Jalopnik's 10 Best Engines Of The Last 20 Years

[Mook]

There isn't just one path to a great engine. Different companies have different approaches to evoking emotion and performance from their heavily engineered powerplants. These are the 10 engines that captured the hearts and minds of car nuts everywhere.

10.) Honda K20
9.) Toyota 1LR-GUE V10
8.) AMC 4.0
7.) Alfa Romeo V6 24V
6.) Toyota 2JZ-GTE
5.) Buick V6 Series 2 3800
4.) Volkswagen TFSI
3.) Ford Ecoboost V6
2.) BMW S54
1.) GM LS Series

3800 folks should appreciate this.

The 10 Best Engines Of The Last 20 Years

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[Bob Kazamakis]

Needs more rb26dett but seems like a solid list.

 

[Mook]

Its a weird list...I fully expected the RB on there....but it is Jalop and their opinions are all over the place.

 

[Lead Pipe]

LS > all

 

[radioguy6]

Last 20 years? The Nissan VQ was on that list from like 1995-2008

 

[Yaj Yak]

3800 whaaaaaaaaat

 

[Eagle]

#1 LS!!!!!11

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I've said for some time that if GM could build an entire car as well as they can build an engine, they would rule the world.

Under the 3800 section

 

[Euro]

 

[Jean Ralphio]

Ford Modular > *

 

[Turk]

Are we supposed to take Jalopnik as gospel now? I'm not sure how some of the motors got on there. I'm biased obviously but how is the lambo 5.2 V10 not on there? IMO, it's pretty impressive for an engine that large to make more than 100hp per liter.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

There's no rhyme or reason with jalopnik.

 

[Mook]

Exactly

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

 

[Intel]

Yeah, seriously. I just figured a VQ motor would be on there given how long it has been in stuff and how reliable they are.

 

[Mook]

Theyd rather include the AMC 4.0 & Alfa Romeo V6 24V which most definitely awakens the soul and passion within me

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

They'd pick a 90's volvo wagon over an Audi r8 all day long.

 

[Turk]

They'd pick a 90's volvo wagon over an Audi r8 all day long.

It's fucking stupid. I mean, I don't even think the LS1 should be in there. Is it a good motor? Yes. Am I impressed that a 5.7L motor makes 350 HP? NO.

 

[Mook]

I think the list goes beyond what the motors make stock........I think it takes in mind potential, the fact that the LS can be swapped into literally everything...the fact that it can take an pounding and keep going, etc.

 

[Turk]

I think the list goes beyond what the motors make stock........I think it takes in mind potential, the fact that the LS can be swapped into literally everything...the fact that it can take an pounding and keep going, etc.

Couldn't any motor be swapped into anything? I feel the reason the LS engines are swapped so much is because they are cheap. Almost all motors are bullet proof nowadays.

 

[Bru]

Couldn't any motor be swapped into anything? I feel the reason the LS engines are swapped so much are because they are cheap. Almost all motors are bullet proof nowadays.

Cheap, but also compact, which makes it a good fit into just about anything, old and new. Small physical size compared to an overhead cam motor. Big block capable power in a small block size.

 

[Bru]

There's no rhyme or reason with jalopnik.

This

 

[greasy]

They'd pick a 90's volvo wagon over an Audi r8 all day long.

Don't you mean shooting brake?

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Don't you mean shooting brake?

I guess I did

 

[radioguy6]

Yeah, seriously. I just figured a VQ motor would be on there given how long it has been in stuff and how reliable they are.

Nope. 400K mile VQ30DE engines with regular oil changes is not good enough for the list.