PHEVs, electrics and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles all make Ward's 10 best engines for 2019

We look forward to the Ward's 10 Best Engines list every year and this year is absolutely not a disappointment. While there are no really exotic engines this time around, there is a serious contingent of alternative fuel vehicles ranging from electrics and plug-in hybrids to hydrogen fuel cells and diesels.

The new X5 is, in the proudest of German traditions, more evolution than revolution. It's packed to the gunwales with tech and presents a more sporting character to the driver than its size would suggest.

See our first drive here

Nobody does an inline-six like BMW and the B58 in the X5 xDrive40i is one of the company's best non-M units in years. The engine provides 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque at extremely low engine revs. It's fun and frugal and is a worthy entry to this year's list.

The 2019 Chevy Silverado marks a huge leap forward in tech for the entry-level full-size truck from General Motors. Copious amounts of aluminum make it lighter and a big ol' pile of new tech makes it better to drive than ever.

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On the surface of things, the 6.2-liter L87 V8 that's finding its way into the Silverado just looks like another cam-in-block V8 from the General, but you'd be wrong for thinking that. This thing packs some serious technology including the ability to deactivate seven of its eight cylinders while under low-load.

Diesel has had a decidedly rough couple of years, but that hasn't stopped Ford from developing a new V6 oil burner and shoehorning it into the world's best-selling truck. The rest of the F-150 is pretty standard for 2018 but that just means it's still great.

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The Ford Power Stroke V6 diesel is kind of a niche engine for a niche buyer but it's extremely good at what it does. This engine is more expensive than the gasoline-powered EcoBoost and makes less power and torque, but it's the way that a diesel delivers power that makes this the perfect setup for towing and hauling.

It's fair to say that we hit peak McQueen a few years ago, but that didn't stop the Blue Oval from releasing its once-every-few-years tribute to the movie Bullitt. Unlike in years past, this Bullitt is worth the premium you pay over a regular GT, and it's one of the best driving Mustangs you can buy. Plus, come on, Highland Green is a gorgeous color.

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The Mustang Bullitt gets a slightly tweaked version of the now-classic 5.0-liter dual-overhead cam V8 that's been in every Mustang GT since 2011, but the modifications have really made this one of the sweetest V8s available at any price.

It's hard times out there for sedans and that's a bummer because the 2018 Honda Accord is easily the best Accord ever. The hybrid version takes that a step further with amazing economy that doesn't sacrifice driving pleasure. The big H should really be selling a lot more of these.

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The Accord Hybrid's powerplant takes what Honda does well i.e. make unflappable four-cylinder engines that last for eons and adds a plug-in hybrid system that supplements and improves on that design. It's not sexy, but it's smart.

The Hyundai Kona Electric isn't being sold nationwide at the beginning but it should be enough to scare the pants off of more established EV makers like Tesla and Chevrolet. This thing is really, really good and has everything that makes modern Hyundais great to live with.

See our first drive here

The Kona Electric packs a 64 kilowatt-hour battery pack which gives it a Bolt-beating range of 258 miles. Couple that with its light weight and an electric motor that puts out 201 horsepower and 290 foot-pounds of torque, and you've got a recipe for a good time.

On the surface, the Hyundai Nexo may look like just another crossover SUV but under the skin is a wholly different way of propelling a car down the road.

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The Nexo's hydrogen fuel cell is definitely not a brand-new idea but it's certainly a refinement of the technology. The car will hold around 14 pounds of hydrogen which is good for a range of almost 400 miles in the base trim level. That's a good thing, because unless you live in Southern California, hydrogen filling stations are a rare sight.

Infiniti's QX50 is mostly what it appears to be at first glance: a really nice crossover SUV. It's handsome to look at, has a gorgeous interior and drives pretty dang well. Things get way more interesting when you pop the hood though.

See our review here

See, the QX50 uses Infiniti's brilliant new VC (for variable compression) turbocharged engine. The engine features a mechanism in the bottom end of the engine that changes compression ration by controlling how far the piston can move up. It's great to still see gasoline engine innovation at this level.

The babiest of the Lexus SUVs is set to hit the streets hard, draining millennials' avocado toast budgets to dangerous levels. It's small, nimble and in 250h trim, ruthlessly efficient.

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The UX250h is packing a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that drives the front wheels with an electric motor driving the rear wheels, when it's needed. It's simple (relatively) and it's a Lexus so it should last forever.

The last couple of years has seen a ton of innovation in the full-size truck sector of the market. Few trucks have been the beneficiary of so much innovation as the Ram 1500. This thing is probably the best driving rig in its class and thanks to its mild hybrid-assisted V6 engine, it's one of the most frugal too.

See our first drive here

The mild hybrid system in the E-Torque V6 is good for an addtional 2-3 miles per gallon over the internal-combustion-only V6 and the added electric torque off the line makes it much more pleasant to drive. E-Torque is also available on the 5.7-liter V8, but Ward's felt the V6 was the better bet.