1980 Ford Escort vs. 1978 Lada 1600
To start off, 1980 Ford Escort is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Lada 1600. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Lada 1600 would be higher. At 1,568 cc (4 cylinders), 1978 Lada 1600 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Lada 1600 (78 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 33 more horse power than 1980 Ford Escort. (45 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Lada 1600 should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Lada 1600 weights approximately 155 kg more than 1980 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 Lada 1600 (122 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 62 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Escort. (60 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1978 Lada 1600 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Ford Escort | 1978 Lada 1600 | |
| Make | Ford | Lada |
| Model | Escort | 1600 |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 939 cc | 1568 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 45 HP | 78 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 60 Nm | 122 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 875 kg | 1030 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4070 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1600 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2430 mm |
