1970 Ford Escort vs. 1981 Honda Accord
To start off, 1981 Honda Accord is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,602 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Honda Accord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Ford Escort (120 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1981 Honda Accord. (80 HP @ 5300 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1970 Ford Escort should accelerate faster than 1981 Honda Accord. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Honda Accord weights approximately 145 kg more than 1970 Ford Escort.
Because 1970 Ford Escort 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 Escort. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Honda Accord, 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, 1970 Ford Escort (148 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 21 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Honda Accord. (127 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1970 Ford Escort will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Honda Accord.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Escort | 1981 Honda Accord | |
| Make | Ford | Honda |
| Model | Escort | Accord |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 1602 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 80 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 127 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 81 mm | 77 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77.6 mm | 86 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 785 kg | 930 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2390 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 41 L | 50 L |
