1981 Honda Accord vs. 1979 Toyota Carina
To start off, 1981 Honda Accord is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Toyota Carina. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Toyota Carina would be higher. At 1,602 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Honda Accord is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Honda Accord (80 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1979 Toyota Carina. (79 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Honda Accord should accelerate faster than 1979 Toyota Carina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Toyota Carina weights approximately 25 kg more than 1981 Honda Accord.
Because 1979 Toyota Carina 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 1979 Toyota Carina. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1981 Honda Accord, 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 Honda Accord (127 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 3 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Toyota Carina. (124 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1981 Honda Accord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Toyota Carina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Honda Accord | 1979 Toyota Carina | |
| Make | Honda | Toyota |
| Model | Accord | Carina |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1602 cc | 1587 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 80 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5300 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 127 Nm | 124 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 77 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 70 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 930 kg | 955 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4240 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1640 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2390 mm | 2510 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 61 L |
