10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems

A pro-and-con summation of all 26 powertrains evaluated in the 2020 competition. Many comments come directly from editor scoresheets.

This year’s list of winners reflects an industry that is trying to do it all with heart-pounding fire breathers, capable pickups that don’t need V-8s, family cars that don’t need V-6s and a battery-electric CUV that is fun to drive.

With a radically new mid-engine placement, the LT2 also may finally silence critics calling the camshaft-in-block an elder statesman.

Despite all the luxury BEV newcomers in 2019, the mass-market Kona still has one of the longest-range lithium-ion battery packs in the industry.

The workhorse Pentastar engine was a Wards 10 Best pick for 2019. Judges deemed it so well done and technologically clever with its 48V mild hybrid system, that it’s a returning winner for 2020.

As tested in the ’20 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab SLT, General Motors’ all-new Duramax light-duty turbodiesel wins points for its fuel economy and smoothness debunking diesels’ growly image.

A technological marvel, the 2.0L Variable Compression Turbo 4-cyl. in the Nissan Altima wows our judges with silky power and stunning fuel economy for a non-hybrid midsize sedan.

Powerful, quiet, inherently smooth and with a touch of electrification thrown in, the GLE450’s new turbocharged 3.0L inline 6-cyl. makes a strong first impression.

If electrification is going to truly take hold, it must be affordable, efficient and fun to drive. The Honda Accord Hybrid checks all three boxes.

A 4-cyl. delivering more power than V-8s found in Mustangs a decade ago puts smiles on our faces and punches the 2.3L EcoBoost High Performance Package into this year’s top echelon.