1976 Ford Cortina vs. 2006 Smart ForTwo

To start off, 2006 Smart ForTwo is newer by 30 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 1,592 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Cortina (90 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 2006 Smart ForTwo. (60 HP @ 5250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 2006 Smart ForTwo. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Cortina weights approximately 150 kg more than 2006 Smart ForTwo. 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 (122 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 27 more torque (in Nm) than 2006 Smart ForTwo. (95 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Cortina will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2006 Smart ForTwo. 2006 Smart ForTwo 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. 2006 Smart ForTwo will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

1976 Ford Cortina 2006 Smart ForTwo
Make Ford Smart
Model Cortina ForTwo
Year Released 1976 2006
Engine Position Front Rear
Engine Size 1592 cc 698 cc
Engine Cylinders 4 cylinders 3 cylinders
Engine Type in-line in-line
Horse Power 90 HP 60 HP
Engine RPM 5700 RPM 5250 RPM
Torque 122 Nm 95 Nm
Torque RPM 4000 RPM 2000 RPM
Engine Compression Ratio 9.2:1 9.0:1
Drive Type Rear Rear
Transmission Type Manual Automatic
Number of Seats 5 seats 2 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1035 kg 885 kg
Vehicle Length 4350 mm 3760 mm
Vehicle Width 1710 mm 1520 mm
Vehicle Height 1370 mm 1460 mm
Wheelbase Size 2590 mm 1820 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 54 L 33 L