Adequate power is a very personal feeling. One variable of your test could have been the difference of the two vehicles (gearing, weight, etc). Number of test miles on them could also have been a factor in the "seat of the pants dynamometer". 🤷
Towing info- the 2.3 in the Exp moves the 3500 or so (heavy trailer and 1 yard of screened loam) without issue. Never above 3k. However, the truck really TRIED to use engine braking but that little thing just didn't seem to slow the truck at all.