I’ve seen some vehicle owners share their experience, using the F20B engine in some controversial sports cars like Honda Preludes and Del Sol. But there are no proper Volkswagen F20B engine reviews mentioned by many people on different forums.
So, I decided to share my findings about this Honda engine’s performance with Volkswagen.
Honda F series engines were the Big Blocks from its inception. And the F20B is one of a kind. Some may criticize this aspect, where many car enthusiasts are fans of this beast.
Upgrading the engine is the most sensible decision for your dream car. But when it comes to enhancing performance, these worries are superficial.
To help you reach the right decision, I’ve shared both pros and cons of F20B in this blog. Make sure to read until the end and let me know your thoughts.
Honda F20B Engine Specifications
Honda used to assemble the F20B engine in Japan. They officially distributed the engine from 1993-2002. Another notable trait of this mighty unit is it came into the market in 2 versions. The first one used to have a VTEC system, and the other didn’t.
Also, according to Honda officials, there were both SOHC (single overhead cam) and DOHC (double overhead cam) versions of the F20B.
Let’s take a quick look at the primary features of F20B engines below.
| Manufacture Continued | 1993 to 2002 |
| CC (Displacement) | 1997 CC (2.0 liter) |
| Fuel | Multi-port injection |
| Horse Power (Power Output) | 198 HP (5600 RPM) (148 KW) |
| Torque Capacity | 136 lb-ft (4500 RPM) (184 N.M) |
| DOHC Valvetrain | VTEC 16 |
| Cylinder System | Inline 4 |
| Cylinder Block | Aluminum R4 |
| Bore | 85 mm (3.35-inch) |
| Stroke | 88 mm (3.46-inch) |
| Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 |
| Block Head | Aluminum 16V |
Pros Listed – Why Should You Go for Volkswagen F20B?
Multiple reasons can make you biased to get this powerful engine. These are –
Compatible with the Best Honda Models
F20B has some powerful traits that can efficiently power up cars like Honda Accord (from CF4-CF9, CL3) and Torneo.
If considering the double overhead cam, it got the same one you would find in H22A (a premium budget engine equipped in Prelude).
High-Revving Engine
Unlike other Honda engines, this one features high compression. As a result, you get more power, suitable for sports cars. Besides, because of the tiny bore and stroke, it features low displacement.
Another good part is that the F20B reaches 2.0-liter standards, which is compulsory in a lot of states.
Costs Lesser than the Counterpart
While most engines with similar features cost you around USD 2000 (including the ECU and LSD transmission), you can get F20B within 1500 bucks. This undoubtedly makes the engine a better choice for budget seekers.
Cons Listed – Why You Shouldn’t Get F20B?
Since the F20B is a budget car engine, it has some downsides too. These are:
Comparably Low Horse-Power
The first drawback that came to my notice is its low horsepower in the automatic transmission version. However, behind-the-frame reasons are pretty obvious.
Honda’s F20B is made for delivering mid-range torque. Thus, it can deliver up to 180 horsepower at max torque in the auto transmission. Fortunately, this issue isn’t present in the manual transmission (H22A).
As it features auto transmission, there is no doubt MT lovers will say no to this underrated engine.
Torque Deficiency
The manufacturers compromised on the torque as well. When reaching the max horsepower, the torque stays somewhere at 145 lb-ft.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cars are compatible with the F20B engine?
F20B is built to match perfectly with most of the Honda Accord series from 1994 to 1997. Among them, Coupe CD9, Aerodeck CE2/Wagon, and CF4 to CF9 cars are common. Also, Honda Accord SiR (1997 to 2002) is compatible with the F20B.
Are F Series engines good?
Honda F series engines are the best for their price and built quality. They are also reliable for heavy-duty performance.
Does F20B have VTEC?
Yes, F20B has both DOHC and SOHC editions with VTEC systems.
F20B vs. H22A, which is better?
If considering horsepower and torque range, H22A series engines are better than F20B. However, for the price efficiency, F20B is a great deal.
Conclusion
Rounding up the Volkswagen F20B engine reviews, the unit is built for heavy duty. The pricing efficiency is also alluring for anyone. However, due to the low rate of torque production (common in auto transmission), it gets a negative marking.
So, if you don’t have any issue with the mentioned drawbacks, the F20B surely deserves a place in your Volkswagen.
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