The top 13 cars with the 'best engines' revealed - check if your vehicle has one

Motorists may have got behind the wheel of a vehicle with one of the "best engines" ever fitted with top brands from BMW to Ford and Ferrari listed.

10:09, Mon, Jul 29, 2024 | UPDATED: 10:18, Mon, Jul 29, 2024

ford focus

Ford's EcoBoost engine was fitted to models such as the Focus and Fiesta (Image: Getty)

Petrol and diesel owners may own one of the "best engines" ever built with around 13 different concepts securing prizes over the past 25 years.

The International Engine of the Year award has been handed out to a series of top manufacturers since its inception in 1999, with BMW, Ford, and Ferrari its most successful entrants.

A panel of around 70 judges analyses a whole host of designs every year before deciding on the prestigious prize.

The award has been on hiatus since 2019 with no new winners since the Ferrari 3.9-litre V8 picked up the last gong.

However, drivers may find they have one of the top award winners sitting on their driveway, with panelists previously selecting some of the most popular vehicles.

bmw cars

BMW is one of the award's most successful brands (Image: Getty)

The Toyota 1.0-Litre engine first fitted into the Toyota Yaris was the first winner a quarter of a century ago.

The 998cc engine capable of 67bhp was praised by experts for its impressive 50mpg fuel economy and performance.

However, BMW’s almost vice-like dominance on the award first showed in 2001 when the German marque’s 3.2-litre straight-six unit topped the leaderboard.

Fitted to the BMW E46 M3, the engine could deliver 155mph of top speed through its stunning 343bhp and 4,900rpm.

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toyota yaris

Toyota's 1.0-litre engine was fitted in the Yaris and won in 1999 (Image: Getty)

The brand secured another win in 2002 with its 4.4-litre V8 followed by victories for Mazda and Toyota.

BMW was back on top in 2005 with the first of a four-year victory spell in the competition.

Experts at AutoCar have previously branded the 5.0-litre V10 which won in 2005 as "one of the greatest engines of all time".

The design secured the title again in 2006 with the 3.0-litre Twin Turbo fitted in the BMW 335i topping the award in 2007 and 2008.

The era of Ford came next with the 1.0 EcoBoost design fitted to models such as the Focus, Fiesta, and Mondeo securing three back-to-back trophies between 2012 and 2014.

Ford stressed its EcoBoost design was "smaller, lighter engines" with great fuel economy and reduced emissions.

Experts at the time called it a “game changer” and is probably the engine most motorists who have been behind the wheel of a Ford in recent years have tried before.

BMW won another prize in 2015 before Italian marque Ferrari got in on the act with four wins between 2016 and 2019.

The iconic brand was praised for its 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of a stunning 661bhp.

Ferrari’s stunning design could reach 0-60mph in an eye-watering three seconds and could hit 150mph from a standstill in just 13.3 seconds.

car engines