1978 Nissan Skyline vs. 1981 Nissan Leopard
To start off, 1981 Nissan Leopard is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Nissan Skyline. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Nissan Skyline would be higher. At 2,753 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Leopard is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Leopard (134 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 45 more horse power than 1978 Nissan Skyline. (89 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Leopard should accelerate faster than 1978 Nissan Skyline. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Nissan Leopard weights approximately 190 kg more than 1978 Nissan Skyline. 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, 1981 Nissan Leopard (226 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 93 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Nissan Skyline. (133 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Leopard will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Nissan Skyline. 1981 Nissan Leopard has automatic transmission and 1978 Nissan Skyline has manual transmission. 1978 Nissan Skyline will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Leopard will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Nissan Skyline | 1981 Nissan Leopard | |
| Make | Nissan | Nissan |
| Model | Skyline | Leopard |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1595 cc | 2753 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 133 Nm | 226 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1050 kg | 1240 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4410 mm | 4640 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2630 mm |
