1980 Ford Escort vs. 1981 Nissan Cherry
To start off, 1981 Nissan Cherry is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Escort. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Escort would be higher. At 1,488 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Cherry is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Cherry (89 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 20 more horse power than 1980 Ford Escort. (69 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Cherry should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Escort.
Both vehicles are front wheel drive (FWD). Which offers better traction when its slippery than rear 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, 1981 Nissan Cherry (123 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 23 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Escort. (100 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Cherry will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Escort. 1981 Nissan Cherry has automatic transmission and 1980 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1980 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Cherry will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Ford Escort | 1981 Nissan Cherry | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Escort | Cherry |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1295 cc | 1488 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 69 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 100 Nm | 123 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Drive Type | Front | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 850 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 3900 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2400 mm | 2400 mm |
