1970 Honda N III vs. 1979 Mazda 121
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Honda N III. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Honda N III would be higher. At 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Mazda 121 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Mazda 121 (90 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1970 Honda N III. (31 HP @ 8500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Mazda 121 should accelerate faster than 1970 Honda N III. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mazda 121 weights approximately 639 kg more than 1970 Honda N III. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1979 Mazda 121 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 1979 Mazda 121. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1970 Honda N III, 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, 1979 Mazda 121 (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 130 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Honda N III. (30 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1979 Mazda 121 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Honda N III.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Honda N III | 1979 Mazda 121 | |
| Make | Honda | Mazda |
| Model | N III | 121 |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 354 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 8500 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 30 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.5 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 57.8 mm | 98 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 495 kg | 1134 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3000 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1300 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2010 mm | 2520 mm |
