1980 Lotus Esprit vs. 1990 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1990 Nissan Santana is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,172 cc (4 cylinders), 1980 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Lotus Esprit (208 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 115 more horse power than 1990 Nissan Santana. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1990 Nissan Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 136 kg more than 1990 Nissan Santana. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1980 Lotus Esprit 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 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1990 Nissan Santana, 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, 1980 Lotus Esprit (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Nissan Santana. (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1980 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Nissan Santana. 1990 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1990 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1980 Lotus Esprit | 1990 Nissan Santana | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Esprit | Santana |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1990 |
| Engine Size | 2172 cc | 1779 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6250 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 277 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1206 kg | 1070 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4550 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2450 mm | 2560 mm |
