1973 Chevrolet Vega vs. 1976 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1976 Ford Cortina is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Chevrolet Vega. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Chevrolet Vega would be higher. At 2,287 cc (4 cylinders), 1973 Chevrolet Vega is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Cortina (90 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1973 Chevrolet Vega. (81 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1973 Chevrolet Vega. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Cortina weights approximately 30 kg more than 1973 Chevrolet Vega. 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, 1973 Chevrolet Vega (167 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 45 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (122 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1973 Chevrolet Vega will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina. 1973 Chevrolet Vega has automatic transmission and 1976 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1976 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1973 Chevrolet Vega will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Chevrolet Vega | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Vega | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2287 cc | 1592 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 81 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 167 Nm | 122 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 87.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 91.9 mm | 66 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1005 kg | 1035 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1670 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2480 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 42 L | 54 L |
