Horsepower and torque measure the power and acceleration in an engine. Comparing torque and horsepower between small engines permits you to evaluate the power of an engine, and how fast the engine uses that power.
Horsepower is used to measure the power generated by an engine, and the amount of work that goes into generating that power. Torque measures the force of piston combustion, the crankshaft and connecting rod used to turn the car's flywheel.
Two cars with 100 horsepower -- and the same gear ratios -- should reach top speed at the same time. If one has 206 foot-pounds of torque -- and the other has 106 -- the first would reach top speed much faster. If the cars have the same torque -- but the first one has 100 more horsepower -- it achieves a higher top-speed and produces more power.
Comparing the two factors is as easy as looking at the engine specifications for multiple models. The horsepower is usually labeled as "HP," while torque is measured using foot-pounds. Take note of the rpm; it describes how many times the crankshaft spins to generate the given torque.
