Mid-Engine Cars Explained, Plus Pros and Cons

You’ve probably seen some cars from carmakers like Ferrari and McLaren that have their engines right behind the driver instead of under the hood. These are probably mid-engine cars, the layout of choice for most sports cars and supercars. Learn about mid-engine cars and why they’re better in terms of performance in this article.

What Is a Mid-Engine Car?

In a mid-engine car, the engine sits just in front of the rear axle. Vehicles that have their engines under the hood but behind the front axle can technically still be categorized as mid-engine cars. However, these cars don’t quite have the characteristic look of a mid-engine car. This is why most people consider real mid-engine cars to have their engines behind the passenger compartment.

Front vs. Mid vs. Rear-Engine Cars

A front-engine automobile has the engine in the front of the passenger compartment, directly on top or in front of the front axle. A rear-engine vehicle is its polar opposite, with its engine located behind the passenger compartment on top of the rear axle. Some rear-engine cars have their engine past the rear axle, which is the case in the Porsche 911.

Front-engine designs are the most popular primarily because they are cheap to produce. Most sedans are also front-wheel drive because the proximity between the engine and the drive wheels allows the vehicle to have fewer drivetrain components, making the vehicle lighter. However, the vehicle tends to be front-heavy because of the front-mounted engine, which isn’t ideal when it comes to cornering at high speeds.

Mid-engine cars have their engines mounted in between the front and rear axles. Mid-engine cars can maintain equal traction on all four wheels because the engine puts its weight at the center of the vehicle.

Pros and Cons of Mid-Engine Cars

Putting the engine in the middle of the vehicle brings with it several pros and cons.

Pros

Sports cars put their engines in the middle for a reason, with weight distribution being chief among them. The weight is more equally distributed among all four wheels because most of the weight is in the middle. This leads to better balance and handling, which in turn helps improve overall performance. Plus, most mid-engine designs just look good.

Mid-engine vehicles with rear-wheel drive also accelerate better compared to front-wheel drive vehicles since more weight is placed on the rear wheels. More weight on the rear wheels means more grip during acceleration. However, mid-engine vehicles don’t have the rear-engine vehicle’s tendency of having a heavy rear that can swing around in corners.

Cons

There are several disadvantages to driving a mid-engine car. The first issue is a lack of cabin room. Since the vehicle’s engine is in the middle, it occupies the space where the back seats would usually be. This is why mid-engine vehicles tend to lack rear passenger seating. This characteristic feature of mid-engine cars affects their sales, as most consumers want a more practical car that can transport family and cargo.

The mid-engine car also has a low center of gravity, which is good for general stability. However, when the car loses grip and starts spinning, it will be harder for it to stop spinning because of the same principle.

Modern mid-engine cars are also significantly more expensive than their front-engine counterparts. There used to be affordable mid-engine cars during the ’80s and ’90s, like the Pontiac Fiero and Toyota MR2, to name a few. However, most modern mid-engine cars are made by car manufacturers like Lamborghini, McLaren, Pagani, Ferrari, and Audi. These manufacturers offer supercar-level performance and over-the-top luxury. As a result, most mid-engine cars are incredibly expensive.

Aside from being expensive to purchase, mid-engine vehicles are much more difficult to work on because the components are difficult to access. Hence, working on mid-engine vehicles are typically more expensive.

Aside from being expensive to purchase, mid-engine vehicles are much more difficult to work on because the components are difficult to access.

–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Affordable Mid-Engine Cars

Unlike in the 80s and 90s, there aren’t any modern entry-level cars that are mid-engine. However, there are still some mid-engine offerings that aren’t as expensive as the ones from high-end and exotic car manufacturers.

C8 Corvette

The Corvette is Chevrolet’s attempt to rival European-made supercars, and the C8 Corvette is its 8th iteration. Unlike its seven previous versions, the C8 Corvette has a mid-engine design. Its 6.2-liter V8 engine and dual-clutch transmission allow it to have performance numbers similar to the competition. Aside from having a lot of performance, it’s also comfortable to drive for long periods of time. The C8 Corvette offers all this with a price tag of just $60,000 to $75,000, depending on the trim level. This is less than half the price of European-made mid-engine supercars, which can go upwards of $200,000.

Lotus Evora GT

The Lotus Evora is smaller and more expensive compared to the C8 Corvette. However, it’s more nimble and fun to drive. Lotus has a reputable name when it comes to mid-engine sports cars. The Evora GT is its newer offering that has a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes a wonderful noise when it’s revving at high RPMs. Coupled with a manual gearbox, the Lotus Evora GT offers a raw and powerful driving experience.

Porsche 718 Cayman

Most Porsches are highly favored by critics because of their refinement, and the 718 Cayman is no different. However, Porsche’s offerings tend to come with a hefty price tag. The base 718 Cayman has a 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and it only starts at $60,000. However, it can quickly balloon to upwards of $100,000 if you go for sportier trim levels and add options.