For the first time since WardsAuto began publishing its annual rankings in 1995, none of the winners on its 2026 list of the 10 best engines and propulsion systems uses a purely combustion-powered setup. The results highlight the growing role of electrification across the automotive industry, with fully electric vehicles, conventional hybrids and plug-in hybrids accounting for every winning powertrain.
2026 Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems Winners
The 2026 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems list includes four fully electric vehicles, four hybrids and two plug-in hybrids. The winners represent a range of powertrain configurations, from dual-motor electric systems to turbocharged hybrid engines and plug-in hybrid V8s.
- Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4Matic Electric: Dual-motor battery-electric vehicle (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 plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
- Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport: 2.5-liter inline-four plug-in hybrid.
Electrification Takes Over the Entire Winners’ List
The 2026 results follow a similar pattern to the previous year’s rankings, when the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 was the only winner without an electrified powertrain. This year, the Corvette returned as the ZR1X, featuring a 1,250-horsepower twin-turbo hybrid V8.
That combination helped make 2026 the first year in the competition’s history that every winning powertrain featured some form of electrification. Although the list contains no purely gasoline-powered winners, combustion engines remain part of several of the selected vehicles’ powertrains.
Electrified vehicles have been represented in the awards for decades. The first electrified winner was the first-generation Toyota Prius hybrid in 2001, when Honda’s Insight was the only other hybrid offered by an automaker in the United States.
As electrified powertrains became more prominent, WardsAuto changed the competition’s name in 2020 to the Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems, reflecting the broader range of technologies being evaluated.
How WardsAuto Evaluated the 2026 Powertrains
Judges tested 26 powertrains under real-world driving conditions for the 2026 competition. Their evaluations considered horsepower, torque, refinement, efficiency and technological innovation.
Several nominated vehicles still relied exclusively on gasoline engines. The five pure-combustion candidates were the Chevrolet Corvette with a 6.7-liter LS6 V8, Dodge Charger Scat Pack with a 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six, Infiniti QX65 with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, Ram 1500 TRX with a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8, and Volkswagen Atlas with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four.
None of those five vehicles made the final list, leaving the 2026 winners exclusively powered by electrified systems.
Electrification Is Increasingly About Performance
The winning powertrains demonstrate that electrification is no longer limited to improving fuel economy. Models such as the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X and Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid illustrate how hybrid technology is also being used in performance-focused vehicles.
The shift reflects a broader role for electrified propulsion in automotive engineering, where efficiency and performance can both influence powertrain development.
Automakers Continue to Reconsider Their Powertrain Strategies
The 2026 rankings arrive as automakers reassess which powertrains best fit their vehicle lineups. While electrification continues to feature prominently in the awards, some manufacturers are adjusting their plans in response to slower-than-expected demand for certain electric vehicles.
One example is the cancellation of plans for an all-electric Ram 1500. At the same time, some automakers are renewing their commitment to combustion engines, underscoring the variety of approaches being pursued across the industry.
With all 10 winners in the 2026 Wards rankings featuring electrified powertrains, the results mark a milestone for the competition while reflecting the expanding range of electric and hybrid technologies being developed by automakers.
