By clicking a retailer link you consent to third party cookies that track your onward journey. If you make a purchase, Which? will receive an affiliate commission which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
Find out exactly how powerful your car is. Our free tool lets you easily switch between bhp, PS and kW.
DB
Dino BurattiResearcher & writer
![Power converter: bhp, PS and kW - Which? (1) Power converter: bhp, PS and kW - Which? (1)](https://i0.wp.com/media.product.which.co.uk/prod/images/original/0403107222d9-power-converter-lead.jpg)
In this article
- How powerful is my car?
- What is bhp?
- PS explained
- Measuring power in kilowatts
- What is torque?
Most cars measure power by the horse, but bhp isn't the only unit manufacturers use to tell us how much oomph there is in the engine.
Pferdestärke, or PS for short, and Kilowatts (kW) are both lesser used units for determining a car's engine power that mostly show up in mainland Europe.
Our tool converts between the three, so you can quickly check how powerful a car is.
Our independent reviews reveal the best cars, including the best SUVs and thebest hybrid cars.
How powerful is my car?
Carmakers sometimes quote the power outputs of their engines using different units, which can be confusing when you're trying to compare new cars.
This handy calculator lets you convert quickly and easily between the three main measurements used – bhp, kW and PS.
Dealership or classified? Read our guide onwhere to buy a car
What is bhp?
Brake horsepower – or bhp – is the most widely used measure of engine power alongside PS (see below), although it's often not clear which unit manufacturers are using in their brochures.
Unlike ‘horsepower’, which refers to an engine’s total output, brake horsepower only looks at the amount of energy left once other parts such as the gearbox, alternator and water pump have all been powered.It's measured at the road wheels, not at the flywheel.
Powerful engines have a higher bhp figure. For example, an entry-level Toyota iQ has a 68bhp engine, while a supercharged Jaguar XF packs 503bhp.
![Power converter: bhp, PS and kW - Which? (2) Power converter: bhp, PS and kW - Which? (2)](https://i0.wp.com/media.product.which.co.uk/prod/images/original/5aeeb83d48fe-cars.jpg)
Compare car insurance deals
Check Which? insurance ratings and compare deals using the service provided by Confused.com
PS explained
Although it’s still commonly used by carmakers, PS or Pferdestärke (horse strength in German) was actually replaced by kW as the EU's ‘legal’ measurement of engine power in 1992.
One PS is about 98.6% of a brake horsepower – the two are virtually interchangeable, and PSis sometimes referred to as 'metric horsepower'.
Measuring power in kilowatts
You may see some carmakers quoting the power of their engines in kilowatts – especially on the continent – but this measurement is used far less frequently than PS or bhp. A kilowatt (kW) of power equates to around 1.34bhp.
What is torque?
Torque refers to the amount of pulling power an engine delivers when working at different speeds. The more torque an engine has, the more pull (or acceleration) it offers at lower revs.
Torque is nearly always discussed alongside brake horsepower, as it gives clues to how quickly the engine will be able to shift the car’s weight when overtaking or pulling away from traffic lights.
Ready to choose your new car? Here's our new and used car reviews.
Drive smarter and cut costs using our expert advice.Get our Cars newsletter – it's free monthly
Compare car insurance
Find the right policy for your vehicle using the service provided by Confused.com
Get a quote nowDriver calculators and tools
- Petrol vs diesel calculator
- Litres to gallons converter
- BAR to PSI converter
Latest News In
Which? Cars13 Jun 2024
24 May 2024
24 May 2024
18 May 2024
08 May 2024
02 May 2024
25 Apr 2024
24 Apr 2024
24 Apr 2024
24 Apr 2024
28 Mar 2024
27 Mar 2024
21 Mar 2024
20 Mar 2024
27 Feb 2024
23 Feb 2024
05 Feb 2024
01 Feb 2024
12 Jan 2024