From turbocharged Hurricane I6s to hybrid small-block V8s, there’s a little bit one thing for each automobile fanatic among the many winners of 2024’s Wards 10 Greatest Engines & Propulsion Methods. And it is not simply the variety of powertrain configurations that makes 2024’s checklist exceptional, however the huge cross-section of producers represented. On the opposite aspect of the identical coin, we word just a few conspicuous absences. Let’s dive in.
V8
Sure, within the 12 months of our electrons, 2024, there is a V8 on the Wards 10 Greatest checklist — and an American V8 at that. It is the 6.2-liter V8 discovered beneath the hood of the 2024 Chevy Corvette E-Ray. OK, so on this case it occurs to be a part of a hybrid powertrain, however the truth that GM managed such a well-executed hybridization of its iconic efficiency mannequin on the primary go-‘spherical is nonetheless spectacular. Now, talking of hybrids …
Hybrids
Technically, the E-Ray’s V8 must be right here too. It is no surprise Wards known as 2024 the “12 months of the Hybrid.” Six of the ten winners are battery-electric fashions, although we’ll word that the combination nonetheless dramatically favors commonplace hybrid configurations over heavier and more-expensive plug-ins. Solely BMW’s I6 PHEV made the lower within the latter class. This class can also be house to the 2 most inexpensive automobiles on this checklist: the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Camry XSE.
Turbos
Just like the Hybrid class, this one is bigger than our checklist suggests. Three of this 12 months’s hybrid alternatives are primarily based on turbocharged gasoline engines. The Stellantis “Hurricane” I6 is certainly one of two 3.0-liter inline-sixes on the winner’s checklist this 12 months, they usually’re joined by Porsche’s 3.0-liter V6. The three.0-liter turbo-six appears to be the candy spot for premium gasoline engines in 2024. Shout-out to Toyota for the GR Corolla’s 1.3-liter turbo-three. That automobile is an absolute gem.
Electrical
Korea managed to comb this 12 months’s all-electric honors. Of the 11 eligible nominees, solely two battery-electric automobiles made the winner’s checklist in 2024.
Conspicuous absences
Old school, naturally aspirated, non-electrified engines
Rely ’em: zero.
All 4 of those producers had not less than one eligible finalist in 2024 (Nissan’s within the type of the 2024 Infiniti QX80), however all ended up with goose eggs. Each VW nominees had been battery-electric choices; Audi was nowhere to be discovered.