I have been driving over 4 decades and pandered this question after many perplexing experiences with high HP cars .
I honestly want others opinions - but my new 2022 CX-5 NA CE made me think about it much more - It has 187 hp / 186 lb-ft torque ...at what rpm again ? It seems that the big question thats sprung once I have a new ride ..is " How much hp ?" - I believe is a red herring and is of relative limited importance once one examines the other factors - to many folk ....187 hp for an SUV sounds weak - but is it ? ....
What does the vehicle weigh ? , Whats the torque curve and where does it peak and start diminishimg ? Whats the gear ratio ? , Whats the drag coeificient ? at 60 , 70 , 80 mph ?
I am more than satisfied with 187hp and feel my 22 CX-5 pulls hard off the bottom end , much like a twin motorcycle vs an inline 4 - So why is HP so lauded

- If you load a high HP vehicle down with weight , poor drag ,and low motorcycle like torque ...it means little - very little - I believe Mazda could have made the 2.5 na in the CX-5 250 hp ...easily ....with no turbo - and performance / mileage would be equal if not better - my point - marketing plays a massive role in engineering today , which sells units - you hear the word " turbo " and studies show males 18-25 have an instant heart/ BP rate increase that is beyond measurable - ...so why not offer a turbo over a well engineered 250 hp na with commensurate-,250 ft-lds of torque ?

well I suupose you could say , that it would require some much greater cost , stroke : bore , piston / head manufacturing that costs much more - opposed to just lowering compression ratio on the same configuration , and using a turbo ameniable intake - but Mazda would still sell it either way ....but TURBO - is no doubt more sellable over , incresased na hp ???....yep , my opinion - sales
Not saying its bad - but hey Mazda people are on average of higher intellect / and super aware buyers - ( real data - not conjecture)
- pat outselves on the back -
! The average speed of an urban driver in say LA is under 9mph , and other metropololitan areas lower - nationwide averages driving speed is in the teens ...so where the heck is everyone going with 200, 300 ++ turbo ripped insta rush HP ??
nowhere - its a subliminal ego driven message targeted mainly at males - few girls i dated before marriage even knew how many cylinders their cars had - not a swipe a females but , sales are targeted at males ....things we just dont actually need , but are conditioned thru advertising to think we need !
How does the MX-5 Miata continue to be the #1 sports car with sub 200 hp ?? Anyone ?

I respect and buy Mazda because from an engineering standpoint ...they put function/form and practicallity ( reliability )over ego and bling - its why they continute to be a top contender . What say my fellow Mazda drivers ? Male and Female ??

 

Some need the extra torque for towing. In our case, I also find the 187HP most of the time adequate, just sometimes, when it is time to merge on the interstate, I wish it had a bit more power to be comfortable. Other than that, MPG numbers (which are right now again important) are great as well.

 

I think the OP has it wrong. MPG sells more cars than hp, and it is mandated by the government as CAFE. EPA mileage is taken over a very specific course, and the amount of throttle used doesn’t turn on turbocharger boost. The turbo is used to allow acceptable performance (in some vehicles) when required. Building a 250 hp NA engine will result in a much lower mpg, and that lowers the CAFE numbers. With Mazda selling more CXs than anything, keeping the mpg high is important. Actually Mazda’s base 2.5 engine isn’t bad compared to other makers who use 1000 to 1600 engines to maintain their CAFE - this is why over one third of all new light vehicles sold in the US have turbocharged engines. Bottom line - turbos allow decent performance with better mpg.

 

Well first of all MAZDA as many auto manufacture do not post empirical power rating. Simple as that. I have posted information about this on this forum as well many forums for years. STOP believing what is advertised unless the power rating are certified. That will show in the specification and if not then they can be whatever the manufacture wants to claim.
NO it is not that hard to make 250 engine HP on a 2.5 N/A engine.
My N/A 2.5 average MPG is in the upper 20 to lower 30 and highway is always in the mid to high 30's. And I have also posted my certified wight full tank of fuel.


Turbochargers on engines is a high selling point that attract customers. The actual cost flooring deference at dealerships is very marginal between the N/A and the Turbo charged engine. If you have any contacts in a dealership management buyers group you can finds this out for yourself. I know it easy to tap tap tap on the key board to find information you want to believe that supports your views but then there is real world information and then there is what is posted on the internet. Which we all know never stretch or aggerates facts on any subject.. LOL

SAE J1349® or SAE J1995®