Electrification has become the overwhelming theme in this year’s Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems awards, where nine out of the 10 honorees feature some form of battery power. For the first time in the award’s 31-year history, just one traditional internal-combustion-only entry made the list, a sign of how dramatically the powertrain landscape is shifting. Industry insiders, including me have always believed the Wards list was the most accurate in the auto industry.
Wards editors evaluated 28 contenders for 2025, including 20 electrified models split evenly between hybrids and battery-electrics. The results show how much the industry has embraced the middle ground: hybrids. With five hybrid winners, including both conventional and plug-in designs, the balance between efficiency, affordability and performance is driving the segment’s growing appeal to customers who may not be ready to go all-electric. Four full EVs made the list as well, reflecting steady progress in range, drivability and packaging. But it was notable that only one purely gasoline-powered vehicle broke through—a car aimed squarely at enthusiasts.
The hybrid winners underscore just how diverse the technology can be. The Ford F-150 PowerBoost pairs a 3.5-liter V-6 with an electric motor to create both efficiency and capability, a setup that not only saves fuel but also adds features like onboard power generation.
The standout on the performance end was the BMW M5’s new 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 plug-in hybrid. It marries brute force with modern electrification, offering serious horsepower along with the ability to drive short distances on electric power alone. It’s a reminder that hybrids aren’t just about efficiency—they can also enhance performance in ways pure combustion can’t.
Here are the 2025 winners:
Photo: BMW.