1978 Fiat Mirafiori vs. 1981 Volkswagen Santana
To start off, 1981 Volkswagen Santana is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Fiat Mirafiori. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Fiat Mirafiori would be higher. At 1,993 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat Mirafiori is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Fiat Mirafiori (115 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1981 Volkswagen Santana. (90 HP @ 5200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Fiat Mirafiori should accelerate faster than 1981 Volkswagen Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat Mirafiori weights approximately 280 kg more than 1981 Volkswagen Santana. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1978 Fiat Mirafiori is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1978 Fiat Mirafiori. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Volkswagen Santana, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Mirafiori (167 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 22 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Volkswagen Santana. (145 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1978 Fiat Mirafiori will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Volkswagen Santana. 1981 Volkswagen Santana has automatic transmission and 1978 Fiat Mirafiori has manual transmission. 1978 Fiat Mirafiori will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Volkswagen Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1978 Fiat Mirafiori | 1981 Volkswagen Santana | |
Make | Fiat | Volkswagen |
Model | Mirafiori | Santana |
Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1993 cc | 1781 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 115 HP | 90 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5200 RPM |
Torque | 167 Nm | 145 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 3300 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 81.1 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 90 mm | 86.4 mm |
Engine Compression Ratio | 8.9:1 | 10.0:1 |
Drive Type | Rear | Front |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1070 kg | 790 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4240 mm | 4550 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1670 mm | 1700 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1410 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2560 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 49 L | 60 L |