The automotive industry is certainly capable of change, particularly after the past year and the bankruptcies, consolidations, and liquidations, that the year has brought. But there are elements that remain untouched. One such mainstay is the Ward’s Auto 10 Best Engines List, which for nearly twenty years has served as the measuring stick by which all automakers strive for.
This year, the list of the 10 Best Engines included some surprises as the Ward’s editors were focused on finding the engines that were truly the best in terms of overall performance and fuel economy.
To be considered, engines must reside within U.S.-spec production vehicles and must be available no later that Q1 of 2010. Engines must also be available on vehicles that do not exceed the average new vehicle cost of $54,000. The final list was narrowed down from a total of 34 vehicles from 13 manufacturers. Testing was performed over several weeks in Detroit.
It’s no surprise that alternative powertrains have earned their place on this coveted list. Both hybrids and diesels are still vying for the attention of the American car buyer, and as these engines become increasingly mainstream and praised for their unique attributes, they will likely succeed in growing their current market share.
This year’s winners include:
- 2.0L TFSI Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A4)
- 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)
- 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel (BMW 335d)
- 2.5L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Ford Fusion Hybrid)
- 3.5L EcoBoost Turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Ford Taurus SHO)
- 2.4L Ecotec DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Equinox)
- 4.6L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)
- 2.5L Turbocharged DOHC H-4 (Subaru Legacy 2.5GT)
- 1.8L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Toyota Prius)
- 2.0L SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI)
* * *
Results from automotive awards and surveys as always can be found on this blog.
Comments on this entry are closed.