[shorod]

If she won't be towing a trailer or hauling a vehicle full of heavy items up that mountain, the 1.3L will probably be perfectly fine. As you mentioned, the 4XE is a hybrid vehicle which has an electric motor to help with torque and power. Maybe the friend you spoke with didn't understand that.

There are videos and car reviews you can watch on the 4XE to get a better idea of if others have complained about a lack of power. Many of those though will probably describe the off-road abilities more than paved hill climbing, and off-roading is generally done at lower speeds though, but hopefully you'll find something useful.

-Rod