For the first time since the award was established in 1995, no engine without electric assistance made WardsAuto's 2026 list of the top 10 powertrains. Every winner relies on fully electric or hybrid propulsion, according to infohub.kz.

The winners were chosen from 26 contenders. Four spots went to fully electric models with two electric motors: the Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4Matic Electric, Rivian R2 Performance, Subaru Trailseeker and Volvo EX60 P10 AWD.

Four more awards went to hybrids with internal combustion engines: the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X with its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8; the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder; the Nissan Rogue Hybrid with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder; and the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid with a 3.6-liter flat-six and an electric turbocharger.

The two remaining spots went to plug-in hybrids: the BMW M5 Touring with a 4.4-liter V8 and the Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Their batteries can be charged from an external source, and they can cover part of a journey on electric power alone.

One of the most telling examples is the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, whose powertrain produces a combined 1,250 horsepower. It combines a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 with a 186-hp electric motor driving the front axle. The example shows that electrification is not only about cutting fuel consumption. Electric components help boost power and improve dynamic performance.

The jury evaluated 26 vehicles in real-world road conditions. Power and torque, efficiency, noise and vibration levels, and technical innovation were all taken into account. New or substantially upgraded powertrains were eligible, including systems that had won a year earlier.

The 2026 results continued the rating's shift toward electrification. A hybrid first made the list in 2001, when the first-generation Toyota Prius took the award. In 2020, the organizers added the words "Propulsion Systems" to the award's name, emphasizing that they assess more than internal combustion engines. In 2025, one powertrain without electrification remained among the winners; now there are none at all.

Earlier, Kursiv Auto reported that hybrid sales in Kazakhstan more than doubled over the year.