1981 Reliant Kitten vs. 1989 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1989 Nissan Santana is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Reliant Kitten. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Reliant Kitten would be higher. At 1,781 cc (4 cylinders), 1989 Nissan Santana is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1989 Nissan Santana (93 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 53 more horse power than 1981 Reliant Kitten. (40 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1989 Nissan Santana should accelerate faster than 1981 Reliant Kitten. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1989 Nissan Santana weights approximately 534 kg more than 1981 Reliant Kitten. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1981 Reliant Kitten 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 1981 Reliant Kitten. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1989 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, 1989 Nissan Santana (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Reliant Kitten. (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1989 Nissan Santana will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Reliant Kitten. 1989 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1981 Reliant Kitten has manual transmission. 1981 Reliant Kitten will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1981 Reliant Kitten | 1989 Nissan Santana | |
| Make | Reliant | Nissan |
| Model | Kitten | Santana |
| Year Released | 1981 | 1989 |
| Engine Size | 848 cc | 1781 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 40 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 63 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 540 kg | 1074 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3330 mm | 4550 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1430 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2150 mm | 2560 mm |
