1980 Chevrolet Caprice vs. 1978 Ford Escort
To start off, 1980 Chevrolet Caprice is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Ford Escort would be higher. At 5,002 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Chevrolet Caprice is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Chevrolet Caprice (148 HP @ 3800 RPM) has 103 more horse power than 1978 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Chevrolet Caprice should accelerate faster than 1978 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Chevrolet Caprice weights approximately 810 kg more than 1978 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, 1980 Chevrolet Caprice (334 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 274 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1980 Chevrolet Caprice will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Escort. 1980 Chevrolet Caprice has automatic transmission and 1978 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1978 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1980 Chevrolet Caprice will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Chevrolet Caprice | 1978 Ford Escort | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ford |
| Model | Caprice | Escort |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1978 |
| Body Type | Station Wagon | Station Wagon |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5002 cc | 938 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 45 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 334 Nm | 60 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1720 kg | 910 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5460 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2020 mm | 1570 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1480 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2950 mm | 2410 mm |
