Depends on what is meant by drivability. A high strung motor that needs more gear ratios and closer together takes more effort to use effectively. A chore for some, fun for others. Electric vehicles can often get by with one or two gears. That’s more “drivable” IMHO.
MB is right. Why even look at the numbers?? Makes no sense. Drive it and see if it has enough power for you. If it does then buy it.
Ignore the horsepower ratings. Test drive the cars. Buy the one you like that goes up the hills in a manner that you’re happy with.
You need no other information.
I was thinking the same thing. Thank you for saving me the trouble.
OK, I see what you’re saying. When you get past a certain number of gears, the manual transmission becomes too much of a chore for the majority of users. A CVT would be the best solution if they could design one that is robust and lasts. I have run semi-automatics for many years, some highly modified to provide extra gears and that has proven very effective in competition. There’s no reason they couldn’t be rigged up to be fully automatic. Then again, we’re getting into the area where the ROI isn’t so good for production automobiles.
They don’t sell anything in this country that’s underpowered by world or historic standards.
Perhaps true today, but not 25 or 30 years ago. This discussion brings back not-so-fond memories of my first new car, an '81 Subaru hatchback. That stupid thing didn’t have enough torque to accelerate out of its own way. I once almost had a head-on trying to pass a very slow moving school bus on a level stretch of road – drop down to 3rd or 4th and stomp on the gas, and the speedometer just crept upward. I don’t think I ever found the torque peak on that premium-burning sucker.