Torque or Horsepower

[OTO]

If you had to choose between two cars (irregardless of brand or make) what would you get? One with more torque or horsepower? Why?

[ILuvDetailing]

I drive mostly in the city so I'll pick Torque, which comes handy in overtaking situations. Anyways they go hand in hand, a car with a torquey engine will certainly have good HP.

[OTO]

I drive mostly in the city so I'll pick Torque, which comes handy in overtaking situations. Anyways they go hand in hand, a car with a torquey engine will certainly have good HP.

Some cars have higher torque than hp and vice versa.

So it's like would you rather have more torque or more hp.

[ghosthunter]

a good example of a car with lots of HP but lacking in torque is the Honda SiR.

[the_wildthing]

May I know the reason why you need to choose one or the other?

Because you can have 2 engines with the same hp but different torque, or 2 engines with the same torque but different hp. So there are really four choices...

low torque, high hp
high torque, high hp - syempre dito ako!
high torque, low hp (relative to another car with the same torque)
low torque, low hp


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If the Toyota US website is correct, the Corolla XRS has 170 HP but nearly the same torque as the other Corollas, 127 vs 125. The 2004 Audi A4 1.8T also had 170hp but 166 lb. ft. of torque. I would imagine the Audi is heavier. But I haven't driven either one so I couldn't tell how they feel. And that's what it all comes down to, how it drives.

[alwayz_yummy]

mitsu/toyota engines ata torquey...tama ba?

mostly diesel have high toques but low hp ratings,diba?

[OTO]

May I know the reason why you need to choose one or the other?

Because you can have 2 engines with the same hp but different torque, or 2 engines with the same torque but different hp. So there are really four choices...

low torque, high hp
high torque, high hp - syempre dito ako!
high torque, low hp (relative to another car with the same torque)
low torque, low hp

Reason why I only choose either hp or torque is because everyone will vote high torque & hp. Think of this as a sorta like a "budget". Spend more for torque or more for hp.

For comparisons sake here are all the 3L V6 gas japanese sedans available locally. I converted kgm to Nm for torque and Hp to Ps for output.

Toyota Camry
Max. Output
215 PS/5,800 rpm
Max Torque
298 Nm/4,400 rpm

Honda Accord
Max Power (ps/rpm)
240 / 6250
Max Torque (/rpm)
287.34 Nm/5000

Nissan Cefiro
Maximum Output (ps/rpm)
220/6400
Maximum Torque (/rpm)
287.34 Nm/4000

[artpogi]

torque for me

[KCboy]

torque usually is available in the lower rpm range so that's why diesel engines have high torque numbers so they'll have that high pulling power, while gas engines that have hp, usually are available at the higher rpms. i think it kinda works that way.

[Bogeyman]

I go for torque.