Best Cold Air Intakes
Top cold air intakes ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
S&B Filters Cold Air Intake
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Fully enclosed box blocks heat soak
- Published flow-bench data per application
- Excellent OEM-quality fitment
Cons
- Little gain without a tune on gas engines
- Cleaning kits sold separately
Don't buy this if…
- Don't expect seat-of-the-pants gains on a stock gas engine - the payoff comes with tuning or towing loads.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Washable filter lasts the life of the vehicle
- CARB-legal for most applications
- Dyno charts published per part number
Cons
- Open heat shield allows some hot-air ingestion
- Oiled filter can foul MAF sensors if over-oiled
Don't buy this if…
- Skip re-oiling shortcuts - over-oiled filters send oil onto the MAF sensor and trigger check-engine lights.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Sealed one-piece housing installs fast
- Large conical filter with auxiliary scoops
- Strong gains on turbocharged engines
Cons
- Among the pricier bolt-on intakes
- Oiled filter requires periodic service
Don't buy this if…
- Don't buy the oiled Pro 5R version if you live on dusty roads - get the dry Pro DRY S variant instead.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Dry filter never needs oil
- Enclosed box controls intake temps
- Deep induction sound under boost
Cons
- Modest power gains without tuning
- Some applications lack CARB exemption
Don't buy this if…
- Check CARB status before buying in California - several EVO part numbers are off-road only.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Durable roto-molded intake tube
- Dry filter option is maintenance-light
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Styling is plain versus aFe and Injen
- Smaller catalog of late-model applications
Don't buy this if…
- Don't buy expecting a louder engine note - the MXP is tuned quieter than most aftermarket intakes.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Best-in-class filtration efficiency
- 100,000-mile filter service interval
- Sealed box blocks engine heat
Cons
- PowerCore replacement filters are pricey
- Flow gains slightly behind open-element rivals
Don't buy this if…
- Skip it if maximum airflow is the goal - its filtration-first design trades a little peak flow for cleanliness.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- More affordable than the 63 Series
- 50-state legal on most fitments
- Million-mile washable filter
Cons
- Plastic tube looks less premium
- Smaller gains than fully enclosed designs
Don't buy this if…
- Don't buy purely for looks - the utilitarian black plastic won't win any engine-bay shows.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Cheapest name-brand intake option
- Polished tube dresses up the engine bay
- Washable, reusable filter
Cons
- Negligible measured power gains
- Open filter picks up hot underhood air
Don't buy this if…
- Don't buy expecting real horsepower - this is an appearance and sound upgrade at heart.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
Change Log
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