1970 Ford Escort vs. 1997 Toyota MR2
To start off, 1997 Toyota MR2 is newer by 27 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 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1997 Toyota MR2 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Toyota MR2 (173 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 53 more horse power than 1970 Ford Escort. (120 HP @ 6500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1997 Toyota MR2 should accelerate faster than 1970 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Toyota MR2 weights approximately 450 kg more than 1970 Ford Escort. 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, 1997 Toyota MR2 (186 Nm @ 4800 RPM) has 38 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Ford Escort. (148 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1997 Toyota MR2 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Ford Escort | 1997 Toyota MR2 | |
| Make | Ford | Toyota |
| Model | Escort | MR2 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1997 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1599 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 173 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 186 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 10.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 785 kg | 1235 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4190 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1250 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 41 L | 70 L |
