Ward’s announces 10 Best Engines, including 2 electrics

December 09,2010

This seems to be the year of the electric car—at least in America. Automotive publication Wards Auto has awarded two spots on its annual 10 Best Engines list to two electric vehicles: the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt.

Ward’s says that the Leaf “feels (remarkably) like a conventional car, with four doors, five seats and accelerator and brake pedals that could have been borrowed from a Nissan Versa, or any other gas-driven subcompact. The Leaf is affordable – about $25,000 with a federal tax credit – and a thrill to drive.”

It’s not all electric tree-hugging vehicles that made the list. The Ford Mustang’s 5.0 liter V8 (412 bhp), Hyundai’s 5.0 V8 (429 bhp and 510 Nm) and the Audi A6’s supercharged 3.0 V6 (333 bhp/440 Nm) all made the list.

Ward’s editors spent October and November driving the vehicles in their routine daily commutes around metro Detroit and scored each engine based on power, technology, observed fuel economy and noise, vibration harshness. There was no instrumented testing.

This year’s winners and the applications tested:
•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)

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.