280PS (206kW) thanks to a complicated sequential twin-turbocharging system. The first turbo provides boost from 1,800rpm, whereas the second turbo kicks in during full-throttle acceleration at 4,000rpm.

When pushing the FD RX-7 to its limits, drivers would have to adjust their driving styles significantly to compensate for mid-corner oversteer when the changeover occurs – what’s not fun about that?

Aside from being a rather beautiful car, it is all about the driving experience in the RX-7 FD. The interior is basic and all focussed toward the driver. The stubby gear stick with the short throw is positioned perfectly and gives strong hints you’re not about to go for a leisurely drive, no matter what trip you had planned. The RX-7 FD will always bat above its weight and humble the majority of larger-engined rivals.

Mazda MX-5 NB – 1.8-litres

Deciding which MX-5 to put in the list is a difficult choice. I could easily opt for the latest ND model with its lovely 1.5-litre engine in the base model, however, I’m going to be bold and back what is often considered the runt of the litter: the NB. Is this because I currently own one? Absolutely positively 100 per cent incorrect…

All joking aside, the NB took the formula that made the original NA so popular and improved upon it. The 1.8-litre engine had a slight power increase on the NA which only resulted in more rear-wheel-drive fun. 

Over the years the MX-5 has had a lot of criticism from the media. The usual complaint is over a lack of power and public image issues. The lack of power may become more obvious when you’re reviewing the latest supercars every week, but to the average Joe, as with the Panda 100HP, you can use all of the power in everyday real world driving. What more do you need?

After reading the list, have you thought of any 2.0-litre and above cars that you’d be having more fun in than the above? Let us know and we’ll discuss in the comments.