1971 Ford Mustang vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1971 Ford Mustang. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1971 Ford Mustang would be higher. At 4,726 cc (8 cylinders), 1971 Ford Mustang is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Ford Mustang (251 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 158 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 626. (93 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Ford Mustang should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 626. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1971 Ford Mustang weights approximately 5 kg more than 1978 Mazda 626. 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, 1978 Mazda 626 (150 Nm) has 4 more torque (in Nm) than 1971 Ford Mustang. (146 Nm). This means 1978 Mazda 626 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1971 Ford Mustang. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1971 Ford Mustang has manual transmission. 1971 Ford Mustang will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mazda 626 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Ford Mustang | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Mustang | 626 |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4726 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 251 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 72.9 mm | 88 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1670 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2780 mm | 2520 mm |
