1976 Ford Escort vs. 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair
To start off, 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Escort would be higher. At 2,555 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair (111 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 66 more horse power than 1976 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair weights approximately 480 kg more than 1976 Ford Escort. 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, 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 146 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Escort. 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair has automatic transmission and 1976 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1976 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Escort | 1979 Mitsubishi Debonair | |
| Make | Ford | Mitsubishi |
| Model | Escort | Debonair |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1979 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 939 cc | 2555 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 45 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 60 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 910 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4060 mm | 4680 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2420 mm | 2700 mm |
