The Volkswagen Group is preparing to pull the plug on Audi’s inline-five engine in Europe due to stricter emissions regulations. Still, rumors of another engine’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. While some reports claim the smallest powertrain offered by the automotive conglomerate is living on borrowed time, the three-cylinder engine isn’t facing retirement.
In a statement to Motor1, Head of Product Communications Stefan Voswinkel clarified that VW isn’t abandoning the EA 211 inline-three engine. When the first Euro 7 draft was published, development of the 1.0-liter engine was halted. However, the EU subsequently approved more relaxed legislation, extending the engine’s lifespan.
‘Due to the very tight requirements in the initial drafts of the new EU7 regulation, we decided first to stop EU7 development of the three-cylinder 1.0-liter TSI. Regarding the final version of the EU7 legislation, we are investigating actually, if it makes sense, to use this engine in smaller cars (like the Polo or the T-Cross) for some European markets.’
Photo by: Volkswagen
In the meantime, VW Group’s mainstream brands have phased out the three-cylinder engine from their compact cars. For several years, entry-level versions of the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia, SEAT Leon, and even the posh Audi A3 were offered with the downsized unit. Today, it survives only in subcompact models like the Polo, Fabia, Ibiza, and the soon-to-be-discontinued A1.
For compact cars, VW Group has replaced the three-cylinder engine with a detuned version of its larger 1.5-liter, four-cylinder unit producing 114 hp. Stepping up to a more potent configuration brings 148 hp. Higher-end versions of VW Group cars with transversely mounted engines use the larger 2.0-liter EA888 in various states of tune, peaking at 329 hp in the Golf R.
While all the powertrains mentioned are turbocharged, it may come as a surprise that a naturally aspirated engine is still available in some markets. In its most basic form, the Skoda Fabia uses a 1.0-liter engine, skipping forced induction and producing a predictably modest 79 hp. By comparison, the turbocharged three-cylinder delivers either 94 hp or 114 hp, depending on the model and trim level.
Motor1’s Take: While three-cylinder engines typically carry a poor reputation, VW’s 1.0 TSI hasn’t been plagued by the reliability issues seen in others (cough, Stellantis’ 1.2-liter unit). Though inherently less smooth than a four-cylinder, it’s more than adequate for small cars, delivering a surprising amount of punch while remaining impressively efficient.
VW is smart to keep the engine alive. Without the 1.0 TSI in its lineup, customers would have to pay the premium associated with the larger 1.5 TSI from the same EA 211 family. Buyers of Polos and Fabias don’t necessarily care about what’s under the hood unless they’re shopping for hot hatches like a Polo GTI or the Fabia 130.
Inevitably, the day will come when VW Group retires its three-cylinder engine, but it appears Euro 7 won’t hasten its demise. It’s always good to have options. If you’re not a fan of these small engines, the 1.5 TSI alternative is widely available.
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