Heat release analysis is a very importent method in understanding the combustion phenomena inside an engine cylinder. In this study, one-zone heat release analysis was used with the mesured cylinder pressures of an IDI(indirect injection), a HSDI(high speed direct injection) and a SI(spark ignition) engine. It has benefits of simple equation, fast speed, reliability. The object of the study is to compare the combustion characteristics among an IDI, a HSDI and SI engine. Result of analysis, the maximum heat release rate of a HSDI is higher than an IDI because of long ignition delay period. The heat release curve of a IDI is more linear than an HSDI, so the combustion characteristics of a IDI is similiar to that of an SI engine. There is a suggestion here that the combustion efficiency of a HSDI is highest of that of all engines because of the smallest heat transfer loss of all engines.