Do you really need a turbocharged daily driver?

Back when I was a kid, having a turbocharger meant you had a car with plenty of grunt.

These were the days of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 5, the GC8 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R and even the 993 Porsche 911 Turbo – all high-performance machines that used forced induction to make their magic happen.

Nowadays, turbos are popping up even in subcompact sedans like the Honda Civic supposedly in the name of better efficiency and higher fuel economy.

But owning a turbocharged car may not necessarily be the best idea, especially if the type of driving you do doesn’t require you to have lots of boost on tap.

Here are things you should consider before going for a turbo daily.

Getting more from less

A turbocharger works by having exhaust gases spin a turbine that is connected to a compressor on the intake side of the engine.

In effect, a turbo forces more air into an engine to produce more power relative to its displacement. For instance, the 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine of a Lancer Evolution 5 produced 280 PS.

A similar-era 911 Carrera needed 3.6 liters of displacement to eke out 286 PS from its non-turbocharged, single-cam, 12-valve flat-6 gasoline engine.

Turbos started out in ships and airplanes in the early half of the 20th century, only popping up in cars starting in the 1960s with the likes of V8 Oldsmobile Jetfire.

But turbos really went into full boost in the 1970s, with the Saab 99 Turbo and the BMW 2002 Turbo paving the way for modern, high-performance turbo machines. 

The inclusion of turbocharging in top-level motorsports like Formula One and the World Rally Championship also helped accelerate its development and popularity.

Power at what cost?

Today, carmakers are using turbos to extract more power from smaller-displacement motors, which consume less fuel and produce fewer emissions, especially at idle. 

Although the trend started in Europe with smaller cars, the concept has spread worldwide, even on leviathans like American sport-utility vehicles.

For instance, the previous-generation Ford Expedition started out with a non-turbocharged 5.4-liter V8 gasoline engine that downed fuel like I down a glass of whiskey on the rocks after a long day of editing.

In 2014, Ford put in a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine that had 56 more PS and 74 more Nm of torque than the old V8. The U.S. government claimed a 12.5-percent improvement in combined fuel economy with the twin-turbo V6.

However, turbo engines are more finicky with maintenance, with some requiring more frequent oil changes and higher-quality engine oil to cope with the increased stress that a turbo brings to an engine.

In addition, a turbo engine comes with additional piping, vacuum hoses, and often, an intercooler. Any failure in these components can cause problems.

And if you’re the sort of person who doesn’t let your turbo rest after a long, hard drive, expect white smoke out of your exhaust pipe and reduced engine performance sooner rather than later.

Better for some than others

Let’s make something perfectly clear here – a turbo is an absolute must if you want a diesel engine that can handle modern traffic.

Those of us (myself included) who made it through the 1990s and 2000s in our clattery, non-turbocharged diesels still recall making considerable preparations for the Herculean task of overtaking more potent machines, such as tricycles and long trucks.

But for gasoline cars, it’s a mixed bag, especially when manufacturers don’t tune a turbo engine quite right.

For instance, the Geely Coolray and Honda HR-V V Turbo are subcompact crossovers that are available with turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engines. 

But when I tested both of them, the Geely got 5.5 to 8.5 km/l in the city and 13 to 16 km/l on the expressway. Meanwhile, the Honda got 7 to 10 km/l in the city and 16 to 18 km/l on the expressway.

For comparison, a non-turbocharged HR-V S gets 9.5 to 12.5 km/l in the city and 18 to 21 km/l on the expressway.

One major issue with a turbo engine is that because it pumps in more air, it requires more fuel not only to keep the air-fuel ratio correct, but also to cool down the engine.

Put another way, a turbo car will not be as economical as a non-turbo car, especially at full power.

Choose carefully

So, a turbo engine will definitely provide you with better acceleration than a similar-displacement, non-turbo engine.

But be prepared to be more mindful about keeping your turbo car in shape and, in some cases, to get pummelled by higher fuel bills. It might not be worth it if you just pootle around the city all the time, not needing any boost.

A naturally aspirated gasoline engine doesn’t offer quite as much heave, but you can expect it to last longer, be easier to maintain and, for some models, be kinder to your wallet.

Aside from reading comprehensive reviews from AutoFun Philippines, you should take time to test out your prospective daily driver before you buy.

Does a turbo car still fit your driving needs?

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