1981 Ford Cortina vs. 1976 Plymouth Volare
To start off, 1981 Ford Cortina is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Plymouth Volare. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Plymouth Volare would be higher. At 3,687 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Plymouth Volare is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Plymouth Volare (100 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1981 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Plymouth Volare should accelerate faster than 1981 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Plymouth Volare weights approximately 465 kg more than 1981 Ford Cortina. 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, 1976 Plymouth Volare (231 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 139 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1976 Plymouth Volare will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Ford Cortina | 1976 Plymouth Volare | |
| Make | Ford | Plymouth |
| Model | Cortina | Volare |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1293 cc | 3687 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 59 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5750 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 92 Nm | 231 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1000 kg | 1465 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2760 mm |
