Wards announces 10 best engines: Volt, Leaf powertrains make the list

Wards Auto has announced its 10 Best Engine Winners for 2011, and not surprisingly, fuel-efficient creations like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf both found their beating hearts among the winners. Likewise, the 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI found favor with the judges for its green credentials, though the 10 Best list didn't simply stick to the eco warriors of 2011 for its picks. Lumps like the 5.0-liter V8s in the 2011 Ford Mustang GT and Hyundai Genesis also made the cut. Wards said that it intentionally tried to make sure that there was an engine for everyone, and we have to admit that it looks like they've done a smart job of keeping the bases covered.

We're glad to see that the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 from Chrysler is slotted among this year's winners. The engine single-handedly managed to improve vehicles like the Dodge Avenger and Journey by leaps and bounds, throwing in excellent fuel economy and power at the same time. In fact, of all the engines on the list, we'd have a hard time finding an argument against any of the winners. Head over to Wards for a closer look.

[Source: Wards]

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