Best Engines 2026 has delivered one of the clearest signs yet that the automotive industry’s priorities are changing.
This year’s list includes ten award-winning powertrains, but only one relies entirely on a traditional gasoline engine. Every other winner combines combustion with electric assistance or eliminates the engine altogether through battery-electric propulsion.
The result marks a dramatic change from just a few years ago, when high-output V8s and turbocharged gasoline engines dominated similar awards.
The lone exception is the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 producing 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque, the ZR1 is the only vehicle on this year’s list to earn recognition without hybrid technology or a fully electric drivetrain. Every other winner reflects how manufacturers are increasingly using electrification to improve acceleration, efficiency, refinement and everyday usability.
Key Takeaways
• Only one gasoline engine made Best Engines 2026.
• Nine winning powertrains use hybrid or electric technology.
• Corvette ZR1 is the only pure combustion winner.
• BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Ford, Nissan and Lucid all secured places.
Best Engines 2026 Winners at a Glance
| Vehicle | Powertrain | Horsepower |
|---|---|---|
| Corvette ZR1 | V8 | 1064 hp |
| BMW M5 | PHEV | 717 hp |
| Mercedes E53 | PHEV | 604 hp |
| Nissan Leaf | EV | 214 hp |
| Lexus LX700h | Hybrid | 457 hp |
| Lucid Gravity | EV | 828 hp |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | EV | 422 hp |
| Dodge Charger Daytona | EV | 670 hp |
| Honda Civic Hybrid | Hybrid | 200 hp* |
| Ford F-150 PowerBoost | Hybrid | 430 hp |
Chevrolet Keeps Traditional Performance Alive
Chevrolet’s latest Corvette ZR1 proves there is still room for combustion engineering at the highest level.
Instead of pairing its V8 with battery assistance, Chevrolet focused entirely on extracting more performance from internal combustion. The result is one of the most powerful production V8 engines ever developed, sending more than 1,000 horsepower to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Its selection makes the Corvette ZR1 unique among this year’s winners. Rather than representing the industry’s future direction, it stands as the only reminder of how performance cars were traditionally engineered before hybrid systems became common.
BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E53 Take a Different Route
While Chevrolet stayed with conventional combustion, BMW and Mercedes-AMG reached the list through electrification.
BMW’s latest M5 introduces its M Hybrid system for the first time, pairing a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with an electric motor to deliver a combined 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor provides immediate low-speed response while allowing short-distance electric driving before the V8 takes over under heavier acceleration.
Mercedes-AMG follows the same philosophy with the newest E53.
Its plug-in hybrid powertrain combines a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with electric assistance, producing 604 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Rather than replacing AMG’s performance character, the hybrid system strengthens it by delivering additional torque the moment the driver presses the accelerator.
Although both manufacturers use different engines, their objective is the same—higher performance without relying solely on larger displacement.
Nissan, Lucid and Hyundai Lead the Electric Entries
Fully electric powertrains account for several of this year’s winners, with each manufacturer approaching the technology differently.
Nissan’s redesigned Leaf earns its place through improved efficiency and charging capability. Buyers can choose battery configurations producing up to 214 horsepower, while a liquid-cooled battery pack and charging speeds of up to 150 kW reduce charging time and improve long-distance usability.
Lucid focuses on outright capability.
Its Gravity SUV uses a 123-kWh battery and a 926-volt electrical architecture capable of charging at up to 400 kW. Depending on specification, the electric SUV delivers as much as 828 horsepower while offering an estimated driving range approaching 450 miles.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 9 demonstrates how dedicated EV platforms continue to evolve.
Built on the company’s E-GMP architecture, the SUV uses a 110.3-kWh battery across the lineup while offering multiple motor configurations ranging from an efficient rear-wheel-drive setup to a dual-motor performance model producing 422 horsepower.
Although each manufacturer targets a different buyer, all three earned recognition by improving electric propulsion rather than traditional combustion technology.
Lexus LX 700h and Ford F-150 Show Hybrid Technology Isn’t Just for Cars
Hybrid technology wasn’t limited to performance sedans or compact hatchbacks in Best Engines 2026. Two of this year’s winners demonstrate how electrification is changing larger, heavier vehicles that prioritize towing, hauling and long-distance comfort.
Lexus secured a place on the list with the LX 700h, introducing a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 hybrid that delivers 457 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The electric motor sits between the engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission, adding extra torque during acceleration while allowing the SUV to operate on electric power at lower speeds when conditions permit.
Instead of transforming the LX into a performance SUV, Lexus designed the system to improve refinement, smoother power delivery and fuel efficiency without compromising the off-road capability expected from its flagship model.
Ford earned recognition with its PowerBoost hybrid system in the F-150, but its approach differs from Lexus.
The pickup combines a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with an electric motor to produce 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. Beyond improved acceleration and lower fuel consumption, the hybrid system also powers Ford’s Pro Power Onboard feature, allowing owners to run tools, appliances, camping equipment and even charge another electric vehicle directly from the truck.
Rather than treating electrification as a performance upgrade alone, both manufacturers use hybrid technology to increase the everyday capability of vehicles designed for work, travel and towing.
Honda Continues to Prove Hybrids Can Improve Everyday Driving
Not every winner in Best Engines 2026 delivers supercar-level horsepower.
Honda’s recognition comes from refining a powertrain that millions of drivers could realistically own.
The Civic Hybrid pairs a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motors operating through an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Instead of chasing headline horsepower figures, Honda focused on responsive low-speed acceleration, smooth power delivery and excellent fuel efficiency.
The result is a hybrid system that feels natural in everyday driving while reducing fuel consumption without sacrificing the familiar character that has made the Civic one of the world’s best-selling compact cars.
Its inclusion demonstrates that engineering excellence isn’t measured only by maximum output. Efficiency, refinement and drivability continue to carry equal weight when evaluating modern powertrains.
What Best Engines 2026 Says About the Industry
Looking across all ten winners, one trend becomes impossible to ignore.
Manufacturers no longer rely on a single formula to build an award-winning powertrain, but almost all now include some level of electrification.
Performance brands such as BMW and Mercedes-AMG use electric motors to increase acceleration. Luxury manufacturers including Lexus apply hybrid systems to improve refinement and torque. Nissan, Hyundai and Lucid continue advancing battery-electric technology through faster charging, improved battery management and greater driving range. Ford has integrated hybrid technology into one of America’s best-selling pickup trucks, while Honda continues refining an affordable system aimed at everyday drivers.
Only Chevrolet chose to remain with a purely gasoline-powered engine, making the Corvette ZR1 the only traditional combustion vehicle among this year’s winners.
One Winner Stands Apart From the Rest
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 does more than complete this year’s list.
It highlights how quickly the industry has changed.
Only a few years ago, high-performance gasoline engines dominated discussions about engineering excellence. Today, they represent a small minority as manufacturers increasingly combine combustion engines with electric motors or replace them entirely with battery-electric propulsion.
That doesn’t diminish the achievement of Chevrolet’s 1,064-horsepower V8. Instead, it makes the accomplishment more distinctive because it succeeded without relying on hybrid assistance at a time when nearly every major manufacturer has embraced electrification.
Best Engines 2026 is less about declaring a single winner and more about documenting where automotive engineering is heading. Whether through plug-in hybrids, conventional hybrids or fully electric systems, manufacturers are now pursuing performance, efficiency and refinement together rather than treating them as separate goals.
This year’s Top 10 leaves little doubt about that direction. Nine electrified powertrains earned recognition. One traditional gasoline engine refused to be left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 the only gas-powered winner in Best Engines 2026?
The Corvette ZR1 is the only vehicle in Best Engines 2026 that relies entirely on a traditional gasoline engine. Its 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 produces 1,064 horsepower without any hybrid system or electric motor, making it the lone combustion-only entry among this year’s ten winners.
Which vehicles were recognized in Best Engines 2026?
The Best Engines 2026 list includes the BMW M5, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Mercedes-AMG E53, Nissan Leaf, Lexus LX 700h, Lucid Gravity, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Dodge Charger Daytona, Honda Civic Hybrid and Ford F-150 PowerBoost. Together, they represent gasoline, hybrid and fully electric powertrains across multiple vehicle segments.
Why do hybrid and electric powertrains dominate Best Engines 2026?
Most automakers are now combining electric motors with combustion engines or developing dedicated electric platforms to improve acceleration, efficiency and overall driving performance. That shift is reflected in Best Engines 2026, where nine of the ten winning powertrains feature some form of electrification.
Does Best Engines 2026 mean automakers are moving away from traditional engines?
The results suggest that manufacturers are investing more heavily in hybrid and electric technologies, particularly for new performance and mainstream models. However, the inclusion of the Corvette ZR1 shows there is still demand for advanced gasoline engines in certain segments.
What makes Best Engines 2026 different from previous years?
The biggest difference is the balance between combustion and electrification. Previous editions featured more traditional gasoline engines, while Best Engines 2026 is dominated by hybrid and fully electric powertrains, highlighting how quickly automotive engineering priorities are changing.
Also Read: Lexus LF-ZC Production Ends, New Electric Sedan Approved
