The Times Are Changing
Every year since 1995, WardsAuto has released its list of the 10 best engines. But for the first time, not a single pure combustion engine made the cut in 2026, highlighting the growing competitiveness of electrified powertrains and automakers’ continued investment in more diverse vehicle lineups.
The winners of the 2026 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems include the Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4Matic Electric (dual-motor BEV), Rivian R2 Performance (dual-motor BEV), Subaru Trailseeker (dual-motor BEV), Volvo EX60 P10 AWD (dual-motor BEV), Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X (5.5-liter twin-turbo hybrid V8), Hyundai Palisade Hybrid (2.5-liter turbocharged hybrid inline-four), Nissan Rogue Hybrid (1.5-liter turbocharged hybrid inline-three), Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid (3.6-liter eTurbocharged flat-six), BMW M5 Touring (4.4-liter turbocharged V8 PHEV), and Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport (2.5-liter inline-four PHEV).
Mercedes-Benz
Electrification Across the Board
That means the 2026 list consists of four fully electric vehicles, four hybrids, and two plug-in hybrids. It’s similar to last year’s list, when the Chevy Corvette ZR1 was the only non-electrified winner. The Corvette returned this year in ZR1X form with a 1,250-horsepower twin-turbo hybrid V8, which, as mentioned, helped WardsAuto post its first-ever list of exclusively electrified winners.
A list without a pure gas engine may sound ironic, but electrified cars have long been part of the awards. The first electrified car to win was the first-generation Toyota Prius hybrid in 2001, a time when Honda was the only other automaker offering a hybrid in the U.S. with the Insight. Because of this growing trend, the competition’s name was changed in 2020 to “Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems.”
This year, judges tested 26 powertrains in real-world driving conditions, assessing their horsepower, torque, refinement, efficiency, and technological innovations. The only nominated vehicles with pure gas engines were the Chevrolet Corvette (6.7-liter LS6 V8), Dodge Charger Scat Pack (3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six), Infiniti QX65 (2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four), Ram 1500 TRX (6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8), and Volkswagen Atlas (2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four).
Rivian
The Best of Both Worlds
Considering the 2026 Wards list, electrification isn’t just about fuel economy anymore, but also performance, as seen with the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X and Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid. It’s becoming more than just a “more fuel-efficient” option, emerging as a major driver of automotive engineering innovation.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see future results, especially now that automakers are scrambling to invest in the right powertrains for their respective lineups. Some EV plans, such as the all-electric Ram 1500, have been canceled amid slower-than-expected demand, while some automakers are renewing their commitment to combustion engines.
(C) 2026 Doug Berger | DBPics
