1979 Triumph Spitfire vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1979 Triumph Spitfire 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 1,970 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Mazda 626 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mazda 626 (79 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 8 more horse power than 1979 Triumph Spitfire. (71 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 626 should accelerate faster than 1979 Triumph Spitfire. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 626 weights approximately 355 kg more than 1979 Triumph Spitfire. 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 Mazda 626 (142 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Triumph Spitfire. (111 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Mazda 626 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Triumph Spitfire. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1979 Triumph Spitfire has manual transmission. 1979 Triumph Spitfire 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 Triumph Spitfire | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Triumph | Mazda |
| Model | Spitfire | 626 |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1493 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 71 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 111 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 815 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3740 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1450 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2110 mm | 2520 mm |
