1981 Lotus Esprit vs. 1995 Toyota MRJ
To start off, 1995 Toyota MRJ is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1981 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Lotus Esprit (159 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 88 more horse power than 1995 Toyota MRJ. (71 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1995 Toyota MRJ. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1995 Toyota MRJ weights approximately 505 kg more than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1995 Toyota MRJ (285 Nm) has 64 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm). This means 1995 Toyota MRJ will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Lotus Esprit | 1995 Toyota MRJ | |
| Make | Lotus | Toyota |
| Model | Esprit | MRJ |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1995 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Middle | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1762 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 159 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 285 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 95.3 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76.2 mm | 85.5 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1067 kg | 1572 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4000 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1250 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2630 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 31 L | 50 L |
