1976 Ford Cortina vs. 1981 Mazda 121
To start off, 1981 Mazda 121 is newer by 5 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 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Mazda 121 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Mazda 121 (86 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1976 Ford Cortina. (73 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Mazda 121 should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Mazda 121 weights approximately 16 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina. 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, 1981 Mazda 121 (161 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 44 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (117 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1981 Mazda 121 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Cortina | 1981 Mazda 121 | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Cortina | 121 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1593 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 73 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 117 Nm | 161 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1114 kg | 1130 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4450 mm | 4510 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2520 mm |
