Especially as EV production is ramping up, with a glut of new pretty-dang-quick bottom-spec cars, the base-spec engines on gas-powered economy cars are getting a lot of flak from auto journalists. Praise for Mazda, Subaru, and even Hyundai often carries the caveat that the base engine is painfully lethargic. The best example of this I’ve seen is the new Trax/Buick Envista: they totally punch above their class in absolutely everything but powertrain, where they’re left with a 137 horsepower 1.2 liter 3 banger. Getting to 60 takes more than 9 seconds, with the quarter mile taking 17.
Having experienced 138 Chevy-bred horses in the last econobox I owned (which was much lighter and had a stick), I think the engine completely talks me out of even recommending these cars to people who aren’t particularly concerned with power and enjoyment. Ditto for CVT-powered base Imprezas and Crosstreks. However, in economy-class cars pushing over 175, engine upgrades often feel frivolous to me (like the CX-5: the base engine just generally seems like a better value for most buyers). So, I guess I’d put my bottom line around 150 horsepower for small cars, 175 for compact SUVs, and for anything bigger than that, I just push for minivans, which haven’t been underpowered for quite some time.
That still seems pretty forgiving, so what about y’all?
It’s entirely subjective. Torque is usually the best way to “feel” power. But there’s other factors in it too. Softer suspension tilts the car back on launch and adds to the acceleration feeling. I had a blast in my totally stock Focus ST I had back in 2013. But then I lowered it to reduce body roll and it honestly felt a good amount slower. So much so that I thought maybe something went wrong with the install but nope, it was fine lol. Once the car doesn’t tilt back as much, the only thing to push you back in the seat is g forces from accelerating and the stock ST didn’t have much of that in 1st or 2nd gear because of traction limitations.
So, I ended up going full bolt on and a tune, and while it blew the doors off my buddy’s stock ST, when I’d drive his, his felt faster lol.
Bottom line: stats aren’t everything, just gotta go drive it and see how it feels
Edit: not to mention a FBO focus ST sounds like ass