Only One Conventional Combustion Engine Made the Top 10 Best Powertrains of 2025 (1 photo)
Wards Auto, the authoritative publication that annually compiles a list of the top 10 powertrains, has released its 2025 list. To the surprise of the testers themselves, nine of the included engines were hybrids or all-electric systems, while only one conventional internal combustion engine made the list. This is the first time this has happened in the award's 31-year history. 
Of all the tested fuel-injected engines, Wards Auto experts singled out the 5.5-liter V8 found in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. This is one of the most highly-powered engines in the modern automotive industry: the turbocharged engine produces 1,064 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque.
The hybrids included in the top 10 powertrains for 2025 come from a variety of backgrounds. Testers noted the BMW system, which is based on a 4.4-liter V8 and is found in the M5, the electrified 3.5-liter V6 from the Ford F-150, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder from the Honda Cicvic hybrid, the powerful Lexus LX700h system, which is based on a 3.4-liter V6, and the 3.0-liter six-cylinder from Mercedes-Benz, which is paired with an electric motor in the Mercedes-AMG E53.
As for electric vehicles, the publication highlighted the powertrains of the Dodge Charger Daytona, the Ioniq 9 and Lucid Gravity crossovers, and the Nissan Leaf in 2025.
A total of 28 vehicles were tested in the current selection, 20 of which had some form of electrified powertrain. The nominees' internal combustion engine displacements ranged from 5.5 liters in the Corvette to 1.6 liters in the Toyota GR Corolla. The engines were evaluated not only on power and traction but also on performance indicators, including flexibility and fuel efficiency, noise and vibration levels, and so on. Price also factored into the list.
The jury stated that electrified powertrains demonstrate engineers' talent for achieving outstanding performance on a limited budget, and their market position is becoming increasingly secure.
