1968 Lotus Elan vs. 1989 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1989 Nissan Santana is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 1,781 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Nissan Santana is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1968 Lotus Elan (116 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1989 Nissan Santana. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1968 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1989 Nissan Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Nissan Santana weights approximately 224 kg more than 1968 Lotus Elan.
Because 1968 Lotus Elan is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1968 Lotus Elan. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1989 Nissan Santana, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1968 Lotus Elan (146 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Nissan Santana. (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1968 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Nissan Santana. 1989 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1968 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1968 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1968 Lotus Elan | 1989 Nissan Santana | |
Make | Lotus | Nissan |
Model | Elan | Santana |
Year Released | 1968 | 1989 |
Engine Size | 1558 cc | 1781 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 116 HP | 93 HP |
Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 146 Nm | 142 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Front |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1074 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4290 mm | 4550 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1700 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1400 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2560 mm |