1973 Ford Escort vs. 1996 Honda Civic
To start off, 1996 Honda Civic is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1973 Ford Escort is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 Honda Civic (127 HP @ 6600 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1973 Ford Escort. (96 HP @ 5700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1996 Honda Civic should accelerate faster than 1973 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Honda Civic weights approximately 296 kg more than 1973 Ford Escort. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1973 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 1973 Ford Escort. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1996 Honda Civic, 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, 1973 Ford Escort (148 Nm @ 3750 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Honda Civic. (145 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1973 Ford Escort will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Ford Escort | 1996 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Ford | Honda |
| Model | Escort | Civic |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1996 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1993 cc | 1588 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 96 HP | 127 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 6600 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 90.8 mm | 75 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 77 mm | 90 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 914 kg | 1210 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4410 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1350 mm |
