Is a 2.4-Liter Engine a Four- or Six-Cylinder?

It can be either, but most 2.4-liter engines in modern passenger vehicles are four-cylinders. Displacement (2.4 liters) measures the total volume of all cylinders and does not, by itself, determine how many cylinders an engine has. While today’s market is dominated by 2.4L four-cylinder designs, there have been notable 2.4L five- and six-cylinder engines, especially in European and Japanese models from prior decades.

Displacement vs. Cylinder Count

Engine displacement is the combined volume swept by all pistons. Automakers can reach the same displacement with different cylinder counts and configurations by changing bore (cylinder width) and stroke (piston travel). That’s why two engines can both be 2.4 liters while one is a four-cylinder and another is a six-cylinder. The choice depends on goals like packaging, cost, emissions, smoothness, and power delivery.

What You’ll Most Often Find Today

In current mainstream cars, crossovers, and some trucks, 2.4 liters is overwhelmingly associated with four-cylinder engines. Automakers favor 2.4L fours for their balance of efficiency, emissions compliance, and adequate torque—often enhanced with turbocharging.

• Toyota/Lexus 2.4L turbo inline-4 (T24A-FTS): Found in 2023–present Toyota Highlander, 2024–present Toyota Tacoma (i-FORCE 2.4T), and recent Lexus NX 350 and RX 350 models.
• Subaru 2.4L flat-4 (FA24): Turbocharged in the Ascent, Outback XT, Legacy XT, and WRX; naturally aspirated in the BRZ.
• Honda 2.4L inline-4 (K24 family): Widely used in 2000s–2010s Accords, CR-Vs, and Acura TSX; renowned for reliability and tunability.
• Stellantis/Chrysler 2.4L inline-4 (Tigershark/World Gas Engine): Seen in Jeep Compass/Renegade and Dodge Dart (prior model years).
• Hyundai/Kia 2.4L inline-4 (Theta II): Used in Sonata/Optima, Sportage, and Sorento up to around 2020.
• GM 2.4L inline-4 (Ecotec): Common in Chevrolet Malibu/Equinox and GMC Terrain through the mid-2010s.

These examples reflect why most drivers encountering a “2.4L” badge today are dealing with a four-cylinder—often turbocharged for stronger low-end torque and better real-world efficiency.

The Exceptions: 2.4-Liter Engines With More Than Four Cylinders

While rarer—especially in North America—there are well-documented 2.4-liter engines with five or six cylinders. These appeared more often in European markets and earlier model generations.

• Volvo 2.4L inline-5: Offered in various S60/V70/XC70/XC90 models (gasoline and diesel) across the 2000s and early 2010s.
• Audi 2.4L V6: Available in the late-1990s to mid-2000s A6 (European markets), known for smoothness rather than outright power.
• Mercedes-Benz 2.4L V6 (M112 E24): Found in C240 and E240 models in the early 2000s outside the U.S. mainstream.
• BMW 2.4L inline-6 diesels: Examples include the mid-1980s 524td (market-dependent), illustrating that small-displacement sixes have long existed.

These cases underline the core point: 2.4 liters doesn’t lock in a cylinder count. Market needs, regulations, and brand engineering philosophies shaped these less common 2.4L five- and six-cylinder offerings.

How to Tell What Your Car Has

If you’re trying to confirm your vehicle’s cylinder count, several practical checks will give you a definitive answer without guesswork.

• Owner’s manual and window sticker (Monroney): The specs page will list cylinders and configuration (e.g., I-4, H-4, V6).
• VIN decoding: Many manufacturer websites and third-party decoders reveal engine type from the VIN.
• Engine code lookup: Searching the engine code on the valve cover or emissions label will identify cylinders and layout.
• Visual cues: A flat-4 (Subaru) has two cylinder banks lying flat; an inline-4 sits in a single row; a V6 has two banks in a “V.”
• Service records and dealer databases: A dealer can pull your build sheet by VIN for exact engine details.

Using one or two of these methods will quickly confirm whether your 2.4L engine is a four, five, or six-cylinder, removing any ambiguity from the badge alone.

Bottom Line

Displacement doesn’t dictate cylinder count. In today’s market, a 2.4-liter engine is almost always a four-cylinder, often turbocharged. However, five- and six-cylinder 2.4L engines do exist—mainly in older or non-U.S. models—so the surest way to know is to check your specific vehicle’s documentation or engine code.

Summary

A 2.4-liter engine can be a four-, five-, or six-cylinder. Most modern examples are four-cylinders (inline-4 or flat-4), especially in North America, but notable exceptions include past Volvo inline-5s and Audi/Mercedes 2.4L V6s. Verify your vehicle’s cylinder count via the owner’s manual, VIN decoding, or engine code.

How do you tell if your engine is 4 or 6 cylinder?

Open the hood, and look for spark wires and count them, there will either be 4 or 6.

How many cylinders are in a 2.4 L?

A 2.4L engine in most modern vehicles is a four-cylinder engine. However, the “2.4L” specifies the total engine displacement (the combined volume of all cylinders), not the number of cylinders itself, so theoretically a 2.4L engine could have a different number of cylinders, though four is the most common configuration for automotive engines of that size. 
Here’s why it’s usually a 4-cylinder:

• Displacement and Cylinder Size: A 2.4-liter total displacement divided by four cylinders results in each cylinder having a volume of about 0.6 liters (2400 cc / 4 = 600 cc). This is a common and practical size for an automotive cylinder. 
• Common Examples: Many manufacturers use 2.4L engines, and they are almost always 4-cylinder designs, such as GM’s Ecotec, Chrysler’s PowerTech, and Toyota’s 2.4L turbo. 

What does it mean to have a 2.4 L engine?

A “2.4L engine” refers to its engine displacement, which is the combined volume of all the cylinders in the engine, measured in liters. A 2.4L engine has a total cylinder volume of 2.4 liters, which is equivalent to 2,400 cubic centimeters (cc). This measurement indicates the engine’s capacity to burn fuel and air, and it generally correlates with power, with larger engines typically producing more power and using more fuel. 
Key aspects of engine displacement:

• Volume: The “L” stands for liters, and the “2.4” signifies 2.4 liters of combined air and fuel volume. 
• Calculation: Engine displacement is calculated by multiplying the volume of a single cylinder by the number of cylinders in the engine. 
• Power and Fuel Consumption: A larger engine displacement generally allows for more power and torque but also leads to increased fuel consumption. 
• Modern Technology: With modern technologies like turbochargers, smaller engines can achieve higher power outputs than in the past. 
• Not a Cylinder Count: A 2.4L engine doesn’t necessarily mean the engine has 2.4 cylinders or a specific number of cylinders; it can be a 4-cylinder or a 6-cylinder engine, for example. 

Is a 2.4 a 6 cylinder or 4-cylinder?

Many 2.4 liter engines today are 4-cylinder engines — each cylinder, in this case, displaces 0.6 liters, based on its bore (the diameter of the cylinder) and stroke (the travel of the piston from the “bottom” of the cylinder to the “top” based on the measurment of the crankshaft’s rod journal “throw.”)