1976 Reliant Kitten vs. 1970 Reliant Bug
To start off, 1976 Reliant Kitten is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Reliant Bug. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Reliant Bug would be higher. At 848 cc (4 cylinders), 1976 Reliant Kitten is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Reliant Kitten (40 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1970 Reliant Bug. (31 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Reliant Kitten should accelerate faster than 1970 Reliant Bug. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Reliant Kitten weights approximately 127 kg more than 1970 Reliant Bug. 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 Reliant Kitten (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Reliant Bug. (52 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1976 Reliant Kitten will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Reliant Bug.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Reliant Kitten | 1970 Reliant Bug | |
| Make | Reliant | Reliant |
| Model | Kitten | Bug |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 848 cc | 701 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 40 HP | 31 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 63 Nm | 52 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 62.5 mm | 60.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 69.1 mm | 61 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 8.4:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 535 kg | 408 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3330 mm | 2800 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1400 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2150 mm | 1960 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 27 L | 23 L |
