1978 Fiat 131 vs. 1979 Toyota Corolla
To start off, 1979 Toyota Corolla is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Fiat 131. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Fiat 131 would be higher. At 1,297 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Toyota Corolla (58 HP) has 5 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (53 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Toyota Corolla should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 103 kg more than 1979 Toyota Corolla.
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, 1978 Fiat 131 (95 Nm @ 2700 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Toyota Corolla. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Toyota Corolla.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Fiat 131 | 1979 Toyota Corolla | |
| Make | Fiat | Toyota |
| Model | 131 | Corolla |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1297 cc | 1290 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 53 HP | 58 HP |
| Torque | 95 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 965 kg | 862 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4270 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1660 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2500 mm | 2410 mm |
