The average new car went from 88 hp in the 1970–79 to 207 hp in the 2020–29 — 135% more power. Measured across 103,009 model variants.
The average car has gained 135% more power since the 1970–79.
| Period | Power (hp) | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| 1970–79 | 88 | 673 |
| 1980–89 | 95 | 6,208 |
| 1990–99 | 122 | 12,710 |
| 2000–09 | 147 | 29,625 |
| 2010–19 | 163 | 41,592 |
| 2020–29 | 207 | 12,201 |
Average manufacturer-quoted maximum power (hp, combined for hybrid/electric), grouped by decade of first model year. One row per variant, not weighted by sales.