10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems

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.

With 47 more ponies than last year’s winning B58 inline 6-cyl. turbo, the M340i’s engine never gasps for breath, no matter how much flogging occurs near the redline. And who would expect 25 mpg to go along with 369 lb.-ft. of torque?

Appearing first in the all-new Sonata sedan, this clean-sheet 4-cyl. is part of a family of new Hyundai engines. It’s an absolute gem – stout, refined, punchy, a delightful daily driver and it’s the world’s first application of continuously...

The field of 26 nominees in this year’s competition is as diverse as ever. Winners will be honored Jan. 16 at the inaugural WardsAuto Engine & Propulsion Summit in Detroit.

Heretofore, the inline 4-cyl. engine seldom received the respect it’s earned as a dependable, cost-effective power producer. Let’s remedy that.

Tidy on the outside, innovative inside, the new Corvette small-block engine packs a 495-hp punch.