What is Torque in Cars?

Bridgeport drivers who desire a little more oomph in their vehicles for weekend adventures or tackling tough jobs in Fairmont and Morgantown use specs like horsepower, towing capacity, 0-60 speed, top speed, and torque to help aid their decision. Of all of those specs, torque is one that we get the most questions about at Dan Cava's GMC. So, what does torque mean in a car? What is considered good torque in a car? Get answers to these questions in this brief guide, and feel free to contact us with any questions you have about torque or the performance specs of any of the vehicles in the Dan Cava's GMC inventory.

Torque Car Definition

If you’ve ever spent time looking at the specs for different cars, you might have noticed that horsepower and torque often correlate closely, and that’s because the engine produces both. You know that horsepower is how powerful the engine is, but what is torque in cars? It’s the twisting force the engine delivers to the wheels when operating at full power. So, where horsepower mostly impacts a vehicle’s top speed, torque affects acceleration because it’s the ability of the engine to turn the wheels via its drivetrain.

What is Considered Good Torque in a Car?

Now that you have the answer to, “What is torque in a car,” you might still be wondering what is considered good torque in a car. As mentioned, torque and horsepower correlate closely, so you should typically expect the lb-ft of torque to be close in range to the horsepower of that engine. Average cars, trucks, and SUVs sport from 100 lb-ft to 400 lb-ft of torque. Some of the advantages of cars with higher torque are they’re more fuel-efficient, accelerate faster, and need fewer gear shifts, meaning a smoother ride.

Learn More About Torque & Other Specs from Dan Cava's GMC! 

Do you still have questions about torque and how it impacts a vehicle’s performance? Maybe you have questions about the performance of some of the vehicles in our new vehicle inventory? Feel free to reach out to us at Dan Cava's GMC, where customer satisfaction is our top priority. We’ll be happy to provide answers about anything, from service tips to car-buying tips, as well as top-notch customer service. If you already have a car, truck, or SUV in mind, you can apply for financing online and get approved in a matter of minutes. Also, if you have a trade-in, you can get a fair offer instantly using the Value Your Trade tool on our website.