THE 10 BEST AND WORST ENGINES MADE BY MAJOR AUTOMAKERS

Worst Chevrolet Engine: Vega 2.3L Inline-Four

And then… there’s the Vega engine. If the small block V8 is Chevy’s golden child, the Vega 2.3-liter four-cylinder is the one they probably don’t want to talk about.

Back in the early ’70s, Chevy wanted to take on compact imports like the Volkswagen Beetle. They rushed out the Vega with this aluminum-block engine, hoping for something cheap and cheerful. Instead, they got overheating issues, oil leaks, and a reputation for unreliability.

The engine’s internal cylinder coating wore down quickly, and the cooling system barely kept it from cooking itself. With weak durability and poor quality control, this engine turned what could’ve been a fun little car into a cautionary tale. It’s the kind of engine that made mechanics shake their heads and say, “Yep, another Vega.”