1980 Ford Taunus 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 Taunus. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Ford Taunus would be higher. At 1,952 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Laurel (102 HP) has 45 more horse power than 1980 Ford Taunus. (57 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Laurel should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Taunus. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1981 Nissan Laurel weights approximately 50 kg more than 1980 Ford Taunus. 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, 1981 Nissan Laurel (163 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 70 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Taunus. (93 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Laurel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Taunus. 1981 Nissan Laurel has automatic transmission and 1980 Ford Taunus has manual transmission. 1980 Ford Taunus 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 Taunus | 1981 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Taunus | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1981 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1294 cc | 1952 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 57 HP | 102 HP |
| Torque | 93 Nm | 163 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1020 kg | 1070 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2580 mm | 2410 mm |
