1979 Mazda 121 vs. 1970 Toyota Carina
To start off, 1979 Mazda 121 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Toyota Carina would be higher. At 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Mazda 121 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1970 Toyota Carina (115 HP @ 6400 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1979 Mazda 121. (90 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1970 Toyota Carina should accelerate faster than 1979 Mazda 121. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mazda 121 weights approximately 289 kg more than 1970 Toyota Carina.
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 Mazda 121 (160 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Toyota Carina. (149 Nm @ 5200 RPM). This means 1979 Mazda 121 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Toyota Carina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Mazda 121 | 1970 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | Mazda | Toyota |
| Model | 121 | Carina |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 1586 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 115 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6400 RPM |
| Torque | 160 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 98 mm | 70 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.6:1 | 9.8:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1134 kg | 845 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4510 mm | 4140 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2520 mm | 2430 mm |
