1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1979 Mazda Montrose
To start off, 1979 Mazda Montrose is newer by 3 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 1,968 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Mazda Montrose is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 90 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mazda Montrose weights approximately 35 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina.
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, 1979 Mazda Montrose (153 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (122 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1979 Mazda Montrose will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina. 1979 Mazda Montrose 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. 1979 Mazda Montrose will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Cortina | 1979 Mazda Montrose | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Cortina | Montrose |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1592 cc | 1968 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5700 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 122 Nm | 153 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 87.7 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 98 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.2:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1035 kg | 1070 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2520 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 55 L |
