Wards 10 Best Engines For 2016 is Equal Parts Performance, Parsimonious

Three hybrid powertrains and three performance powertrains bookended Wards Auto’s top 10 engines, which was released last week.

The list included repeat winners such as the Ram 1500 Ecodiesel 3-liter six, Subaru’s turbo flat-four and Nissan’s veteran VQ 3.5-liter V-6. Appearing for the first time was BMW’s replacement for its N55 turbocharged, 3-liter straight six as well as General Motor’s LGX V-6 — which appears in several Cadillac models and in the new Chevrolet Camaro — with cylinder deactivation.

Volvo’s twin-charged 2-liter four and Ford’s famous flat-plane crank V-8 from the Shelby GT350 made the list for the first time in 2016. Volkswagen’s engines were excluded from consideration this year because of the company’s admission that its diesel engine cheated through emissions tests.

The list of winners, according to Wards:

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

Aside from the aforementioned mills, Wards awarded the significantly improved Chevrolet Volt engine and all-new Toyota Prius engine among its 10 best. Both hybrid powertrains were lauded for their real-world mileage delivery and efficient power. Hyundai’s plug-in hybrid powertrain in its Sonata PHEV, which made its first appearance this year, made the list as well.

Subaru’s turbocharged FA engine, which appears in the WRX but not the WRX STI, is the other return winner for 2016 alongside Ram’s EcoDiesel — the only oil burner on the list.

Oh, and Volvo can add to their long list of awards after their turbocharged/supercharged 2-liter four was honored.

Notably absent from the list were any engines from Mazda, Honda’s 1.5-liter turbo from the Civic and Mercedes’ turbo four in the CLA/GLA.

Wards said they would consider engines such as Audi’s coming e-Tron, Volkswagen’s 1.4-liter TSI, Lincoln’s turbo 3-liter V-6 and Jaguar’s 2-liter diesel for next year’s competition.