Your Guide to Average Car Horsepower
Ever wonder how much horsepower you actually need? We’ve got the answers right here.
Written by Macy Fouse
Reviewed by Jessa Claeys
Table of Contents
- What is horsepower?
- What is the average horsepower of a car?
- How much horsepower is considered good?
- Can a car have too much horsepower?
- FAQs
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Average horsepower comes out to be between 170 and 250 for most cars, but performance cars and luxury vehicles are likely to have closer to 300 horsepower.
Horsepower is one of those specs that gets tossed around a lot in the automotive industry and among car enthusiasts. Most of us have a general idea of what it is, but we’re not quite sure how important it is or why we need it. When you’re on the hunt for a new car, though, it’s necessary to consider how much horsepower is right for you.
If you don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. We’re here to walk you through all you should know about the average horsepower of cars, including why you need it, how much you need, and how much is too much.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhat is horsepower?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go over the basics—what is horsepower, anyway? And what does it have to do with horses?
Horsepower is the measurement of a car’s engine power, and it varies depending on the engine size, number of cylinders, and
engine displacement
. All of these factors work together to create a specific amount of force at a certain rate, which is horsepower. In technical terms, one unit of horsepower equals the amount of work it takes to move 33,000 foot-pounds per minute—that is, the power necessary to lift a total mass of 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute. The term “horsepower” was created by James Watt, who used it as a unit to describe the power of a steam engine by comparing it to how much work an average horse could do.
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What is the average horsepower of a car?
For the average American car, horsepower typically lands between 170 and 200 horsepower, but cars you’ll see on the highway can range anywhere from 73 horsepower like the
Honda Insight
all the way up to 1,000 horsepower like the Tesla Model X
. However, the most popular cars come in closer to 200 horsepower or more. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average horsepower for “light vehicles” was 252.2 in 2021.
In general, the larger or more expensive a vehicle is, the more horsepower you can expect it to have. Here’s a look at the average horsepower for each vehicle class according to their engine size:
Vehicle class | Engine | Average horsepower |
|---|---|---|
Compact car | Four-cylinder | 130 horsepower |
Midsize car | Four-cylinder | 170 horsepower |
Full-size sedan | Four-cylinder | 200 horsepower |
Full-size sedan | V6 | 280 horsepower |
Crossover | Four-cylinder | 200 horsepower |
Small SUV | Four-cylinder | 240 horsepower |
Midsize SUV | Four-cylinder | 280 horsepower |
Full-size SUV | V8 | 400 horsepower |
Compact pickup truck | Four-cylinder | 200 horsepower |
Minivan | V6 | 280 horsepower |
Full-size truck | V6 | 300 horsepower |
Heavy-duty truck | V8 | 400 horsepower |
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If all that doesn’t mean much to you, check out the real-life numbers with some of the top-selling vehicles of 2022:
Keep in mind, however, that the more capable the engine is (i.e., the more horsepower it has), the lower its fuel economy will be. So if you’re looking for a high-mpg car, steer clear of a six- or eight-cylinder engine or turbo engine (unless it’s a hybrid).
MORE: The fastest cars you can buy—for under $30,000
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How much horsepower is considered good?
Good horsepower for a Corolla won’t be good for an F-150, so this is a tricky question. Let’s go over why certain vehicles need a certain amount of horsepower—then you can figure out the amount you require for your driving needs.
First of all, the type of driving you’re doing plays a huge role in how much horsepower is necessary. Horsepower dictates how well a car can accelerate, how fast it can go, and (to some degree) its top speed. If you’d rather get good fuel economy and don’t mind a more gentle drive, a lower horsepower car like a
Honda Civic
(158 to 180 horsepower) or a Toyota Corolla may be right up your alley. However, if you don’t mind paying more for gas as long as you can gun it on the freeway, the more powerful engine of a
Ford Mustang
(310 to 470 horsepower) may be more your speed—literally. Most drivers are suited to a car with around 200 to 300 horsepower, though.Second, you’ll want to consider the amount of power available compared to the curb weight. More horsepower is required to haul a heavier vehicle down the road, so a high horsepower is critical for a larger vehicle like an SUV or pickup truck. Take this into account especially if you’re planning on towing anything behind your vehicle.
Can a car have too much horsepower?
Technically, yes—but the answer is a bit more complicated than that.
The right amount of horsepower for a car depends on a variety of factors, like its curb weight, powertrain gear, and the experience level of the driver. An engine capable of 400 horsepower in a lightweight vehicle can make it very difficult to maintain control.
For average drivers with a lead foot, anything more than 300 horsepower is getting into risky territory. For experienced drivers, a higher horsepower should be fine as long as the vehicle works. And for professional drivers? The limit does not exist.
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FAQs
Is 400 horsepower fast for a car?
Depends on the car. For a daily commuter, it’s probably too much—but if we’re talking about a supercar, it’s barely enough. For luxury cars or sports cars with larger engines like a
Mercedes-Benz
SL55, around 400 horsepower is an ideal amount.What is the difference between horsepower and torque?
Although they are both results of converted energy from the engine,
torque and horsepower are not the same thing
. Torque measures the force of work being done while horsepower is the measurement of how fast that work is being done.
