1974 Fiat 131 vs. 1978 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1978 Ford Cortina is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Fiat 131. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Fiat 131 would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ford Cortina (86 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 22 more horse power than 1974 Fiat 131. (64 HP @ 5400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1974 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Cortina weights approximately 145 kg more than 1974 Fiat 131. 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 Ford Cortina (141 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 39 more torque (in Nm) than 1974 Fiat 131. (102 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1974 Fiat 131. 1978 Ford Cortina has automatic transmission and 1974 Fiat 131 has manual transmission. 1974 Fiat 131 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Ford Cortina will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1974 Fiat 131 | 1978 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Fiat | Ford |
| Model | 131 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1974 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1297 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 64 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 102 Nm | 141 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 965 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2580 mm |
