Dec. 19, 2017—For the first time ever, as Green Car Reports pointed out, four of the winners on WardsAuto's "Best Engines" are electrified—and two aren't engines at all.
For 2018, Wards declared two hybrid powertrains worthy of its accolades.
The reworked 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle inline-4 engine and hybrid system in the Toyota Camry impressed the judges, making this Toyota's 13th appearance on the list.
"Toyota has choreographed the interaction between the Camry’s all-new new 2.5L gasoline 4-cyl. and electric motor into an elegant, seamless, high-tech ballet," wrote Wards.
Chrysler hasn't put much effort into bringing hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles to market, Green Car reports, but it seems judges gave the Pacifica Hybrid's 3.6-liter V-6 PHEV powertrain a Top 10 award for the second year in a row.
Wards lauded the Chrysler for its "33 miles (53 km) of full-electric range and levels of fuel efficiency unimaginable just a few short years ago," and judges "were able to post nearly 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km) on the trip odometer in mixed daily driving that usually exceeded battery range."
In addition to the hybrids, Wards praised two powertrains that removed gasoline from the equation completely.
The 150-kilowatt (200-horsepower) electric propulsion system made the Bolt EV the only full electric vehicle to make the list, with Wards calling it "an affordable, world-changing vehicle that delivers on the promise of electric mobility for the masses."
The other winner was the Honda Clarity's 130-kw fuel cell electric propulsion system, which Wards mentioned has a range of "366 miles (589 km) without stopping, the longest range of any zero-emissions vehicle."
