Ward’s 10 Best Engines List Includes 3 Hybrids

Three of WardsAuto’s 10 Best Engines for 2016 are hybrid-electric powertrains: those used in the Chevrolet Volt extended-range hybrid, Hyundai Sonata plug-in hybrid and Toyota Prius.

This year’s list also features a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine, a turbo-supercharged 1.8-liter four-banger, two naturally aspirated V-6 engines, a turbocharged inline-six, a 3.0-liter V-6 diesel and a muscle-car V-8. There were only two repeat winners this year: Fiat Chrysler’s DOHC V-6 EcoDiesel, which powers the Ram 1500 pickup truck, and Subaru’s 2.0-liter turbo.

The full list and the vehicles in which they were tested include the:

• 3.0-liter turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 340i)
• 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 (Chevrolet Camaro/Cadillac ATS)
• 1.5-liter DOHC 4-cyl/120-kW drive motor (Chevrolet Volt)
• 5.2-liter DOHC V-8 (Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang)
• 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cyl/50-kW drive motor (Hyundai Sonata PHEV)
• 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 (Nissan Maxima)
• 3.0-liter diesel DOHC V-6 (Ram 1500 EcoDiesel)
• 2.0-lite turbocharged DOHC 4-cylinder Boxer (Subaru WRX)
• 1.8-liter DOHC 4-cyl./53-kW Drive Motor (Toyota Prius HEV)
• 2.0-liter turbo/supercharged DOHC 4-cylinder (Volvo XC90)

The top 10 engines were selected from a field of 31 powertrains, including 21 all-new or significantly improved units and last year’s top 10. Eight WardsAuto editors evaluated the nominees during normal driving conditions based on horsepower, torque, fuel economy, noise, comparative specifications and the application of new technology.

To be eligible, the engines had to be available in vehicles with a base price of $61,000 or less. Volkswagen Group engines were not considered this year due to the company’s diesel emissions scandal, Wards says.