Wards Auto has unveiled its annual 10 Best Engines for 2018 picks, with four of the ten winners featuring an electric motor in an overall impressive showing by mainstream automakers.
The winners are the Chevrolet Bolt 150-kW Electric Propulsion System, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 3.6-liter Pentastar DOHC V6/PHEV, Honda Clarity 130-kW Electric Propulsion System, and the Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.5-liter Atkinson DOHC 4-Cylinder/HEV.
“We’re happy to recognize great engines in luxury cars, but we’re thrilled to see so many high-volume automakers whose vehicles are more affordable for average Americans delivering truly outstanding powertrains,” said Drew Winter, senior content director at Wards Auto.
The Chevrolet Bolt received plenty of praise for its mainstream appeal, 238-mile all-electric range on 200 horsepower, and driving mechanics, which Winter cited as having “thrilling acceleration, which makes it fun to drive every day.” The seven-seater Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid also left its mark, winning for the second time with its 33-mile all-electric range and WardsAuto’s test results of 35 mpg for mixed daily driving, all while receiving praise for its utility on short runs.
A non-Prius also saw a trophy for the first time since 2001, with the Toyota Camry Hybrid clocking 40 mpg or greater using “aggressive driving in a vehicle considerably larger than a Prius,” as Wards Auto describes it, with a nod to its passing power.
To be eligible for a Wards Auto trophy, vehicles must have a base price not exceeding $63,000 and pass rigorous road testing. This year, Wards Auto editors used the Detroit metropolitan area as its backdrop, exposing 40 vehicles to a regular commute in mixed driving. Editors score each car using various criteria, including but not limited to horsepower, powertrain, fuel economy, and noise.
The full winner list:
• Chevrolet Bolt EV – 150-kW Electric Propulsion System (Chevrolet Bolt EV)
• Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid – 3.6-liter Pentastar DOHC V6/PHEV
• Ford F-150 – 2.7-liter Twin Turbo DOHC V6
• Ford Mustang GT – 5.0-liter DOHC V8
• Honda Clarity – 130-kW Fuel Cell/Electric Propulsion System
• Honda Civic Type R – 2.0-liter VTEC Turbocharged DOHC 4-Cyl.
• Infiniti Q50 – 3.0-liter Turbocharged DOHC V6
• Jaguar XF – 2.0-liter Turbocharged DOHC 4-Cyl.
• Kia Stinger – 3.3-liter Turbocharged DOHC V6
• Toyota Camry Hybrid – 2.5-liter Atkinson DOHC 4-Cyl./HEV
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