Making the prestigious Wards 10 Best Engines list for the third consecutive year — 2014-16 — the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 3.0-liter V-6 was the only pickup engine on the 2016 list. The VM Motori-sourced engine from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles produces more than 400 pounds-feet of torque and has an EPA highway rating of 29 mpg, one of the highest of any pickup truck sold in the U.S.
According to Wardsauto.com, two other pickup diesel engines were considered: the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon Duramax 2.8-liter inline four-cylinder (a Thailand-sourced turbo-diesel) and the Cummins 32-valve 5.0-liter V-8 turbo-diesel found in the all-new 2016 Nissan Titan XD. Even with those contenders, Wards editors remained convinced that the FCA engine still leads in the pickup segment for refinement and fuel efficiency.
Other winning engines included on the 10 Best list are the BMW turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder, the Camaro (fundamentally the same engine, with a different tune, as in the Colorado/Canyon) direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6, the 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder Chevy Volt hybrid powertrain, the Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang 5.2-liter V-8, the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder Hyundai Sonata hybrid, Nissan's 3.5-liter V-6, the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder boxer from Subaru, the Toyota Prius 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder hybrid and Volvo's supercharged, turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder.
Cars.com photo by Evan Sears
