Electrified engines dominate 2015 awards

If WardsAuto's 10 Best Engines awards is a barometer of American powertrain tastes, the 2015 list shows that electrification is coming of age.

Although it's a list that usually includes large-capacity, low-tech muscle car engines – the 527kW Hellcat V8 was a popular inclusion last year – the MY2016 awards included only one engine displacing more than 5.0 litres and half the list was 2.0-litre or smaller.

And for the first time in the list's 22-year history, three powertrains were electrified.

The new Toyota Prius hybrid (HEV), Sonata plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and Chevrolet Volt range-extender plug-in hybrid (EREV – pictured) were all selected by WardsAuto.

Of them, only the new Prius will be available in Australia, where the fourth generation arrives early next year

Wards' test scheme, like motoring.com.au's Australia's Best Driver's Car, isn't based on facts and figures (except for a price ceiling) but the driving experience.

As Wards explains: "There is no instrumented testing – only everyday driving to and from home, work, school, the grocery store and grandma's house."

Judges do take into account power and torque, fuel economy and noise, but the overriding principle is 'does it help sell the car or raise the bar'?

While electrification is clearly becoming a lot more competitive – and acceptable – in mainstream cars, Wards' MY2016 list included a range of high-performance turbo engines too, including those found in the BMW 340i and Subaru WRX.

Volkswagen Group engines were ruled out of contention due to the emissions cheating scandal, hence no Porsche or Audi engines in the mix. The Nissan VQ series 3.5-litre V6 returns however, making it one of the most awarded engines in the list's history.

2016 Wards 10 Best Engines:
3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I6 (BMW 340i)
3.6L DOHC V6 (Chevrolet Camaro/Cadillac ATS)
1.5L DOHC 4cyl/120kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt EREV)
5.2L DOHC V8 (Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang)
2.0L DOHC 4cyl/50kW Drive Motor (Hyundai Sonata PHEV)
3.5L DOHC V6 (Nissan Maxima)
3.0L Turbodiesel DOHC V6 (Ram 1500 EcoDiesel)
2.0L Turbocharged DOHC 4cyl Boxer (Subaru WRX)
1.8L DOHC 4cyl/53kW Drive Motor (Toyota Prius HEV)
2.0L Turbo/Supercharged DOHC 4cyl (Volvo XC90)