1970 Ford Cortina vs. 2009 Seat Leon
To start off, 2009 Seat Leon is newer by 39 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,983 cc (4 cylinders), 2009 Seat Leon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Seat Leon (148 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 80 more horse power than 1970 Ford Cortina. (68 HP @ 5200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2009 Seat Leon should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2009 Seat Leon weights approximately 300 kg more than 1970 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1970 Ford Cortina 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 1970 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2009 Seat Leon, 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, 2009 Seat Leon (200 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 85 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Cortina. (115 Nm @ 2600 RPM). This means 2009 Seat Leon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Cortina | 2009 Seat Leon | |
| Make | Ford | Seat |
| Model | Cortina | Leon |
| Year Released | 1970 | 2009 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 1983 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 68 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5200 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 200 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2600 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 82.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 92.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 11.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 148 km/hour | 210 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 1260 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1460 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2570 mm | 2580 mm |
