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Truck motors are not efficient. They are, though, powerful and stout, and truck buyers like tried-and-true versions of engines they know because they put them through a lot. So, many were skeptical when Toyota ditched its trusted V8 engines and instead put the new i-FORCE MAX engine, which is a complicated twin-turbo V6 with a hybrid component in the new Tundra. But, the new engine has been named one of Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems of 2022.

Why does the Wards award matter?

A CAD drawing of the i-FORCE MAX powertrain
Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX powertrain | Toyota

Truck buyers ask a lot of their engines, and big power is only part of it. Chevy, Ford and Dodge have been using the same basic engines for years in gas and diesel versions because buyers trust them. Those engines, however, are being constantly updated, like Ram’s hybrid system, but they rarely change the names or anything significant. Long live the Hemi, right?

So, when Toyota launched the i-FORCE MAX V6 engine, it’s understandable that many would be skeptical. The new award could help ease many people’s minds about the new engine. Ward’s awards are well respected in the industry and recognize engineering prowess.

The Tundra is now the most-powerful Toyota

The Tundra’s i-FORCE MAX engine makes 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft of torque in the full-sized Tundra truck. The top engine in the Supra, Toyota’s sports car, makes a comparatively paltry 382 horsepower. That big power in the i-FORCE MAX isn’t just powerful, it gets better gas mileage than V8s. The Tundra gets 20 mpg in the city, and 24 mpg on the highway. It also allows the truck to tow 11,450 pounds.

The i-FORCE MAX could be in more vehicles

Black Toyota Sequoia Limited hybrid SUV parked on a dirt road with an Airstream trailer, trees visible in the background.
2023 Toyota Sequoia | Toyota

The i-FORCE MAX is now the upgraded engine in the Tundra, where its power makes sense. It’s now the standard motor in the 2023 Sequoia full-sized SUV. Toyota is planning a new version of the Tacoma mid-sized truck, and some are speculating that the new engine could find its way into that truck, too. But, it’s a large motor that may not make sense for Toyota’s smaller trucks or SUVs.

What other engines did Wards recognize?

The 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Pickup’s design cues blend bold and futuristic elements. All the while, the shape remains instantly recognizable for an all-electric future.
2022 GMC Hummer EV Pickup | GMC

Wards doesn’t focus on just truck motors or gas motors. Instead, this year the reviewers recognized a wide variety of new powerplants for a variety of reasons.

This year’s other nine award winners include:
Acura Integra A-Spec – 1.5L Turbocharged DOHC 4-Cyl.
 Ford F-150 Lightning – Electric Propulsion System
 GMC Hummer EV – Electric Propulsion System
 Hyundai IONIQ 5 – Electric Propulsion System
Lucid Air – Electric Propulsion System
Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS – Electric Propulsion System
Nissan Rogue – 1.5L Variable-Compression Turbocharged DOHC 3-Cyl.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe – 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC 4-Cyl. PHEV
Stellantis Jeep Grand Wagoneer – 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.