1980 Ford Escort vs. 1981 Nissan Sunny
To start off, 1981 Nissan Sunny 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 1,487 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Sunny is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Sunny (74 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 31 more horse power than 1980 Ford Escort. (43 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Sunny should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Ford Escort weights approximately 43 kg more than 1981 Nissan Sunny.
Because 1980 Ford Escort is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1980 Ford Escort. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Sunny, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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 Sunny (123 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 52 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Escort. (71 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Sunny will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Ford Escort | 1981 Nissan Sunny | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Escort | Sunny |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1098 cc | 1487 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 43 HP | 74 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 71 Nm | 123 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 903 kg | 860 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4140 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2410 mm |
