According to Ward's, the 2015 list of engines and the vehicles they power runs the gamut from small, economical hatchbacks through high-tech electric cars, hydrogen fuel-cell crossovers, diesel-powered pickups and all the way to supercharged muscle cars.

These are the criteria for its annual 10 Best Engines list:

Eight WardsAuto editors drove the vehicles in October and November last year in their routine daily commutes around metro Detroit. Editors scored each engine based on power, torque, technology, observed fuel economy, relative competitiveness and noise, vibration and harshness characteristics.

"To be eligible for the Ward's 10 Best Engines competition, an engine or propulsion system must be all-new or significantly re-engineered and available in the US market with a base price not exceeding $60,000."

Here are the Ward's 10 Best Engines of 2015:

127 kW electric motor (BMW i3)

Fuel milage: 80-100 electric vehicle range

BMW i3 [File photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]