Ward's 10 Best Engines 2012...

[GTaudiophile]

• 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)
• 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW Z4/528i)
• 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i Coupe)
• 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Chrysler 300/Jeep Wrangler)
• 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Edge)
• 5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)
• 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Buick Regal GS)
• 1.6L DOHC I-4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)
• 2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I-4 (Mazda3)
• 3.5L DOHC V-6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/wards-releases-annual-10-best-engines-list/

 

[punjabiplaya]

boost + DI = win?

 

[KentState]

What makes these the "best" engines? All I see are price restrictions on the cost of the car, but nothing that says why the Pentastar is better than the Ford or GM equivalent for example.

 

[overst33r]

It seems their criteria for determining the best is whatever is newest. It doesn't seem to take into consideration reliability and cost. Just purely theoretical based on the claims of the manufacturer.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Please educate yourself: http://wardsauto.com/ar/names_best_engines_111208/

Wards is an industry magazine - not a car rag like Motor Trend.

Repeating as a winner is the Chrysler Pentastar 3.6L V-6 that now forms a solid foundation for much of the auto maker’s vehicle portfolio, from the Chrysler 300S flagship sedan and Jeep Wrangler to the Chrysler Group minivans and Dodge Durango SUV.

Even without direct injection, the multipurpose Pentastar returns better fuel economy than a similarly sized V-6 with DI in the competition. Editors manage to get better than 25 mpg, while enjoying outstanding refinement and power.

 

[KentState]

Please educate yourself: http://wardsauto.com/ar/names_best_engines_111208/

Wards is an industry magazine - not a car rag like Motor Trend.

Still doesn't tell me why it's the best over GM or Ford since it makes less horsepower and torque while burning more fuel.

 

[LTC8K6]

Please educate yourself: http://wardsauto.com/ar/names_best_engines_111208/

Wards is an industry magazine - not a car rag like Motor Trend.

How is it better than Ford's 3.7L V6, which also does not have DI?

I realize the Ford engine is not new for 2012, but neither is the Pentastar really, since it was in the 2011 Grand Cherokee.

 

[Throckmorton]

Where's the Ford 3.7L?

 

[Throckmorton]

Wait, the 3.7 doesn't have direct injection??

 

[arcenite]

No LS9 makes baby jesus sad

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Still doesn't tell me why it's the best over GM or Ford since it makes less horsepower and torque while burning more fuel.

Please re-read the snippet I posted - it discusses "refinement" - things like NVH come to mind.

It's also being used in many applications - JGC, Wrangler, Durango, 200, Journey, Caravan, Challenger, Charger..............

FWD, RWD, AWD - Manual Trans, Automatic Trans - SUV, Body on Frame and cars.

All of these are accounted for in the judging. So we have a 280HP engine on regular gas that returns excellent fuel economy that can be used in multiple applications and also has superior refinement.

 

[HAL9000]

My vote:

New Lamborghini V12

 

[andylawcc]

the only one that gets my unquestionable vote is the Mazda's skyactive

 

[PhoKingGuy]

• 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i Coupe)

• 
  
  Heeheee

 

[kornphlake]

Please educate yourself: http://wardsauto.com/ar/names_best_engines_111208/

Wards is an industry magazine - not a car rag like Motor Trend.

I don't read auto industry trade magazines, but I do read some magazines that relate to the industry I'm in, my opinion is that their articles are as much paid advertisements as the articles in consumer magazines, the articles are written with vocabulary appropriate for the target audience, but the marketing skew still comes through.

Interesting there's no v-tech on the list?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Please re-read the snippet I posted - it discusses "refinement" - things like NVH come to mind.

It's also being used in many applications - JGC, Wrangler, Durango, 200, Journey, Caravan, Challenger, Charger..............

FWD, RWD, AWD - Manual Trans, Automatic Trans - SUV, Body on Frame and cars.

All of these are accounted for in the judging. So we have a 280HP engine on regular gas that returns excellent fuel economy that can be used in multiple applications and also has superior refinement.

What is refinement? It's a subjective term.
The Ford and GM V-6's in the Mustang and Camaro make over 300 HP and get better mileage, how is the Dodge, which has been notorious for decades for making crappy products, somehow all of a sudden better?
Advertising dollars.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

the only one that gets my unquestionable vote is the Mazda's skyactive

Elaborate.


It is a great engine. It gets 44mpg on REGULAR GAS!! That is GOD territory.

 

[LTC8K6]

Wait, the 3.7 doesn't have direct injection??

Nope. Just imagine if it did...

 

[evident]

Interesting there's no v-tech on the list?

honda's engines are pretty stale as of late and haven't changed in a while. The K and J series are due for an update in the upcoming years.

 

[Dman8777]

Yeah, Honda/Acura has really dropped off the radar for enthusiasts of late. They haven't done anything interesting since the S2000...

 

[kornphlake]

Dang, forgot the smiley. V-tech is what 15 years old, nothing that old deserves to be on a top 10 list.

 

[darkswordsman17]

What is refinement? It's a subjective term.
The Ford and GM V-6's in the Mustang and Camaro make over 300 HP and get better mileage, how is the Dodge, which has been notorious for decades for making crappy products, somehow all of a sudden better?
Advertising dollars.

NVH for one. Like pointed out, this is an industry thing, so they're going to take into account packaging (as pointed out the Chrysler is in a wide variety of vehicles, the V-6s in the Camaro and Mustang are in what 4 vehicles combined?), engineering (they probably have figures on testing that consumers don't get to see), cost, and other things.

I believe there's another "best engines" list that people here will probably like better, as they seem to rate performance much higher.

 

[LTC8K6]

NVH for one. Like pointed out, this is an industry thing, so they're going to take into account packaging (as pointed out the Chrysler is in a wide variety of vehicles, the V-6s in the Camaro and Mustang are in what 4 vehicles combined?), engineering (they probably have figures on testing that consumers don't get to see), cost, and other things.

I believe there's another "best engines" list that people here will probably like better, as they seem to rate performance much higher.

The V-6's in the Camaro and Mustang are in way more than 4 vehicles...

3.7 Duratec
2008– Mazda CX-9
2009– Lincoln MKS
2009– Mazda6
2010– Lincoln MKT
2011– Ford Mustang
2011– Lincoln MKX
2011– Ford F-150

DI 3.6
2008–2011 Cadillac CTS
2008–2011 Cadillac STS
2009–present Chevrolet Traverse
2009–present Daewoo Veritas
2009–present Holden VE Commodore SV6
2009–present Holden WM Statesman/Caprice
2010–2011 Buick LaCrosse CXS
2010 Chevrolet Camaro

At least...I think I left out all the variations like the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook

 

[Dr. Detroit]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb 1 2011:

http://wardsdealer.com/ar/auto_chryslers_pentastar_dohc/

Occasionally, a nominee finds itself in the running for a Ward's 10 Best Engines award for reasons that extend well beyond the spec sheet. If the competition simply were a horsepower race, then several other high-output engines would have made the list.

The “package” must make sense from a cost and manufacturing perspective, and extra points are awarded if an engine turns an auto maker's powertrain strategy on its ear, for the better.

Chrysler Group LLC's all-new 3.6L Pentastar 60-degree DOHC V-6 is a perfect example. There are similarly sized V-6s making more horsepower, but few of them match the Pentastar's versatility in powering so many existing and new vehicles that are critical to Chrysler's future.

For its amazing utility, supreme NVH and smooth power delivery, the Pentastar V-6 wins Ward's 10 Best Engines honors in its first year of eligibility.

Starting with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, by the end of 2011 the Pentastar will power 10 vehicles, from sedans and coupes to minivans, SUVs and cross/utility vehicles, both rear- and front-wheel drive. By 2013, that number will grow to 13.

Says Editorial Director David Zoia: “The Pentastar is the refinement champ in its class.”

The Pentastar is the best modern engine Chrysler has produced.

 

[LTC8K6]

IIRC, the nvh with the Pentastar isn't all that great in reviews.

One overseas batch had to be replaced entirely.

SUBJECT:
Replace Engine
OVERVIEW:
Chrysler recently discovered a manufacturing quality issue with a limited number of
Chrysler 3.6 liter engines. Dealers will be required to remove the engine currently installed
in the vehicles and replace it with a brand new engine that has been VIN stamped to
match the vehicles VIN.
MODELS:
2012 (WK) Grand Cherokee (International Only)
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with the 3.6L engine (Sales Code
ERB) out side of the NAFTA markets.
NOTE: Only vehicles out side of the United States, Canada, and Mexico are involved
in this Service Bulletin.