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Let’s put aside for a moment all of the “car of the year” awards rolling out lately. When it comes to what really counts, isn’t what can be found underneath the hood most important to many consumers? After all, the engine can’t get it done, you’re going nowhere.

Ward’s 10 Best Engines
Ward’s Auto has been running an annual list for some time which recognizes the best engines on the market — Ward’s 10 Best Engines list. The 2010 list is out and the list has five newcomers as well as five veterans. While three of the engines are produced by domestic automakers, the lone V8 engine comes courtesy of Hyundai.

34 vehicles from 13 car manufacturers were put through the paces in the Detroit area to determine this year’s winners. According to Ward’s Auto, each engine was scored based on horsepower, torque, refinement, technical relevance and comparative data. Each engine was evaluated because it was all-new, offered significant technology upgrades or was a returning winner from last year.

This year’s winners and the applications tested:

What Buyers Want
Ward’s noted that the winners underscore what consumers want from what’s under the hood: improved fuel economy, fewer emissions emitted, and performance. New technologies such as the Ford EcoBoost line makes all this possible although in some cases the more efficient engines are costlier to consumers.

Two of the engines chosen power a pair of hybrid models – Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Prius – while two other engines are diesels and can be found in the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI and BMW 335d models. Of the six other gas engines, only the two powering the Chevy Equinox and Hyundai Genesis are not turbocharged, though both engine incorporate direct fuel injection to yield more power while using less fuel.

Pictured: Ecotec 2.4L I4 Engine courtesy GM Corp.

Source: Ward’s Auto

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