1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1977 Mazda 323
To start off, 1977 Mazda 323 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,593 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Cortina (73 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 29 more horse power than 1977 Mazda 323. (44 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1977 Mazda 323. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Cortina weights approximately 302 kg more than 1977 Mazda 323. 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, 1976 Ford Cortina (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM) has 48 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 Mazda 323. (69 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 Mazda 323.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Cortina | 1977 Mazda 323 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Cortina | 323 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1593 cc | 983 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 73 HP | 44 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 117 Nm | 69 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 8.8:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1114 kg | 812 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 3830 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1600 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2320 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 40 L |
