DriveTimes Five

Five models with both four and six-cylinder engines

Outside of the Subaru Outback (and Legacy) and some German sedans, there are actually very few new vehicles that give you the choice between a four and six-cylinder engine these days. But the ones that do are a diverse bunch. Today we take a look at five of them.

Toyota Camry

Yep, that’s right, the Camry again offers a V6 option in New Zealand. The end of Australian production also meant the end of the V6 Aurion; with the introduction of the all-new Japanese-built Camry, the V6 model has returned to fill the (admittedly small) gap left by the Aurion’s departure.

But even getting a plain fourcylinder engine in the new Camry line up is difficult, as only the (very) basic GL gets that, with everything else bar the V6 being a hybrid.

Holden Commodore

Shock! Horror! The four-cylinder engine has even invaded the Commodore range now. Well actually ‘‘again’’ would be more accurate, but Holden would rather you forget the first time it tried a four in a Commodore. Relax, there is still a six, in the form of a heavily revised version of the 3.6-litre V6 from Commodores past. This time, however, it is hooked up to a superadvanced all-wheel drive system that might limit big skids, but endows the new Commodore with startlingly good on-road abilities.

Oh, and that four? It’s very good too. So good that you could almost forget the shockingly bad Starfire four from the VC Commodore of 1980. Almost.

VW Amarok

Currently the only ute in NZ that offers you the choice of a four or a six, the Amarok does it different to other manufacturers by not offering a big 2.5 or 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel and instead having 2.0-litre four and 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engines.

That’s not to say that the 2.0-litre unit is lacking when compared to the larger fours; in fact it sits in the same area as far as power and torque goes (132kW/420Nm), while the beefy V6 pumps things up to class-leading numbers of 165kW/550Nm. While Mercedes-Benz will soon crash this party with the V6 X-class ute, VW has prepared for it and will be releasing a 190kW V6 version shortly.

Porsche 718 Boxster

At the Boxster’s last refresh a sneaky four-cylinder boxer engine was tucked between its sexy, curvaceous haunches. And what a four it is, with 220kW of power and 380Nm of torque it punches the 718 Boxster to 100kmh from a standing start in just 4.9 seconds.

For those who scream ‘‘sacrilege!’’ at the idea of a four-pot Porsche, do remember that the original 356 was a four, and a sensationally good one at that! Of course, if you still need a six, then the Boxster S still gets a 257kW/ 420Nm flat six. But the four is cooler.

Mercedes Sprinter

Yeah baby, its a van! The Sprinter offers a choice between a couple of four-cylinder diesel engines or a beefy 140kW/440Nm 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6.

Admittedly, the six is only available as an option in the larger longwheelbase and extra-long-wheelbase 4.6 and 5.0-tonne vans, which is a shame, because a smaller, medium wheelbase, low roof 3.5 tonne van would be a proper Q-ship with the big six.

Oh, and the big fellas are truly massive, with the LWB just under seven metres long, while the ELWB clocks in at a colossal 7.4 metres.