A power latch assembly for a vehicle door of a motor vehicle includes a ratchet configured for movement between striker capture and striker release positions, wherein the ratchet is biased toward the striker release position, and a pawl configured for movement between a ratchet holding position, whereat the pawl maintains the ratchet in the striker capture position, and a ratchet releasing position, whereat the pawl releases the ratchet to the striker release position. A powered actuator is energizable to move the pawl from the ratchet holding position to the ratchet releasing position, wherein a multistage reduction mechanism operably connects an output of the powered actuator to the pawl to provide a first release torque on pawl during normal use and a greater second release torque on pawl during emergency use.