1979 Ford Escort vs. 1978 Fiat 131
To start off, 1979 Ford Escort 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 1,995 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Fiat 131 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Fiat 131 (59 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1979 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Fiat 131 should accelerate faster than 1979 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Fiat 131 weights approximately 305 kg more than 1979 Ford Escort. 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, 1978 Fiat 131 (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1978 Fiat 131 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ford Escort. 1978 Fiat 131 has automatic transmission and 1979 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1979 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Fiat 131 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Ford Escort | 1978 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Ford | Fiat |
| Model | Escort | 131 |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 939 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 45 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 60 Nm | 113 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 875 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1600 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2500 mm |
