Topic: Ward's Top Ten Engines - Some surprises this year!

[Erik]

Gotta say that I am impressed to see that they put both the Volt and the Leaf on the list this year. Shows an open mindedness that is nice to see.

Nice to see the new Pentastar hitting the list. Chrysler did it's homework on this one.

I have no issues with anything on there.


3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)
3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i)
1.6L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mini Cooper S)
3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Dodge Avenger)
5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang GT)
1.4L DOHC I-4/111kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt)
5.0L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)
80kW AC Synchronous Electric Motor (Nissan Leaf)
2.0L DOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta TDI)
3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (Volvo S60)





http://wardsauto.com/ar/names_best_engines_101207/

[Mike]

I agree it is a nice list.  It seems to vary year to year in some circumstances which is nice.

[tpl]

I think that electric motors should have their own list.

[safristi]

..Yeah,...WARD off any lectric stuff...........BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED............

[G0dspd]

Those electric motors were expected to make the list.  The Pentastar is the real surprise.  Good job Chrysler ... euhh ... Fiat ... maybe Daimler a little?

[tortoise]

Being too lazy to look it up, is this the first year the VQ isn't on the list?  I also was expecting the 1.6T from the Juke and the Hyundai 2.4 (for its efficiency) to be there.

[Jaeger]

Half the top engines are forced induction.  Interesting.  Funny how the list won't now be condemned as pointless and irrelevant, what with Ford, Chrysler and GM being represented.

Jaeger

[The Mighty Duck]

I don't quite understand Ward's eligibility requirements. I mean:

"after evaluating 38 vehicles with new or significantly improved engines for the ’11 model year."

"This year’s list represents the biggest turnover in the history of the competition... and only two direct carryover engines (from Volkswagen AG and Audi AG) from the 2010 list."

So obviously engines don't have to be "new or significantly improved" to be considered...

In any event, a good list with not many surprises on it. I wasn't expecting to see the MINI or Volvo engines on there, but I'm not shocked and I think they deserve a place.

[Mitlov]

Electric motors aren't "engines," yo.

Aside from semantic nitpicking, I don't have a beef with the list.

[Mike]

I don't quite understand Ward's eligibility requirements. I mean:

"after evaluating 38 vehicles with new or significantly improved engines for the ’11 model year."

"This year’s list represents the biggest turnover in the history of the competition... and only two direct carryover engines (from Volkswagen AG and Audi AG) from the 2010 list."

So obviously engines don't have to be "new or significantly improved" to be considered...

In any event, a good list with not many surprises on it. I wasn't expecting to see the MINI or Volvo engines on there, but I'm not shocked and I think they deserve a place.

Last years winners get to re-enter the competition in case (as is always the case) there are not 10 brand new engines that are the best 10 engines on the market.

[CanuckS2K]

Being too lazy to look it up, is this the first year the VQ isn't on the list?  I also was expecting the 1.6T from the Juke and the Hyundai 2.4 (for its efficiency) to be there.

The VQ hasn't been on their top 10 list in the last 3 years, however it was on there 15 years in a row prior to that.  

[Shnak]

Gotta say that I am impressed to see that they put both the Volt and the Leaf on the list this year. Shows an open mindedness that is nice to see.

Nice to see the new Pentastar hitting the list. Chrysler did it's homework on this one.

I have no issues with anything on there.


3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)
3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i)
1.6L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mini Cooper S)
3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Dodge Avenger)
5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang GT)
1.4L DOHC I-4/111kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt)
5.0L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)
80kW AC Synchronous Electric Motor (Nissan Leaf)
2.0L DOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta TDI)
3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (Volvo S60)

http://wardsauto.com/ar/names_best_engines_101207/

So for the Volt, it's the combination of the generator and electric motor that they are considering as an 'engine' here? Interesting... and of course, the Leaf's electric motor isn't an engine either... It's becoming Ward's Top Ten Powertrains list, isn't it?

Out of curiosity, has the Prius powertrain ever been nominated on this list?

[TopGun]

The Ford 5.0 was the only engine I have driven.

The last issue of MotorTrend did a highlight on the Ford 5.0 talking about how refined it was, and the tech that went into the engine.  It was powerful like crazy...but too refined!  I liked the burble of the old 4.6L better.

[vdk]

The VW TDI should've been replaced by BMW's diesel engine. It's a much better engine.

[Mitlov]

The VW TDI should've been replaced by BMW's diesel engine. It's a much better engine.

It should be, considering it's in cars that cost twice as much.

[vdk]

The VW TDI should've been replaced by BMW's diesel engine. It's a much better engine.

It should be, considering it's in cars that cost twice as much.

Yes, but these 'wards are based solely on engine performance.

[Mitlov]

The VW TDI should've been replaced by BMW's diesel engine. It's a much better engine.

It should be, considering it's in cars that cost twice as much.

Yes, but these 'wards are based solely on engine performance.

Then why is the Cooper S engine there?  Compared to an N55, or the S4's mill, it's not exactly the bee's knees.

Whether they openly state it or not, performance-for-the-dollar must be some part of their analysis.

[Jaeger]

Half the top engines are forced induction.  Interesting.  Funny how the list won't now be condemned as pointless and irrelevant, what with Ford, Chrysler and GM being represented.

Jaeger

No need to bring this fight into another thread, please.

Did you have a contribution to make to the subject at hand, or just playing thread nanny?

Jaeger

[EV Dan]

I don't see Fiat's Multi Air on the list.
http://www.futurecars.com/news/gasoline-cars/fiat-multiair-turbo-14l-wins-best-new-engine-of-2010-award

It also got something from Popular Science. So it is either the list itself being too short or maybe there are other "external" factors...

p.s. They'd better start new lists, like motor of the year, generator of the year, fuel cell of the year

[vdk]

The VW TDI should've been replaced by BMW's diesel engine. It's a much better engine.

It should be, considering it's in cars that cost twice as much.

Yes, but these 'wards are based solely on engine performance.

Then why is the Cooper S engine there?  Compared to an N55, or the S4's mill, it's not exactly the bee's knees.

Whether they openly state it or not, performance-for-the-dollar must be some part of their analysis.

As mentioned:

Engines must be available in regular-production vehicles on sale in the U.S. market no later than the first quarter of the year. To be eligible, the engine also must be available in a vehicle with a base price of no more than $54,000 (for 2007 list). During a 2-month testing period, Ward's editors evaluate each engine according to a number of objective and subjective criteria in everyday driving situations – there is no instrumented testing. The selection takes into account power and torque output, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels, technical relevance, and basic comparative numbers. Each engine competes against all others.