1978 Ford Cortina vs. 1987 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1987 Nissan Santana is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Cortina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Cortina would be higher. At 1,998 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Nissan Santana (93 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 7 more horse power than 1978 Ford Cortina. (86 HP @ 5300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Nissan Santana should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ford Cortina weights approximately 40 kg more than 1987 Nissan Santana.
Because 1978 Ford Cortina 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 Ford Cortina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1987 Nissan 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, 1987 Nissan Santana (143 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Cortina. (141 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1987 Nissan Santana will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Cortina. 1987 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Cortina will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1987 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Ford Cortina | 1987 Nissan Santana | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Cortina | Santana |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1987 |
| Engine Size | 1998 cc | 1781 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 86 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 141 Nm | 143 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1110 kg | 1070 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4380 mm | 4550 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2560 mm |
