[comptiger5000]

Horsepower allows you to sustain high speeds, torque gets you moving. That's why I love my V8. 245 hp in a brick doesn't make it fly (15.2 1/4 mile), but the 345 ft lb of torque kicks it off the line pretty hard.

I can get almost the same mpg as a the same vehicle with the much smaller 4.0 I6 (22-23 @ 60mph vs 20-21 @ 60mph, both around 12 - 14 city), but I can haul it from 0-60 in 6.8 seconds if I need to. Plus, the V8 never downshifts on the highway (will happily turn 1800 in OD with the TC locked doing 60 up some BIG hills), and can get into the high gears faster around town. In areas with lots of big hills, the V8s sometimes get better mileage than the 6.

Having good power AND FE is all about a good, usable, low powerband and matching the engine to the vehicle.