1980 Ford Fiesta vs. 1981 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1981 Nissan Laurel is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Ford Fiesta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Fiesta would be higher. At 2,792 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Laurel (85 HP @ 4600 RPM) has 46 more horse power than 1980 Ford Fiesta. (39 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Laurel should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Fiesta. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Nissan Laurel weights approximately 495 kg more than 1980 Ford Fiesta. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1981 Nissan Laurel 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 1981 Nissan Laurel. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1980 Ford Fiesta, 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 Laurel (167 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 103 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Fiesta. (64 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Laurel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Fiesta. 1981 Nissan Laurel has automatic transmission and 1980 Ford Fiesta has manual transmission. 1980 Ford Fiesta will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Laurel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Ford Fiesta | 1981 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Fiesta | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Hatchback | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 957 cc | 2792 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 39 HP | 85 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 64 Nm | 167 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2700 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 715 kg | 1210 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3570 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1570 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2300 mm | 2410 mm |
