Top 10 Best Cold Air Intake For All Budgets In 2022 Reviews

Trying to get extra performance out of your vehicle? Look no further. One of the easiest ways to get a quick boost is cold air intake systems. They are super easy to install, and it takes no time at all. Not just that, but they aren’t too expensive, either!

If you are as excited about this as we are, then you’re probably already ready to get your hands dirty. So, without further hesitation, let’s take a look at the best cold air intake systems the market has to offer and find the perfect one for you…

Top 10 Best Cold Air Intake On The Market In 2022 Reviews

1 K&N ColdAir Intake Kit – Most Trusted Cold Air Intake

K&N’s high-performance design drastically improves your vehicle’s performance, up to 12 horsepower extra and 50% more airflow. It boasts a subdued, stylish matte-black design that will match most design choices.

Well-designed in general, actually…

This air intake takes up much less space within the engine, which adds some extra airflow, allowing the engine to perform even better. Then, add to that the oversized air filter, which is able to suck in much more air than the standard OEM filters.

The filter used on the intake is a synthetic filter that uses oil. It is washable and should be washed every 100,000 miles, and oil should be reapplied after every wash.

Installation…

Installation is simple since the design has been made to fit most factory mounting holes, which means making any modifications to the intake or vehicle will not be necessary. That said, even though it has been designed to fit most vehicles, some vehicles might still need slight modifications for a perfect fit.

The kit does also remove the stock soundproofing, which leads to your engine sounding better when pulling away, but it does become quiet once you are at high speeds.

Lasts a lifetime…

Not only does K&N offer high-performance and high-quality, but they back it up with a million-mile warranty, which in our books is pretty much a lifetime warranty.

2 Volant 151536 PowerCore Cool Air Intake – Best Premium Cold Air Intake

The Volant 15236 PowerCore Cool Air Intake improves the overall performance of your engine by feeding your vehicle more cold air. This allows your engine to perform harder without overheating, allowing the engine to achieve its full capacity.

This cool air intake works well whether you are racing on the track, off-road, or just want some extra performance on your daily commute. Moreover, this is one of the easiest and worry-free ways of achieving extra performance.

Premium materials…

The PowerCore Cool Air Intake is made with premium materials and has a much better air filter than OEM filters. It is able to block dirt more effectively whilst allowing in more air. The kit includes a full enclosure with a sealed lid whilst adding in very specific air ducts, which allow for more air with a dry element filter.

The air intake has been designed to fit on most vehicles, but it should be noted that some vehicles might still need slight modifications to properly fit the air intake. Plus, PowerCore also offers a lifetime warranty on its air intake kits.

It doesn’t get any better than this…

Overall, this is probably the best of the best cold air intake options on our list today.

3 Spectre Performance SPE-9900 Cold Air Intake – Best Red Filter Cold Air Intake

The Cold Air Intake Kit from Spectre facilitates airflow in your engine, helping to boost the engine’s torque and horsepower. Included in the kit is Spectre’s very own red filter that enhances engine performance.

The filter on here is reusable and is configured with low restrictions that will increase airflow to an optimum rate. The better-quality airflow is how engine performance is boosted.

Polished aluminum tubes…

Spectre uses only high-quality products. The tubes used are polished aluminum, which enhances durability and performance, as well as having excellent airflow and are able to withstand a fair amount of pressure without seizing. There is also a heat shield included in the set to keep hot air from entering the intake.

Installation is very easy, with all the gear needed included in the kit.

However…

Apart from the high-quality tube and filter, we did find that the mounting brackets for the system weren’t as sturdy as the rest of the kit.

4 Airaid 400-140-2 Intake System – Best Cold-Air Intake for Triton V8

Airaid intake systems are digitally designed and offer your engine maximum airflow, resulting in more horsepower, extra torque, and overall improved feel and performance.

Every system that is made is dyno tested before leaving manufacturing to ensure quality and helps Airaid to finetune the design.

What does ‘digitally designed’ mean?

Airaid systems are designed on computers to provide the perfect fit and finish. This is to ensure that the engine breathes better than standard OEM filters, which makes the engine run more efficiently.

Airaid’s premium filter can be washed and reused. It’s also much less restrictive than standard paper filters, which in turn offers better filtration. There are two filter options available, namely, SYNTHAFLOW filters, which are oil filters, and SYNTHAMAX, which are non-oil filters.

How to choose what’s right for your Triton V8?

If you are often driving on dirt roads or in extremely dry conditions, it is better to have an oiled filter to allow more air in whilst catching the extra small dust particles with the oil layer. However, if you are using it for day to day commutes or in the city, a SYNTHAMAX will be better.

Airaid offers a lifetime warranty on their intake kits. This specific kit fits 2004-2008 Ford F-150 5.4L – Triton V8.

5 AEM 21-478WR Wrinkle Red Cold Air Intake System – Best USA Designed Cold Air Intake

AEM’s cold air intake system improves air intake significantly whilst also adding a pleasurable sound to the engine. AEM claims that with this kit in your engine, you can expect gains of up to 36 horsepower as well as improved engine sound.

All the kits are tuned and dyno-tested after manufacturing to fit specific vehicles perfectly. Before installation, the kit will have gone through several tests, which is also why the kit has a lifetime warranty.

Synthetic Dryflow filter…

All the kits come with a washable, oversized Dryflow filter, which is synthetic, not paper. The filter allows for superior airflow versus OEM filters and is also oil-free, which makes cleaning easy. The tubing used is mandrel-bent aluminum, and there is a heat shield included to keep hot air out of the intake.

AEM is an American based company, and all manufacturing is also done within the United States of America.

6 S&B Filters 75-5069 Cold Air Intake – Best Synthetic Cold Air Intake

S&B cold air intake systems are all put through the test and pass the standards of internationally recognized ISO 5011 tests. This system is able to increase the amount of airflow by 40% with a 99.15% efficiency rating.

The kits are all engineered with absolute precision, making sure they are calibrated to perfectly fit and suit the vehicle they are designed for.

Premium silicone…

The air filters are made of a highly efficient, premium silicone, which allows through more air than any standard OEM. The custom-designed enclosure and clear lid prevent any engine heat from entering the intake, and the tubing is less restrictive. This allows in ample amounts of cold air.

Plus, not only does the synthetic filter do a better job of letting air in, but it also lasts much longer and is washable.

Made to measure…

The cotton filters are oil-based filters, and the exact amount of oil needed is applied right before shipping, which means your filter will be fresh and ready to go, out of the box.

7 Injen SP1902P Cold Air Intake System – Best Off Road Cold Air Intake

Need a performance boost? Look no further than Injen’s cold air intake system, designed to give you an extra nine horsepower.

Their patented MR technology allows for the optimal amount of air intake, not only giving you a decent amount of power boost but also giving your engine a much better sound.

Great for off-roading…

The system also improves your throttle performance and optimal combustion. Therefore, it not only superb for the race track but also for off-roading.

Featuring tubing that is made from aluminum alloy, which is durable and helps with the airflow. The plastic thermal coating prevents the filter from getting hot, which in turn prevents any hot air from entering the intake.

Fits like a glove…

Instructions are easily followed, and this particular model is specifically made for the 2011-2013 Nissan Juke 1.6. Many more options are available. All Injen products are custom made to fit on specific vehicles allowing for a 100% seal.

8 K&N Cold Air Intake Kit – Best Jeep/Dodge Cold Air Intake

The second K&N kit on the list has a lot of the same properties as the previous product listed. The K7N air intake systems are all dyno tested and proven to up the air intake by %50. This increase in airflow allows the engine to work harder, up to 12 horsepower extra.

So, what’s the real difference?

The biggest difference between the two is that the tube on this system is made of chrome. This doesn’t change the performance but creates a different aesthetic. The same remains for most of the system. This air intake takes up much less space within the engine, which adds some extra airflow, allowing the engine to perform even better.

The filter used on the intake is a synthetic filter that uses oil. It is washable and should be washed every 100,000 miles, and oil should be reapplied after every wash.

For 5.7L V8 engines…

Installation is simple; this particular model is for Jeep/Dodge 2011-2019 vehicles with the 5.7L V8 engines.

Not only does K&N offer high-performance and high-quality, but they back it up with a million-mile warranty, which in our books is pretty much a lifetime.

9 HPS Performance 827-533R Red Shortram Air Intake Kit – Best Maxima V6 3.5L Cold Air Intake

HPS’s Red Shortram air intake has been designed with optimal performance in mind. This specific kit is for the 2009-2017 Maxima V6 3.5L.

On offer here is a free-flow mandrel-bent aluminum tube that has been manufactured to increase your vehicle’s power as well as throttle response. There is also an included heat shield to help keep hot air away from the air intake, making sure the engine is only provided with cool air.

Heavy-duty construction…

The reinforced silicone hoses matched with 100% stainless-steel T-bolt clamps make this kit very durable and allows it to handle large amounts of pressure with no problem.

The air filters are manufactured in the USA and are street legal.

No tuning necessary…

Installation is straightforward, and instructions are included with clear illustrations. After installation, you also don’t have to worry about tuning the car because the kit has already been tuned to work with the chosen vehicle perfectly.

The washable air filter does come with a one-year warranty.

10 Mopar 77070052 Cold Air Intake – Best FCA Cold Air Intake

The Mopar cold air intake system is a bolt-on system with a cone filter that allows air directly into the intake manifold. With this kit, you will gain noticeable performance improvements with extra horsepower and torque. There is a proper, thermal-coated heat shield to keep hot air from entering the air intake.

Installation is very easy since these air intakes are specifically designed for the vehicle they are being installed in. This means you should double-check that you are ordering the right one for your vehicle.

FCA-owned automotive brands…

Mopar is the official brand for all FCA-owned automotive brands, which includes Fiat, Dodge, Jeep, and many more. This makes it a smart choice if you own any of those vehicles.

OEM recommended parts come with great warranties and have been tested by the car manufacturers and sufficiently met their needs, which is good enough for us to trust the brand as well.

Specialty comes at a cost…

Although, with that trust comes a larger price tag. Parts that are usually OEM recommended or manufactured usually cost more.

Best Cold Air Intake Buying Guide

Here are a few factors to be mindful of before buying a cold air intake system.

BENEFITS OF A COLD AIR INTAKE

It can be tricky to understand what a cold air intake really does when all the marketing is aimed at shoving performance boost down your throat. However, what’s really happening is that cold air intake systems allow for more cold air to enter the engine. This not only keeps everything a little cooler, but there is a higher ratio of oxygen to gas within the carburetor.

This increase in air usually causes the fuel to burn better, which in turn leads to extra horsepower and torque. This equates to better throttle response and might even lead to better fuel usage. If you are towing, you might find that the vehicle pulls a little better as well.

The main difference between these and stock versions?

The most significant difference between these cold air intake systems and stock OEM systems are the reusable filters. These filters just need to be washed every 50,000-100,000 miles. These filters are made of cotton instead of paper, which is then covered with a thin layer of oil, which helps keep the dirt on the filter. Not only does this save money, but it is also more environmentally friendly.

Types of Air Intake Systems

WARM AIR INTAKE

Warm intake systems can be found on most stock engines. These systems use air within the engine to mix with the fuel inside the carburetor. Paper filters are usually used, especially if it is a stock air filter. Air filters are still needed since dust and dirt can be harmful to your engine.

The air within the engine isn’t always as clean as the outside air, which could lead to less oxygen-rich air entering the air intake. Oxygen is needed to combust, and, in this case, less oxygen means less power.

COLD AIR INTAKE

Fundamentally, cold air intake systems, like those featured in this review, are different than standard OEM air intakes. Cold air intakes are all about getting cold, oxygen-rich air into the carburetor. Plus, many of these systems will even come with heat shields or fully enclosed filters and air intakes to prevent any hot air from the engine from reaching the intake.

Top Brands

AEM INDUCTION SYSTEMS

AEM started out as a small company based in California in 1987, with only one thing in mind, innovation. For the last 30 years, they’ve been changing the way companies look at air intake systems, growing into one of the most well-known aftermarket cold air intake manufacturers.

SPECTRE PERFORMANCE

In 1983, Spectre was born in a small two-car garage when Amir Rosenbaum started selling NylaBraid hose covers out of his parents’ garage to earn some money. Now, based in Ontario, California, Spectre performance has, over the years, set out to create high-performance systems that improve not only your car’s performance but also its fuel economy.

K&N ENGINEERING

K&N is well known among car enthusiasts for producing the greatest cold air intakes on the aftermarket. K&N has been in the automotive industry since 1969, with its headquarters are located in Riverside, California. The 10-building complex is massive and is a testament to the quality and the large amount of products K&N offer.

Keeping your vehicle’s performance optimized

There is an array of equally brilliant products on the market to keep your vehicle looking and running at its best.

So, don’t miss out on our in-depth reviews of the Best Rust Prevention, the Best Oil Filters for Cars, the Best Carburetor Cleaners, the Best Fuel Injector Cleaners, the Best Car Scratch Remover, the Best Automotive Touch Up Paint, the Best Car Waxes, and the Best Car Upholstery Cleaners you can buy 2022!

Back to the cold air intakes…

So, what is the very Best Cold Air Intake?

Our top pick is the…

K&N’s Cold Air Intake Systems

They offer excellent quality with outstanding performance as well. They are a bit more costly than some of the other aftermarket kits but come with an incredible one million-mile warranty included, which is easily worth the expense.

Enjoy your vehicle and your drives.