Turbocharged Engines Hit Record 28% of U.S. Light-Vehicle Market

Turbocharged engines powered nearly 28% of cars and light trucks built in the U.S. during the first half of the 2017 model year through March, WardsAuto reports.

If this level is maintained, it would be the sixth straight annual increase for turbo penetration in the U.S. In 2016, just over 24% of light vehicles were equipped with such engines, compared with 11% in 2011, Ward’s says.

The increase is attributed to the growing use of downsized turbocharged gasoline engines, which are more efficient than their larger counterparts with little or no performance degradation.

The turbo trend more than counters a decline in diesel-powered vehicles—stemming from 2015’s emission cheating scandal—from 4.2% of the U.S. market on 2016 models to 2.7% so far this year. All modern diesel engines are turbocharged.

The Ward’s turbocharger installation rate doesn’t include engines that use both a turbocharger and supercharger. Such dual-boost systems accounted for an additional 0.1% of the 2017 light vehicles built in the U.S. Vehicles boosted with superchargers alone also account for less than 0.5% of the market.

Gasoline direct-injection engines were installed in nearly 51% of 2017-model vehicles, up from the prior high of 47% for 2016 cars and trucks. Engines using an integrated direct and sequential injection system power about 3.5% of this year’s vehicles, thanks mainly to Ford Motor Co.’s new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine.