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Ward’s 10 Best Engines 2011 winners announced

By Tim Beissmann |
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Automotive industry analyst Ward’s has announced its ’10 Best Engines’ list for the 2011 model year, including a mix of performance, efficiency and technology.

A total of 38 vehicles with new or significantly improved engines were tested and put up against last year’s winners to determine the top ten.

The 2011 Ward’s 10 Best Engine winners:

• 3.0-litre TFSI supercharged V6 (Audi S4)
• 3.0-litre N55 turbocharged I6 (BMW 335i)
• 1.6-litre turbocharged I4 (Mini Cooper S)
• 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 (Dodge Avenger)
• 5.0-litre V8 (Ford Mustang GT)
• 1.4-litre I-4/111kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt)
• 5.0L-litre Tau V8 (Hyundai Genesis)
• 80kW AC Synchronous Electric Motor (Nissan Leaf)
• 2.0-litre I4 turbo-diesel (Volkswagen Jetta TDI)
• 3.0-litre turbocharged I6 (Volvo S60)

This year’s list features six completely new winners – the largest turnover in the list’s 17-year history.

The 248kW/440Nm V6 from the Audi S4 and the 103kW320Nm TDI from the Volkswagen Jetta (capable of 5.6 litres/100km) joined the winner’s list for the second and third consecutive years, respectively.

The 223kW/407Nm BMW N55 replaced the N54 – which won from 2007 to 2009 – in the list, while the 320kW/510Nm Hyundai Tau V8 (now with greater displacement and direct injection) also returned after victory last year.

The 307kW/529Nm 5.0-litre V8 from the Mustang was one of only three naturally aspirated engines to take home a prize. Despite the 12.3 litres/100km returned by testers on mostly highway conditions, the judges said there was still a place for the engine in the market.

At the other end of the spectrum, the judges rated the Chevrolet Volt’s ‘Voltec’ propulsion system a “technological masterpiece”, while the fully electric Nissan Leaf was deemed practical, affordable and “a thrill to drive”.

To be eligible for the award, engines must be fitted to US-specification vehicles, on sale no later than the first quarter of 2011, and priced at or below $US55,000 ($55,800).


 

  • Ripoff@Oz

    Wanna cry when read the last statement – priced at or below $US55,000… For AUD$$55,800 you can get neither of the Audi S4 nor BMW 335i here in Oz. Why??????

    • James Cortez

      that’s because: Dealers take too much profit and the government is communist!

      • Radbloke

        Do you even know what communism is?

      • BB

        The dealers always try to say we have a higher spec car in Aust. That’s rubbish, we are just slugged with tax to protect ford and holden and dealers who are take huge margins. But we are the mugs who continue to pay these prices.

  • Robin Graves

    Interesting the Hyundai Tau puts out more power than the Coyote but less torque.

    • J

      Probably revs a little harder, that’s all.

      • Robin Graves

        Yeah I realise that, just observing the fact that Hyundai have pretty much matched the Coyote on their second V8 attempt, not bad! Both would be great engines.

        • MattW

          Also, figures for the Tau are with direct injection and using premium unleaded, the Coyote’s direction injection improvements are coming

  • Jimmy

    Let’s put this into context – it is more or less judging the best engines in the United States, not the world. Dodge Avenger and Ford Mustang have the best engines? Give me a break…

    • smokin’r32

      Maybe you should do some research before ignorantly assuming all American engines are rubbish

    • Pal

      Have you at least even read up on Chrysler’s new Pentastar Engine? Perhaps you should before making such an ignorant comment. Believe me they would not be including a Chrysler product if it weren’t deserving

  • http://zuboora.com mohamad is right when he

    thats the engine (mustang 5.0) we get in the FPV’s :)

    • Shak

      No we get a better version, because our boys fettled with it.

  • Shane

    don’t know what Jimmy’s on about, the new Mustang 5.0 is a cracker of an engine, for the size its powerful and potent little bugger (well bigger compared to most of the top 10 engines), and yes we get access of the new 5.0 in the FPV with a bit of Aussie engineering.

  • Mick

    The Mustang 5.0L V8 is not the same engine as whats going in the FPV, the FPV gets several improved parts, and of course that supercharger :) . The supercharger isn’t there to give the KW, its to give a bit more torque and to provide a flat curve from (around) 2200rpm to the rev limiter. The Mustang engine only produces maxiumum torque at 5500rpm. Note the 2200 and 5500 figures I gave are only rough, I can’t remember the exact numbers, only that you get maximum torque from even below cruising rpm, whereas the mustang you have to rev it out before it gives you the power.

    Therefore, and including the other changes to the engine, the FPV engine is significantly better than the Mustang engine. I should also point out that the 5.0L engine is still a port injection engine, you’d think they’d make it a DI engine!

    It looks like this list is much like the Baseball ‘World series’, aka american only :)

    • MattW

      Correct, the supercharger is for more low end torque not top end power, the engine as it is in the Mustang GT has already been putting out 295rwkw on dynos. From what I have read direct injection is on its way for the Coyote in the near future

  • MisterMister

    I think Hyundai’s 2.4L Theta II GDI 4-cylinder should be on the list. (the engine in the i45). It puts out class-leading power & torque, and best-in-class fuel economy.

    • Shak

      All on paper mate. the award is based on how the engine performs both in the real world and on paper. It may be powerful but it is not very cultured in the i45, i can attest to that.

    • MattW

      I would’ve gone with the Hyundai/Kia new 2.0 diesel myself :)