1979 Ford Cortina vs. 1974 Lada Riva
To start off, 1979 Ford Cortina is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Lada Riva. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Lada Riva would be higher. At 1,450 cc (4 cylinders), 1974 Lada Riva is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Lada Riva (80 HP) has 21 more horse power than 1979 Ford Cortina. (59 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Lada Riva should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Lada Riva weights approximately 60 kg more than 1979 Ford Cortina. 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, 1974 Lada Riva (106 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 14 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1974 Lada Riva will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Cortina | 1974 Lada Riva | |
| Make | Ford | Lada |
| Model | Cortina | Riva |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 1450 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 80 HP |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 106 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1060 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4130 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2420 mm |
