Nominee Field Packs 6-Cyl. Punch

The industry is rapidly integrating electric vehicles, but for now auto makers are proving conventional internal-combustion engines are capable of remarkable gains in output, refinement, fuel efficiency and all-around driving enjoyment.

The 2010 field of nominees for Ward's 10 Best Engines honors is overflowing with new technology-rich powertrains, especially in the 6-cyl. category.

This year's pool includes 13 6-cyl. engines, compared with 11 last year, and nearly every one makes a compelling case for placement in the winner's circle.

Many of these stout 6-cyl. engines produce in excess of 300 hp. The kingpin of the bunch is the 365-hp EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 in the all-new Ford Taurus SHO.

For perspective, only four years ago, the Ford Mustang dazzled Ward's judges on its way to a second 10 Best Engines award for an affordable, glorious-sounding 4.6L SOHC V-8. Its 300 hp seems puny by today's standards.

Several 6-cyl. engines in this year's competition are more powerful and taking the place of V-8s, or at least delivering V-8-like performance.

Take, for instance, the all-new '10 Cadillac SRX. The previous-generation cross/utility vehicle was available with a 255-hp 3.6L High-Feature V-6 or a 320-hp 4.6L Northstar V-8.

The new SRX is all about efficiency, without compromising performance. The powertrain offerings are an all-new 265-hp direct-injection 3.0L V-6 and a 300-hp 2.8L turbocharged V-6. Each new engine achieves up to 15% better mileage than the powertrains they replace.

Another example is the 3.0L direct-injection supercharged V-6 in the Audi S4. It makes 333 hp and gives up little to the 340-hp 4.2L naturally aspirated V-8 that last made the 10 Best Engines list in 2006 in the previous-generation S4.

The only reason that engine lost its spot in 2007 was its severe drinking problem. Ward's judges routinely got a combined 14 mpg (17 L/100 km) in the old S4, although it was rated at 15/21 mpg (16-11 L/100 km) in city/highway driving. The new V-6 is rated at 18/27 mpg (13-9 L/100 km).

But don't count V-8s out of this year's competition. Last year we evaluated only four of them; this year it's seven, including the 4.6L Tau in the Hyundai Genesis sedan and the 5.7L Hemi in the Dodge Challenger R/T, both returning winners.

As expected, 4-cyl. engines are plentiful in this year's pool. There are 13 in all, the same as last year. Three are configured in hybrid-electric vehicles (Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Ford Fusion), and one is a diesel, the 2.0L I-4 in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, another returning winner.

Two other diesels round out the nominee list, the 3.0L I-6 in the BMW 335d (returning winner) and the all-new 3.0L V-6 in the Audi Q7 TDI.

Six editors evaluate and score each engine based on their routine daily driving-cycles during October and November. Points are awarded for horsepower, torque, refinement, fuel efficiency and the application of new technology. There is no instrumented testing, and vehicle price is capped at $54,000.

Ward's will announce the 2010 winners in mid-December and present the awards Jan. 13 during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

2010 Ward's 10 Best Engines Nominees