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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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?
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
We take to the highways…
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
…And byways
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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)
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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• 19-26.9 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 withlots left for the pursuit.”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
Chevy Camaro/Cadillac ATS 3.6L DI DOHC V-6 (LGX)• 335 hp / 284 lb.-ft. • 18-23.2 mpg observed in Camaro; 22-24.4 mpg in ATS• $30,795 base/$34,465 as tested in Camaro• $50,835, base/$56,415 Premium RWDWhat 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.”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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 stickerWhat 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.
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang 5.2L DOHC V-8 • 526 hp @ 7,500 rpm / 429 lb.-ft. @ 4750 rpm; premium fuel• Port fuel injection; 8,250 rpm redline• EPA 14/21 mpg; Observed 15-18.9 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.”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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: 2.7 hours @ 240V; 9 hours @ 120V• 27 miles of EV range• EV mode when battery is 15-100%• $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.”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
Nissan Maxima 3.5L DOHC V-6 • 300 hp / 261 lb-ft.; premium fuel; port injection; CVT• 1995-2008 10 Best Engines winner• Beat out Toyota 3.5L and FCA 3.6L Pentastar• Observed 25-30 mpg; EPA rating 22/30 mpg• $37,935 sticker• 61% NEW: Cams, heads, intake, intermed valve timingWhat the judges said:“VQ is back!”“Light, lively, smooth power delivery.”“The lure of the VQ is, as it always has been, its incredibly smoothmid-range torque.”“Put the pedal down and the VQ shows its stuff!”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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-8What 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.”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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 stickerWhat 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!”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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 efficiencyWhat 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.”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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 stickerWhat 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.”
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
2016 Wards 10 Best EnginesSeveral 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 C450 3.0L TT V-6 • Volvo S60 T5 2.0L turbo-4
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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.
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
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.
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Wards 10 Best Engines
Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto
Read OurFull Coverage on WardsAuto.com
- Test Drive Videos
- Profiles of Each Winner (starting Jan.4)
- And More