1979 Lancia Beta vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1979 Lancia Beta is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mazda 626. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mazda 626 would be higher. At 1,994 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Lancia Beta is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Lancia Beta (118 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 39 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 626. (79 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Lancia Beta should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 626. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 626 weights approximately 130 kg more than 1979 Lancia Beta.
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, 1979 Lancia Beta (171 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 29 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 626. (142 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1979 Lancia Beta will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 626. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1979 Lancia Beta has manual transmission. 1979 Lancia Beta will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mazda 626 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Lancia Beta | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Lancia | Mazda |
| Model | Beta | 626 |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1994 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 171 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3400 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1040 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3820 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1200 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2520 mm |
