Wards 10 Best Engines Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto 2016 Wards 10 Best Engines 22 years of recognizing powertrain excellence Eight WardsAuto editors

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?



We take to the highways…



…And byways



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



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



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)



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.”



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.”



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.



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.”



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.”



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!”



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.”



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!”



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.”



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.”



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



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.



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.



Read OurFull Coverage on WardsAuto.com

- Test Drive Videos

- Profiles of Each Winner (starting Jan.4)

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Documents

Wards 10 Best Engines Tom Murphy, Senior Editor, WardsAuto 2016 Wards 10 Best Engines 22 years of recognizing powertrain excellence Eight WardsAuto editors