These are the 10 best engines (or electric drivetrains) for new cars, SUVs, pickups
Smaller engines with efficient new technology dominate the best new power plants on vehicles sold in the U.S., according to automotive industry journalists.
The list of the 10 Best Power Plants — power plants, not just engines because electric vehicles are becoming fixtures on the list — has just one eight-cylinder engine, long the type associated with American favorites like muscle cars, pickups and sports cars.
A surprise on the list, straight-six — also called inline six-cylinder or I-6 engines and once nearly extinct — staged a major comeback with three among the top 10.
“The auto industry is making tremendous strides by continuing to develop innovative internal-combustion engines while simultaneously investing in hybrids, battery-electrics, 48V mild hybrids and hydrogen-powered fuel cells,” says Drew Winter, senior content director of automotive specialty publication WardsAuto.
Wards’ editors evaluated 26 vehicles with new or significantly updated power plants, plus last year’s winners. Criteria include technology, real-world fuel economy, noise management and power.
The winners, in alphabetical order by vehicle brand, with comments by Wards editors:
BMW M340i 3.0L turbo I-6
The 3.0L straight-six turbo delivers 382 horsepower (hp) and 369 pound-feet of torque earned BMW’s tenth Best Power Plant award “with zero debate among judges and darn near perfect scores in the horsepower and torque categories,” Wards wrote.
“BMW drops the equivalent of a Russell Westbrook triple-double on the rest of the industry with this awe-inspiring turbo inline-6,” judge James Amend said.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 6.2L V-8
The “silky smooth” and power dense” V8 “sets a new standard in the mid-engine 2020 Corvette.
“It feels like every bit of power is available at every throttle position,” said judge Bob Gritzinger. “The driver feels directly connected to the powertrain via the gas pedal and paddle shifters.”
Ford Mustang high-output 2.3L turbo
Mustang performance doesn’t just mean V8 power anymore. The 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 332 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque.
“This is a very modern and technically sophisticated propulsion system that sells a more agile car and different value proposition to a different kind of buyer,” says Winter. “But it definitely sells the car.”
Turbocharged four-cylinder engines accounted for more than half of Mustang sales last year. Ward’s predicts the high-output version will increase that.
GMC Sierra 3.0L turbodiesel I-6
GM Ford and Fiat Chrysler all had pickups with 3.0L turbodiesels in the competition, “and the consensus choice was General Motors’ turbocharged Duramax" 3.0L inline 6-cylinder, Wards editors said.
“This engine is a match for every driving situation, whether puttering along in stop-and-go, humming along silently at speed, or responding instantly with a burst when you need it to pop into a hole in traffic,” judge Bob Gritzinger said.
The smooth and quiet engine is also available in the Chevrolet Silverado.
Honda Accord hybrid
Wards praised the Accord hybrid’s combination of fuel economy and performance. The roomy sedan rated 48 mpg in EPA ratings of combined city and highway driving.
“This is highly relevant technology and where the industry is headed before it can leap to EVs,” judge James Amend said.
The system produces 212 hp for the “most un-hybrid feel of any hybrid. So that’s a big plus,” judge Dave Zoia said.
Hyundai Kona electric SUV
Producing 201 hp — 150 kilowatts in electric-vehicle talk — the electric motor gives the Kona subcompact SUV “thrilling performance, especially in sport mode,” said Winter.
The motor’s impressive 295 pound-feet of torque led judge Gritzinger to predict a new trend, with modestly priced electric vehicles blowing the doors off sports cars at traffic lights.
Hyundai Sonata 1.6L turbo
Hyundai snagged its second 2020 Best Powertrain award with 1.6L turbo developed for its new Sonata midsize sedan. It’s the first production engine to feature a tricky technology Hyundai calls continuously variable valve duration that contributes to fuel economy and performance.
“Two minutes behind the wheel and you know this engine can, and will, compete with a V-6,” judge James Amend said.
The engine produces 180 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque.
Mercedes-Benz GLE450 3.0L I-6
Mercedes’ 3.0L straight-six features a 48-volt motor generator mild hybrid. The system adds 21 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque when extra power is needed, “making the engine feel even quicker on the street than it appears on paper,” Wards said.
The 48-volt system also delivers smoother stop-start operation than Mercedes’ previous system.
Nissan Altima 2.0L VC-Turbo
Engineers dreamed of variable-compression ratio engines to combine performance and fuel economy for years, but never managed to build a reliable one. That changed with the Altima midsize sedan’s optional VC-Turbo.
“The engine is performing harrowing acrobatics at speed, switching from one compression ratio to another,” WardsAuto managing editor Tom Murphy said. “The result is outstanding fuel economy and an engine that performs as if nothing is out of the ordinary, like a good midsize sedan engine should.”
Ram 1500 3.6L eTorque V-6
Ram’s mild-hybrid V6 with a 48-volt motor generator boosts launch speed and fuel economy, and improves the comfort of fuel-saving engine shutoff at stop lights and when idling.
“Lots of drivers dislike stop/start systems because the engine may turn back on with a shudder, or they might think the engine won’t restart at all,” Murphy said.
The eTorque V6 restarts the engine in 400 milliseconds — half the time it takes for conventional stop/starts.
There were four repeat winners, the BMW 3.0L turbo I-6, Ram’s eTorque V6, Honda’s four-cylinder hybrid, Hyundai’s electric battery-electric, and Nissan’s variable compression 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder.
Follow Detroit Free Press auto critic on Twitter @mark_phelan.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 10 best engines, electric drivetrains for new cars, pickups, SUVs
