Ward's Auto releases annual 10 Best Engines list
It's the beginning of December, and that means it's time once again for Ward's Auto to release its 10 Best Engines list. The winners for 2007 - the 13th year for the awards - are as follows:
- Audi AG 2L turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
- BMW AG 3L DOHC I-6 (Z4 3.0si)
- BMW AG 3L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (335i)
- DaimlerChrysler AG 3L DOHC V-6 turbodiesel (Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec/Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD)
- DaimlerChrysler AG Hemi 5.7L OHV V-8 (Chrysler 300C)
- Ford Motor Co. Duratec 35 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX)
- Ford Motor Co. 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT/Mustang Shelby GT)
- Mazda Motor Corp. 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed3)
- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35)
- Toyota Motor Corp. 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
Anyone familiar with this author's preferences will of course know that the lack of any of GM's GenIV pushrod V8s is slightly upsetting, and once again all of the heavy-duty light-truck diesels got snubbed as well. Ford's supercharged 5.4L would, in our opinion, be a shoe-in based upon the big bruiser's industry-leading HP-per-dollar ratio. And on the other end of the practicality spectrum, where are the fuel-sipping engines? These are minor gripes, though; Ward's put together a solid list of engines that we'd certainly be happy to thrash.
A list of previous winners is available at Wikipedia.
[Source: Ward's Auto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Russsell Wikander 7:46PM (7/13/2008)
Ward's has got its heads burried in the sand. All 10 of these engines just reflect the past. Turbo charged, DOHC, and crankshafts all represent low technology. There is nothing new on all of the 10 engines. Yet there are great inroads being made in hybrids, and futuristic methods of creating power for automobiles. Personally I would not purchase any of the cars powered by those engines for the reason that they make driving horribly expensive, noisy, heavy, and expensive to maintain. Puschase one of the, "10 Best Engines," and you will have low resale value, high probabllity of being on the gross polluter list, high repair, maintenance and parts costs.
And, all of this for what? Do people need the perceived manly satisfaction of a psychologically designed powerful exhaust tone to satisfy the urges to slam down the gas pedal? And who cared about the artistically designed engine plastic covers designed to inspired new owner pride that he/she will regret on each trip to fill her up.
This is old technology and this focus on the old needs to stop. Ward's needs to focus on the future. Ward's needs to stop thinking turbo, BMW, Daimler, Ford, and Nissan and start encouraging the companies that are at the forefront of the new technologies. The old companies that are still holding on to the old ways of forcing their products down the potential customers throats will have to keep closing down plants as they ignore the writing on the wall. Fuel costs are going to delegate these ," 10 Best Engines," to be the last of their kind. For that matter what will it do to Ward's who has its head burried in the sand? For me to actually read that Ward's has judged that there are, "10 Best Engines," and what these engines are, I have to ask, " are you joking?
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rwdmtparkingonly 9:37AM (12/07/2006)
It was actually the port injection supercharged ecotech that got displaced; the 260 hp/ft-lb direct injection turbocharged ecotech really should be somewhere on this list.
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migo 9:32AM (12/07/2006)
the duratech 35 also shows up in the MKZ.
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SherbornSean 9:32AM (12/07/2006)
Honda is the world leader in developing and building internal combustion engines. They build the most, and they have the deepest understanding of combustion. This results in a line-up of car engines which are the most efficient in fuel usage, power and emissions reduction.
How Ward's missed that is a puzzle.
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Inspector 9:45AM (12/07/2006)
That the VQ and Ford 4.6 are included and GM's LS-series is not is a confession of Ward's utter intellectual bankruptcy. Anyone who has the slightest clue about engines knows that both the Ford and Nissan mills are LARGER and HEAVIER than the LS2 and LS7, and are down 1 and 200 horsepower, respectively.
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Dr. Woo 9:43AM (12/07/2006)
The 2.0TFSI makes it again. As the spiritual successor of the venerable 1.8T, that isn't surprising.
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Michael Karesh 9:48AM (12/07/2006)
To put something on the list, you've got to take something off.
Of the winners, Ford's new 3.5 is easily the least impressive. Compared to other DOHC 3.5s, it's quite weak in the midrange. The Lexus and Infiniti engines feel far stronger, as do the lesser 3.5s used in Toyotas and Camrys.
A case could also easily be made that GM's OHV V8 is better than the Ford and Chrysler V8s, with more power per liter and better fuel economy.
BMW's and Mercedes' V8s are likely kept off the list because they aren't available in a car under the cap of $54,000. Same for the new Lexus V8.
I agree that Honda's 2.0 (Civic Si) or 2.2 (S2000) should be on the list.
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Michael Karesh 9:50AM (12/07/2006)
Change "Camrys" to "Nissans."
On the GM 2.0 turbo, I cannot say whether it belongs on this list as, like most people, I haven't been able to drive a car with it. Now that I think of it, I haven't even seen a supercharged Solstice or SKY, but assume that they're out there, just leaving dealer lots as soon as they arrive.
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Thor 10:36AM (12/07/2006)
By far the most superior of these 10 is the BLUETEC
The amazing MERCECES 320CDI
almost 400 lbft torque and 6 sec o-60
all in utter luxury and 37 MPG REAL (not that of the silly hybrid hype) MPG highway
and a range of 700 miles.
it is a crying SHAME that this is the ONLY MODERN ADVANCED DIESEL Vehicle on sale ( do not give me these primitive large truck engines the big 3 make, Not Interested) in the US in 07 model year.
Even VW offers no diesels in 07...
Forget all your false ideas about MODERN diesels being like your father's VW Rabbit Diesel or, worse, like the 1980 GM Diesels.
FACT: In EUrope, EVEN BMW sales are 63% DIESEL!!!
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$0.02 6:06PM (12/08/2006)
I have owned the VQ in Maxima. No disputing it. I also own a Honda Pilot with a 3.5 and would rate this engine on par with that (Nissan) engine. It is as smooth, efficient, powerful and reliable.
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Michael 10:22AM (12/07/2006)
To Post #2
I should note that Honda is the most fuel effecient brand. That much is true, but what most fail to recongnize, so dont feel so bad, is they also dont have a true fullsize truck or near the range of SUVs that Toyota does. CRV, smaller yet less fuel effecient than the RAV4.
Best knowledge of combustion engines? I dont think so, first they will have to make a 268 hp/248 ft. lbs torque engine that best the Camry's 31mpg.
MTCOTY anyone?
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craig 10:57AM (12/07/2006)
Where is the motor of the gods? The LSx motors were obviously left off of the list this year since mere mortals cannot possibly handle the power and sophistication.
Still, baby cyborg Jesus sheds a tear that there was no mention of his motor, the LSx.
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NCTRNL 11:00AM (12/07/2006)
Just like the article said, it seems pretty ridiculous that the LSx series pushrod V8's from GM aren't on there. I can honestly say that it is one of the strongest and most reliable engines on the market.
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Eric Bryant 11:35AM (12/07/2006)
"do not give me these primitive large truck engines the big 3 make, Not Interested"
Ever driven one? "Primative" is simply not an accurate term for any of those engines. In fact, Ford's new Powerstroke diesel - with its combination of piezo injectors and sequential turbocharging - could fairly be considered one of the most sophisticated light-duty diesels sold in the world.
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Dr. Woo 11:21AM (12/07/2006)
"How Ward's missed that is a puzzle."
Apparently they're really out of it. This is the second year in a row no Honda has made it into the list. Maybe it's because no Honda engines can quite compete? They had to choose ten. Here are the ten.
What's far more surprising to me than the lack of Honda engines is the lack of VW's Twincharged engine which made International Engine of the Year's list.
...actually, now that I read the Wards website, these must be in U.S.-specification vehicles...which is what I suspected, as the TSI is an engineering feat.
(And before someone decides to jump me to inflate their ego with their Internet aggressiveness, yes, I know twincharging has been done, but not to the extent or sophistication that VW has achieved, thankyouverymuch.)
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cmattson 11:49AM (12/07/2006)
FYI to the kool-aid crew: GM's "primative" 5.3l pushrod bests Toyota's "advanced" DOHC 4.7l in HP, torque AND gas mileage.
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MikeW 12:11PM (12/07/2006)
Got V6?
Regular production with a $54,000 cap, so no 7.0 corvette engine
Civic Si, come on. Not even 200hp and it has electric power steering.
197hp@7800 & 139ft-lbs@6100. 200hp@7500 & 150ft-lbs@5000 would be far nicer.
The S2000 doesn't have variable valve timing-camshaft phasing. But at least honda redid the camshaft lobe duration, and gearing so you can drive quickly and stay out of VTEC 6-8K rpm.
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Steve 12:24PM (12/07/2006)
Is the LS2 or LS7 considered "Green" engines? I can't find any information from Chevy's site what environmental pollution emission rating they get.
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kevin 12:15PM (12/07/2006)
where's VW/Audi's 6.0L V12 diesel?
too bad the Audi RS4's 4.2L v8 got cut
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Eric Bryant 1:04PM (12/07/2006)
"Regular production with a $54,000 cap, so no 7.0 corvette engine"
While the LS7 is the most spectacular of the GenIV V8s, the LS2 (Vette, GTO, and TrailBlazer SS) and L92 (Yukon Denali) both deserve inclusion IMHO.
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