WardsAuto announces 10 Best Engines for 2017

Kicking off the annual awards season as always is Ward's list of 10 Best Engines for the year 2017. The awards, currently in its 23rd year, has stood out from the rest of the industry titles in its quest to recognize the best of internal combustion engines and electrified propulsion systems on offer. 

While the 10 Best Engines of 2016 automatically qualified for this year's competition, the rest of the candidates included all-new or significantly improved powertrains that debuted in the Unites States of America this year. To be eligible, the vehicles using them should be priced no higher than $62,000. In all, there were 40 nominees for 2017 which, after careful scrutiny and evaluation, has been brought down to 10. 

So, here's the class of 2017, in alphabetical order:

• 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW M240i)
• 1.5L DOHC 4-cyl./Dual Motor EREV (Chevrolet Volt)
• 3.6L DOHC V-6/Dual Motor PHEV (Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid)
• 2.3L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Ford Focus RS)
• 2.0L DOHC 4-cyl./Dual Motor HEV (Honda Accord Hybrid)
• 1.4L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Hyundai Elantra Eco)
• 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Infiniti Q50)
• 2.5L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Mazda CX-9)
• 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Mercedes-Benz C300)
• 2.0L Turbo/Supercharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Volvo V60 Polestar)

Turbocharging, downsizing and electrification are the powertrain themes we keep hearing from car-makers and those are precisely what this list reaffirms.

Six out of the ten best engines are force-fed with turbochargers while one is both turbocharged and supercharged. For the first time since the inception of the awards in 1995, a big-displacement V8 engine has not made it to the list. That’s hardly surprising, given today’s 6-cylinder mills generate as much power and torque, if not more. Three hybrids have made it to the list too!

BMW’s glorious turbocharged 3.0-liter I6 engine under the hood of the M240i and General Motors’ innovative Voltec drivetrain that powers the Volt have both retained their place in the list from 2016. 

The rest of the list includes one award-winning engine each from FCA, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. 

Chrysler’s masterstroke in hybridizing its Pacifica minivan has earned plaudits worldwide and the 3.6-liter Atkinson Cycle V6 with plug-in hybrid tech is the engine with the biggest displacement in the list. At the other end sits Hyundai’s pint-sized 1.4-liter turbocharged ‘Kappa’ engine. 

Judges were particularly impressed with Ford’s 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mill under the hood of the brilliant Focus RS. That they considered it to be the most exhilarating to drive of all the 40 powertrains tested is yet another proof Ford has got the Focus RS spot on.

All the award winners would be honored at a WardsAuto ceremony during the North American International Auto Show at Detroit in January.