I know I am a Ford fan, and I have one of the engines I am going to talk about, but I do feel I have a valid point.
Some of these performance numbers are disappointing.
"8. Just as you wouldn’t expect a pushrod engine to make a best-of list in 2014, neither would you expect a single-overhead cam engine without direct injection -- or, gasp, a turbocharger! But as it has for many years before, Ward’s praised the 3.5-liter V6 of the 2014 Honda Accord, noting an impressive 34 mpg in highway driving and the decidedly counterculture approach to delivering those figures. The Accord V6 makes 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque."
278 Horsepower, 34 MPG highway.
"The 2.7-liter H6 offered in the Porsche Cayman makes the list, too. Ward’s editors say that it feels “a lot more powerful than its rated 275 hp and 213 lb-ft of torque.” Despite the power perceived by Ward’s editors, the Cayman returned 23 mpg during testing."
The 2.7 offers 275 hp, and showed 23 mpg, from FE.gov, it is rated 22/26/32, city, average, highway, respectively.
"1. The 3.0-liter, supercharged engine found in the Audi S4 and S5. We couldn't agree more. Audi made it on the list last year with this engine, and there’s plenty of reason for a repeat. The direct-injected 90-degree V6 cranks out 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, and thanks to a roots-type supercharger, it seems to do so over an absurdly broad rpm range. In the S5, it still manages an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 17 city mpg/26 highway mpg while sending you rocketing down the road. The intercooler setup couldn’t be more innovative, and the always-there oomph renders the car’s V8 predecessor completely irrelevant."
333 Horsepower, 17 city, 26 highway.
The Accord is pretty good. I am not blown away, but fair. I don't understand the Cayman or the Audi.
For the 3.7 in the Mustang, it sees 19/23/31 with 305 horsepower.
For the 3.0 SC Audi S4/S5, it sees 18/21/28 with 333 horsepower.
For the 2.7 Porsc Cayman, it sees 22/26/32 with 275 horsepower.
For the 5.8 Ford Mu GT500, it sees 15/18/24 with 662 horsepower.
I know the mileage for the GT500 isn't amazing, but browsing cars in that
fuel economy range, 662 horsepower completely blows out so essentially everything else.
For the 3.7, it bests the Audi by 1 city, 2 average, and 3 highway at the sacrifice of <30 horsepower.
For the 3.7, it loses the P.C. by 3 city, 3 average, and 1 highway but bests it by 30 horsepower.
Typing out this, it seems more fair for these two, and it may be personal about the 3.7 (lol), but it feels left out. The GT500's 5.8...that just doesn't seem right to leave it out.
Regardless of my obvious emotional connection, I am happy to hear other points of view. If price were a factor, the Mustang is half of the other two, but that wasn't a factor. End rant lol