Sixteen engines with forced induction make up more than half of the 31 nominees in the 2016 Wards 10 Best Engines competition now under way, but the field also includes a resurgence in naturally aspirated V-6s and a 526-hp naturally aspirated V-8 in the Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang.
Inexpensive gasoline in the U.S. has dampened consumer interest in hybrids and electric vehicles, but that isn’t stopping automakers from introducing state-of-the-art fuel sippers such as the new Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, all of which will compete with two returning winners, the hydrogen-fueled Hyundai Tucson FCV and BMW i3 extended-range EV.
2016 Wards 10 Best Engines Nominees
BMW i3 / 127 kW battery-electric
BMW 340i / 3.0L turbo I-6
Cadillac ATS / 3.6L V-6
Cadillac ATS-V / 3.6L twin-turbo V-6
Chevrolet Malibu / 1.5L turbo 4-cyl.
Chevrolet Volt / 1.5L EREV
Chevrolet Colorado / 2.8L turbodiesel 4-cyl.
Chevrolet Impala CNG / 3.6L flex-fuel V-6
Chevrolet Camaro / 6.2L LT1 small block V-8
Ford Focus / 1.0L EcoBoost 3-cyl.
Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang / 5.2L V-8
Honda Civic / 1.5L turbo 4-cyl.
Honda Civic / 2.0L i-VTEC 4-cyl.
Hyundai Tucson FCV / 100 kW fuel cell EV
Hyundai Tucson / 1.6L turbo 4-cyl.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid / 2.0L DI Atkinson 4-cyl.
Hyundai Sonata PHEV / 2.0L DI Atkinson 4-cyl.
Hyundai Elantra / 2.0L MPI Atkinson 4-cyl.
Jeep Grand Cherokee / 3.6L Pentastar V-6
Mercedes C450 AMG / 3.0L bi-turbo V-6
Mini Cooper Hardtop / 1.5L turbo 3-cyl.
Mini John Cooper Works / 2.0L turbo 4-cyl.
Nissan Maxima / 3.5L VQ V-6
Nissan Titan XD / 5.0L turbodiesel V-8
Ram 1500 / 3.0L turbodiesel V-6
Smart Fortwo / 0.9L 3-cyl.
Subaru WRX / 2.0L turbo 4-cyl. boxer
Toyota Prius / 4-cyl. hybrid
Toyota Tacoma / 3.5L 2GR-FKS V-6
Volvo S60 / 2.0L T5 turbo 4-cyl.
Volvo XC90 / 2.0L T6 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl.
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