1961 Reliant Sabre 4 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 Reliant Sabre 4. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1961 Reliant Sabre 4 would be higher. At 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mazda 626 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 626 (79 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1961 Reliant Sabre 4. (70 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 626 should accelerate faster than 1961 Reliant Sabre 4. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 626 weights approximately 372 kg more than 1961 Reliant Sabre 4. 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, 1978 Mazda 626 (142 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 19 more torque (in Nm) than 1961 Reliant Sabre 4. (123 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1978 Mazda 626 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1961 Reliant Sabre 4. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1961 Reliant Sabre 4 has manual transmission. 1961 Reliant Sabre 4 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 Reliant Sabre 4 | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Reliant | Mazda |
| Model | Sabre 4 | 626 |
| Year Released | 1961 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1703 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 70 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 123 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 798 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2290 mm | 2520 mm |
