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What is the Average Horsepower of a Car?

By Evan Walton | February 14, 2024

The average horsepower for new vehicles these days is typically between 170 and 250. Horsepower may not be a factor you are considering as the average driver, but knowing your vehicle's horsepower can help in highway safety situations, fuel efficiency, and much more.

What is Horsepower in a Car?

When searching for a new or used vehicle online or visiting a local dealership, you will often be offered the horsepower and torque numbers produced by the vehicle. These two numbers are how the manufacturer explains your engine's capabilities. Torque is a figure used to describe towing ability and overall pulling power. At the same time, horsepower is based on acceleration and top speed.

Horsepower was configured by James Watt in the late eighteenth century. Watt used the term to describe the power of a steam engine by comparing it to how much work the average horse could do.

Consumers seeking a vehicle with a high towing capacity should seek high torque numbers. High torque numbers are often paired with high horsepower numbers to balance the engine's power. Those searching for a vehicle that provides a thrill in acceleration and top speed should consider horsepower first and torque numbers second. This way of approaching a vehicle purchase will help you focus on its overall performance first while matching it with desired comforts.

Why Does Horsepower Matter?

An engine's horsepower matters for multiple reasons. First and foremost, it serves as a reasonably telling gauge of how much performance you can expect from a vehicle. Horsepower also matters because it is used as a common measurement, from the shop-vac motor in your garage to the vehicle sitting next to it. Horsepower is understood universally in a different way than its origins.

Power-to-Weight Ratio

Horsepower can only do so much for the overall power produced by a vehicle. A lot of horsepower means less for a heavy vehicle than a lighter one. What matters is that the vehicle's weight is matched appropriately for the amount of power provided.

Examples can be found when automakers offer a sedan and crossover version of a vehicle and outfit them with the same powertrain. Usually, a crossover is the same weight as a small SUV, which is significantly more weight for a powertrain to move than a car.

Delivery of Power

All the horsepower in the world can not replace efficiently delivering that power. Most of the time, the horsepower figures generated and promoted about a vehicle are peak power numbers at a certain RPM. RPM measures how many revolutions per minute the engine's crankshaft does a full rotation. It also calculates how many times each piston goes up and down in its cylinder.

If the vehicle can access its peak horsepower sooner, it will feel faster. This is why Tesla and electric vehicles have gained so much popularity. They have the ability to access high torque and peak power instantly. Power delivery is also determined by what type of drivetrain system your chosen vehicle is outfitted with. Vehicles are sold with either front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) drivetrains. AWD is the most efficient at using power for quicker take-offs from a dead stop and better grip when accelerating in corners. Depending on the vehicle, automakers often offer different drivetrain and engine configurations so you can choose the best combination that suits your needs.

Types of Horsepower

Crank horsepower and wheel horsepower differ. A vehicle's horsepower at its crankshaft is often higher than the total power delivered directly to its wheels. Power is lost at the crankshaft due to the energy needed to turn the wheels.

Wheel horsepower is usually the number people reference when they talk about horsepower. Not only is it the more commonly understood type of horsepower, but it also tells others the amount of usable power your vehicle has. At times, manufacturers will announce a vehicle's crank horsepower instead of its wheel horsepower to slightly inflate the car's spec. Consumers should understand the difference between the two horsepower figures to make the best purchase decision.

What amount of horsepower is considered fast?

Anything over the established automotive industry average horsepower is considered fast. That said, it depends on what type of performance you desire from your vehicle as the consumer. A consumer on the market for a supercar will not consider the horsepower of a Toyota Camry fast, while another may see a supercar as offering too much horsepower. The purpose of the vehicle and your driving influence how much horsepower you should be looking for.

Usually, a vehicle's curb weight compared to its amount of power is a good measurement of if the vehicle is fast. A lower vehicle weight and higher horsepower and torque numbers mean the vehicle can move quickly. Sports cars are often designed with these exact elements in mind. Trucks and SUVs may offer similar power output to ordinary sports cars but weigh significantly more.

How much horsepower can a car have?

Normal horsepower range depends on the vehicle type you are looking for. Having confidence before heading to the dealership on what horsepower range you are looking for is crucial. You don't want to end up with a vehicle underpowered for the projects or jobs you need, and you don't want something too slow for your taste.

Cars

Cars come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their horsepower figures. A compact car needs around 180 horsepower to be considered good horsepower for the vehicle's weight. A great example is the Honda Civic, which averages 158-180 horsepower.

For midsize cars, 250 horsepower is more than enough, while it's not uncommon to find models with power figures as low as 180 horsepower.

Large cars carry significantly more weight and average around 300 horsepower for the comfort of the driver. Performance cars can be found anywhere from 400-500 horsepower, and supercars average 500 plus. One of the most exciting vehicles to drive year after year, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, only offers 181 horsepower in 2023—an example of balancing all contributing factors in a vehicle's performance.

Truck

The truck segment has become more diverse, with all major manufacturers producing fast and powerful engine models. Chevrolet has recently unveiled the ZR2, Ram, formerly Dodge, the TRX, and Ford, the Raptor and Tremor models. These trucks will show extremely high horsepower, close to 700, and torque figures near 650.

The average full-size pickup truck produces good fuel economy and pulling power with 300 horsepower or more.

Trucks that are offered with diesel engines produce significantly more torque than horsepower. A popular example of diesel engine power is the General Motors line of DURAMAX engines. These engines are often paired with a second popular factor of performance, an Allison transmission. The 2023 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel is equipped with 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque.

Crossover

The crossover segment has become one of the most popular in recent years, with size offerings from the Toyota Corolla Cross to the famous Chevrolet Traverse. Like the car segment, horsepower is considered 'good' based on the crossover size and the engine's power.

Generally, however, a crossover offering between 250-300 horsepower will make most consumers happy. A great example is the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, which offers between 221 and 382 horsepower for the 2023 model year. Or the highly ranked BMW X1 that offers strictly 241 horsepower.

SUV

Midsize SUVs share a lot of features with crossovers. One of those is an excellent balance of power for the size of the vehicle, which is around 250-300 horsepower. A great example is the popular Hyundai Santa Fe which produces between 191-277 horsepower. Large SUVs demand more power and are usually paired with a V8 engine with between 350 and 400 horsepower.

A popular option in this category is the Nissan Armada, equipped with 400 horsepower from the factory. Depending on your needs, luxury midsize SUVs can be found with high-performance engines with up to 657 horsepower, like in the Lamborghini Urus Performante, 631 horsepower in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, or one of America's favorites, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.


Final Thoughts

Knowing the general ranges of horsepower for the type of vehicle you want to purchase will help you make an educated purchase. The horsepower produced by a car's engine is a critical characteristic but should be considered along with all other factors. The average consumer should not make horsepower their only priority.

A vehicle's weight distribution, drivetrain, and torque are significant factors in how quickly a vehicle will accelerate—all factors to consider if you are searching for a sports car as your next purchase. Gas-saving-minded customers may look for a hybrid, electric vehicle, or a small car with a four-cylinder engine.

If you choose the electric car route, the same application of knowledge applies to its power output. The only difference is that some electric vehicles represent their power by presenting battery power information and electric horsepower figures known as kilowatts.