Why is torque important for off-roading, towing capacity, etc?
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Short version: Torque is the ability to do work. Horsepower is how fast that work can be done. You need to do a lot more work to move more weight or through more obstacles.
The torque CURVE matters a lot, too, though. Manufacturer’s post the peak outputs of their engines, but those outputs follow a curve over different RPMs. If you can make a LOT of torque, but only at a high RPM it’s much harder to utilize that torque in a low-speed situation like offroading or taking off from a stop at towing. You have to have ridiculous gear ratios going to get the engine to move fast while the wheels are still going slow. So engines that can produce a lot of torque at relatively low RPM (<2500) can be more valued for towing and offroading than engines which have a higher peak output but lower low-range torque.
Electric vehicles are kinda cool about this. Theoretically speaking, an electric motor’s torque is limited only by how much power you can shove through it without melting the components. It’s part of why acceleration is so impressive in electric vehicles and why REALLY high torque scenarios like freight trains have been diesel-electric for a LONG time.
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