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Winners in Red
BMW
2.0L turbo (B48) I-4 301 hp (BMW X2 M35i)
+ 151 hp/liter in 5-passenger lux CUV
- Not everyone enamored with throaty exhaust tones
= Thrilling performance nearly clinched second BMW trophy
3.0L (B58) turbo I-6 382 hp (BMW M340i)
+ Massive upgrades for B58 engine two years in a row
- Nothing’s coming to mind.
= Topping 26 mpg under heavy throttle. Priceless.
Fiat Chrysler
1.3L MultiAir turbo 4-cyl. 177 hp (Jeep Renegade)
+ MultiAir hydraulic valves for better control of air intake
- Observed only 23 mpg, suggests turbo working too often
= Renegade 4x4 awfully handy during November snowstorm
3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 260 hp (Ram 1500)
+ Reasonably good fuel economy during testing
- Price of entry for diesel engine and fuel gives pause
= Louder than 3.0L diesel rivals from GM, Ford
3.6L Pentastar eTorque V-6 mild hybrid 305 hp (Ram 1500)
+ Surprising power, torque for V-6 in fullsize pickup
- Observed fuel economy lags Ram 3.0L diesel
= Dollar for dollar, Ram’s 48V eTorque V-6 is the way to go
Ford
2.0L turbo 4-cyl. 250 hp (Lincoln Corsair)
+ Energetic, responsive, pulls through most of rev range
- $54,375 for gussied up Escape
= Pleasant-sounding, well-engineered for small luxury CUV.
2.3L High Performance turbo 4-cyl. 332 hp (Ford Mustang)
+ Massive power squeezed from four cylinders
- Sounds a tad coarse at cold start
= Finally, Mustang shoppers have viable alternative to V-8
3.0L Power Stroke diesel V-6 250 hp (Ford F-150)
+ A winner last year, still remarkably refined
- Observed fuel economy was better last year
= Great addition to F-150 powertrain family
5.0L V-8 480 hp (Ford Mustang Bullitt)
+ Got great mileage this year – topping 22 mpg
- GT500 V-8 more technically advanced, but over price cap
= It never gets tiresome behind the wheel
General Motors
Electric propulsion system 60-kWh (Chevrolet Bolt EV)
+ Battery chemistry tweaked for an extra 21 miles of range
- Range of only 192 miles after Level 2 charging on 26-degree day
= More people need to experience EVs to appreciate them
3.0L Duramax diesel I-6 277 hp (GMC Sierra)
+ 33 mpg highway rating in Chevy version leads the market
- Lags Ford, Ram diesels in towing capacity
= Hums silently at speed; great match for every driving situation
6.2L V-8 490 hp (Chevy Corvette Stingray)
+ Mid-engine = spectacular handling; surprisingly quiet in cabin
- Rearward visibility suffers
= Long live the Small Block
6.2L V-8 with DFM 420 hp (Chevy Silverado)
+ Carries more liters than Oktoberfest kellnerin
- Looking for better fuel economy
= Wicked strong, with 17 ways to shut down cylinders
Honda
2.0L Atkinson I-4 212 hp total (Honda Accord Hybrid)
+ Impressive power; squawked the tires, in a hybrid!
- BEVs are starting to steal spotlight from HEVs
= Great 4-cyl. IC engine mated to two capable motors
Hyundai
Fuel Cell/Permanent Magnet Motor 135 kW (Hyundai Nexo)
+ Technological moonshot; power you can depend on
- Exceedingly noisy cooling fan at shutdown
= Fueling infrastructure inadequate, even in southern California
Single Motor Electric Propulsion System 150 kW (Kona EV)
+ Inspiring amounts of power in all circumstances
- Not quite as robust when accelerating at 70 mph
= Thank you Hyundai for fun-to-drive, inexpensive BEV
1.6L 4-cyl. 120 hp (Hyundai Accent)
+ Dual-port fuel injection reduces particulate emissions
- Reaches its performance ceiling by 80 mph
= Hyundai serious about investing in advanced, affordable engines
1.6L turbo 4-cyl. 180 hp (Hyundai Sonata)
+ Shifting at 6,000 rpm, you’ll swear it’s a big 6-cyl.
- Very slight vibration in steering wheel at startup
= Little engine that could – and does
2.0L turbo 4-cyl. 250 hp (Hyundai Veloster N)
+ Clobbers VW Golf GTI’s 228 hp and Honda Civic SI’s 205 hp
- Long way from 306-hp Honda Civic Type R
= Loved ripping through the gears with 6-speed manual
2.5L 4-cyl. 191 hp (Hyundai Sonata)
+ More horsepower than Nissan’s original 3.0L VQ V-6
- Sounds and feels more composed running hard than bopping around town
= Overshadowed by little brother with turbo
Mazda
2.2L diesel 4-cyl. 168 hp (Mazda CX-5)
+ Glad to see automakers still interested in diesel
- We had to wait waaaaaay too long for this engine
= Expensive; meager fuel economy; noisy in cold temps
Mercedes-Benz
3.0L EQ Boost turbo I-6 362 hp (Mercedes GLE450)
+ 48V stop/start system makes all the difference
- Oddly occurring revs at idle
= Stuttgart, Bavaria go head to head with straight-6 engines
Nissan
2.0L VC-turbo 4-cyl. 248 hp (Nissan Altima)
+ Responds in same hyper-linear way whenever pedal drops
- Only two applications of this precious jewel – so far
= Performs harrowing internal acrobatics at speed and you can’t tell
5.6L V-8 400 hp (Nissan Titan)
+ More horsepower, torque, modest engine upgrades
- Abysmal fuel economy – below 17 mpg
= Not keeping up with Detroit truck engine offerings
Subaru
2.5L 4-cyl. boxer 182 hp (Subaru Legacy)
+ Some of us topped 28 mpg
- Radiator hose detached while engine running
= Fairly pedestrian, with balky stop/start system
Toyota
2.0L Atkinson I-4 HEV 181 hp (Lexus UX 250h Hybrid)
+ Gasoline 4-cyl. reflects fresh Toyota engineering
- Adequate, but powertrain fails to sell the car
= Capable hybrid still outshone by Honda Accord HEV
