1. 2016 Wards 10 Best Engines
22 years of recognizing powertrain excellence
Eight WardsAuto editors make the picks
Driving October, November, routine commutes
Vehicle base price cap: $61,000
All new or significantly
improved powertrains
Winners: 1=10
EVs, hybrids,
fuel-cells welcome
Does the
powertrain
sell the car?

2. We take to the highways…

3. …And byways

4. Judging Criteria Scoring with up to 100 points available Horsepower
Torque
Fuel economy (rated and observed)
Segment competitiveness
Noise, vibration
and harshness
Specs
Technical relevance

5. 2016 Nominees 31 engines or propulsion systems (10 + 21 new)
11 manufacturers
15 turbocharged
14 4-cyl.
8 4-cyl. turbos
9 6-cyl.
3 turbodiesels
2 EREVs
3 V-8s
3 hybrids
3 3-cyl. turbos
1 2-cyl. range extender
1 fuel cell

6. 2016 Wards 10 Best Engines 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 340i)
3.6L DOHC V-6 (Chevrolet Camaro/Cadillac ATS)
1.5L DOHC 4-cyl./120-kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt EREV)
5.2L DOHC V-8 (Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang)
2.0L DOHC 4-cyl./50-kW Drive Motor (Hyundai Sonata PHEV)
3.5L DOHC V-6 (Nissan Maxima)
3.0L Turbodiesel DOHC V-6 (Ram 1500 EcoDiesel)
2.0L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. Boxer (Subaru WRX)
1.8L DOHC 4-cyl./53-kW Drive Motor (Toyota Prius HEV)
2.0L Turbo/Supercharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Volvo XC90)

7. BMW 340i xDrive 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6
320 hp / 330 lb.-ft.; 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds
$47,800 base/$60,420 sticker
mpg as tested (20/29 mpg EPA rating)
What the judges said:
“The new B58 twin-scroll turbo doesn’t make its worthy predecessors look like has-beens because it’s hard to improve on BMW’s I-6 turbo.”
“Arguably the best turbocharged engine evaluated this year.”
“Oh so smooth.”
“An animal built for the African
plain: quick off the line with
lots left for the pursuit.”

8. Chevy Camaro/Cadillac ATS 3.6L DI DOHC V-6 (LGX)
335 hp / 284 lb.-ft.
mpg observed in Camaro; mpg in ATS
$30,795 base/$34,465 as tested in Camaro
$50,835, base/$56,415 Premium RWD
What the judges said:
“It’s all the power most drivers will need.”
“Tons of fun – and 22 mpg!”
“Great torque in 5th and 6th gears.”
“More impressive than V-8 in what it does for the money.”
“Unless your girlfriend is a gearhead, she’ll never know this is a mere V-6.”

9. Chevrolet Volt 1.5L DOHC 4-cyl./120-kW Drive Motor
SGA engine 101 hp / 103 lb.-ft. GDI; 0-60 in 8.4 sec.
111-kW two-motor drive unit; up to 12% more efficient
192-cell/18.4-kWh Li-ion battery
53 miles EV range; 400 miles total
229 mpgE all EV; 44 mpg over 227 miles
$39,750 sticker Premier sticker
What the judges said:
“GM has taken what already is the most innovative and disruptive propulsion system in the industry and made it lighter, stronger and a lot more fun to drive.”
“The new Voltec propulsion system pretty much delivers the impossible: An electric car with zero range anxiety that’s also exciting to drive.

10. Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang 5.2L DOHC V-8
526 7,500 rpm / rpm; premium fuel
Port fuel injection; 8,250 rpm redline
EPA 14/21 mpg; Observed mpg
$47,870 base; $57,970 sticker
Voodoo engine shares no parts with
5.0L Coyote; flat-plane crank
Intake has equal length headers to scavenge exhaust gas; Up Down Up Down piston positions ; Plasma Transfer Wire Arc liner
What the judges said:
“Pure displacement for the 21st century.”
“A Mustang V-8 for the ages.”
“Huge personality… “Positively demonic.”
“And the Grammy for Best Engine Note goes to…”
“Pinnacle of internal-combustion engineering.”

11. Hyundai Sonata PHEV 2.0L DOHC 4-cyl./50-kW Motor
154 hp / 140 lb.-ft.; GDI
Parallel hybrid; NET 202 hp; Li-polymer battery
Observed real-world 41 to 80 mpg
Charging time: V; 9 120V
27 miles of EV range
EV mode when battery is %
$34,600 base; $39,610 sticker (Limited)
What the judges said:
“Sonata PHEV regenerates so much energy, I have 8 miles in the battery after completing a 30-mile commute!
“Relatively big sedan capable of insanely good mileage.”
“Thank you, $4,919 federal tax credit.”
“I like the 6-speed step transmission instead of the CVT.”
“Significantly more range than Fusion or Accord plug-ins.”

12. Nissan Maxima L DOHC V-6
300 hp / 261 lb-ft.; premium fuel; port injection; CVT
Best Engines winner
Beat out Toyota 3.5L and FCA 3.6L Pentastar
Observed mpg; EPA rating 22/30 mpg
$37,935 sticker
61% NEW: Cams, heads, intake, intermed valve timing
What the judges said:
“VQ is back!”
“Light, lively, smooth power delivery.”
“The lure of the VQ is, as it always
has been, its incredibly smooth
mid-range torque.”
“Put the pedal down and the VQ shows its stuff!”

13. Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 3.0L Turbodiesel DOHC V-6
240 hp / 420 lb.-ft.
10 Best Engines 3-peat
19-23 mpg observed; 19/27 mpg EPA rating
$51,295 base; $60,395 sticker
$3,120 premium over Hemi V-8
What the judges said:
“Continues to wow us with its smooth and quiet power, along with great fuel economy.
“Excellent pull across powerband and when towing.”
“Ram engineers have done such a stellar job of integrating this powertrain that most people wouldn’t guess there’s a diesel under the hood.”
“Perfect diesel for light-duty segment.”

14. Subaru WRX 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. Boxer
268 hp / 258 lb.-ft.; twin-scroll turbo, direct injection
Repeat 10 Best Engines win
24-31 mpg observed
20/27 mpg EPA rating
$32,855 sticker
What the judges said:
“FA boxer turbo makes the WRX fast, fun and jumpy, while being perfectly suitable for daily driving.”
“This is a great engine that completes the package: a reasonably priced practical sports car with a rally racing heritage.”
“Oh what fun it is to ride in a high-strung Subaru!”

15. Toyota Prius HEV 1.8L DOHC 4-cyl./53-kW Drive Motor
95 hp / 105 lb.-ft.; NET: 121 hp; $24,700 sticker
Atkinson combustion cycle; regular unleaded
71 hp / 120 lb.-ft. from 2 motor generators
41-61 mpg observed
NiMH and Li-ion batteries available; CVT
Cooled EGR; composite head covers
1st production engine to achieve 40% thermal efficiency
What the judges said:
“The benchmark for hybrid-electric
vehicles is setting a new benchmark.
“Significant technical advances.”
“Smooth power delivery and excellent NVH.”
“If you need a power boost for passing on a two-lane, or entering a freeway, it’s available at the touch of a button.”

16. Volvo XC90 2.0L Turbo/Supercharged DOHC 4-cyl.
316 hp / 295 lb.-ft.; 8-speed automatic
21-25 mpg observed; 20/25 mpg EPA rating.
Eco, Dynamic, Comfort; modes
Lift fully off gas above 40 mph and coast
Stop/start standard; premium fuel
$48,900 base / $66,855 sticker
What the judges said:
“Routinely getting better than 24 mpg in a 4,600-pound 7-passenger CUV with all-wheel drive – and a 4-cyl. engine!”
“Has composure, power and refinement of high-feature V-6.”
“Arguably the new benchmark for high-output 4-cylinder engines.” 
“Skip the debate and give the Swedes another award.”

17. 2016 Wards 10 Best Engines Several that were close to making the cut:
BMW i3 EREV
Cadillac ATS-V 3.6L TT V-6
Chevy Camaro SS 6.2L V-8
Chevy Malibu 1.5L turbo-4
Hyundai Sonata HEV
Mini Cooper JCW 2.0L turbo-4
Mercedes C L TT V-6
Volvo S60 T5 2.0L turbo-4

18. Trends to Take Away
Only 2 returning winners: Ram 3.0L Diesel and Subaru WRX 2.0L turbo boxer-4.
Three HEVs make it because each one has state-of-the-art internal-combustion engine.
If you’re in the exhaust manifold business, find a new line of work. They’re going away. 
In the camshaft business? Good for you. Every engine on the list has at least two. Five winners, with their boxer or V-architectures, have four.
Jury out for FCVs.
Don’t cheat on emissions.

19. Testing for 2017 List Audi A3 e-Tron Sportback
Audi A6 2.0L 4-cyl. turbo
Buick Cascada 1.6L 4-cyl.
Cadillac CT6 3.0L twin-turbo V-6
Lincoln MKZ or Continental 3.0L EcoBoost V-6
Mercedes C350 Plug-in Hybrid
VW Jetta 1.4L TSI turbo 4-cyl.

20. Read Our Full Coverage on WardsAuto
Read Our Full Coverage on WardsAuto.com - Test Drive Videos - Profiles of Each Winner (starting Jan.4) - And More