10 Best Engines and Motors of 2021 According to Wards Auto
Toyota Mirai
Fuel cell electric – Single motor
Wards Auto’s take: “I’ve been testing FCVs and writing about them for at least 15 years, and the progress embodied by the Toyota Mirai is breathtaking. With 182 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, the Mirai is fun to drive and extremely quiet. At more than 400 miles, the range is better than all but the most expensive versions of BEVs.”
Read also
BMW 330e
Plug-in hybrid – Turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine, single electric motor
Wards Auto’s take: “The 330e delivers a first-rate drive experience that compromises nothing, reaffirming just how exciting and efficient driving a hybrid can be.”
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Turbocharged 1.3L three-cylinder engine
Wards Auto’s take: “We’ve dubbed it ‘the little engine that could.’ It elbowed its way onto our list through a combination of technology, tidy sizing and torquey response. Putting it over the top is an impressive output of 116 hp/L, outpacing its much bigger V8 brethren in the Corvette Stingray.”
Ford F-150 PowerBoost
Hybrid – Turbocharged 3.5L V6, one electric motor
Wards Auto’s take: “Ford’s PowerBoost explodes hybrid stereotypes and becomes F-150’s top powertrain. Compared with numerous super-powerful V8s and many highly capable V6s, this propulsion system stands out as a workhorse and luxury vehicle on weekends.”
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Battery electric – Single or dual motors
Wards Auto’s take: “Go ahead, mash the accelerator in the Mach-E. You’ll be glad there’s a head restraint to prevent whiplash. On top of the exhilarating drive experience is the fact that you’re not burning a drop of gasoline.”
Hyundai Kona Electric
Battery electric – Single motor
Wards Auto’s take: “The Kona Electric stands for a third straight time in our winners’ circle. It still has one of the longest ranges of any all-electric vehicle on sale. Even at half-open throttle in Normal or Eco modes you fly, while Sport mode with the accelerator floored is a startling event.”
Hyundai Santa Fe
Turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine
Wards Auto’s take: “Impressing us with its quickness, refinement and overall value equation is the 277-hp 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder in the Santa Fe. Hyundai reminds us how satisfying state-of-the-art internal-combustion engines can be.”
Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Plug-in hybrid – Turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine, two electric motors
Wards Auto’s take: “I think this is the superior Wrangler, given I’ve never liked how gruff most Wranglers sound. Wrangler buyers spend a lot of time outdoors and I presume they are pro-environment. They seem to be a natural buyer group for a hybrid off-roader. I hope the 4xe ushers in a new era of cleaner and greener SUVs.”
Polestar 2
Battery electric – Dual motors
Wards Auto’s take: “What makes the Polestar 2 a winner is its near-perfect blend of the BEV formulation. It’s not the one with the longest EV range or the highest output, but it’s still shockingly fast and a blast to drive.”
Porsche Taycan 4S
Battery electric – Dual motors
Wards Auto’s take: “The Taycan 4s a singular joy to drive, combining instant electric-motor torque with handling akin to its gasoline-powered 911 brethren. Supporting the drivetrain is an especially robust regenerative braking system and an 800V architecture that facilitates faster charging.”
Toyota Mirai
Fuel cell electric – Single motor
Wards Auto’s take: “I’ve been testing FCVs and writing about them for at least 15 years, and the progress embodied by the Toyota Mirai is breathtaking. With 182 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, the Mirai is fun to drive and extremely quiet. At more than 400 miles, the range is better than all but the most expensive versions of BEVs.”
