1978 Fiat 126 vs. 1979 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1979 Nissan Laurel is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Fiat 126. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Fiat 126 would be higher. At 1,768 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Nissan Laurel (97 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 73 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 126. (24 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Nissan Laurel should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 126. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Nissan Laurel weights approximately 555 kg more than 1978 Fiat 126. 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 Nissan Laurel (147 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 105 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 126. (42 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1979 Nissan Laurel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 126.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Fiat 126 | 1979 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Fiat | Nissan |
| Model | 126 | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 651 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 24 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 42 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 585 kg | 1140 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3130 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1390 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 2680 mm |
