1961 Austin Princess vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1961 Austin Princess. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Austin Princess would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1961 Austin Princess is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1961 Austin Princess (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 39 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 626. (79 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1961 Austin Princess should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 626. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Austin Princess weights approximately 1010 kg more than 1978 Mazda 626. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1961 Austin Princess (252 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 110 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 626. (142 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1961 Austin Princess will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 626. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1961 Austin Princess has manual transmission. 1961 Austin Princess will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mazda 626 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1961 Austin Princess | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Austin | Mazda |
| Model | Princess | 626 |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 252 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2520 mm |
