Inline engines (I) are taller and narrower, and when they are mounted transversely, allow designers to create a vehicle with a smaller front end. V-type engines (V) sit lower with an improved center of gravity, and this design is more space-efficient with a greater numbers of cylinders.

Are V engines better?

I engines are cheaper to build, produce better efficiency rates, and are simpler from a mechanical standpoint. ... Because of the way they merge, V-shaped engines can fit more pistons into a smaller space, produce more torque at lower RPMs, and generally have greater engine displacement.

Are V engines more powerful than inline?

V engines with the same number of cylinders are almost half the size, allowing the hood to be much shorter; although it increases the width slightly, it is not significant to increase the width of a car. Another aspect of this advantage is that V engines can be made bigger, and thus more powerful, than inline engines.