1985 Ford Escort vs. 1981 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 1985 Ford Escort is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1981 Nissan Laurel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1981 Nissan Laurel would be higher. At 1,998 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 Nissan Laurel (96 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 28 more horse power than 1985 Ford Escort. (68 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1981 Nissan Laurel should accelerate faster than 1985 Ford Escort.
Because 1981 Nissan Laurel 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 Nissan Laurel. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1985 Ford Escort, 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 Nissan Laurel (135 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 32 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Ford Escort. (103 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1981 Nissan Laurel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Ford Escort. 1981 Nissan Laurel has automatic transmission and 1985 Ford Escort has manual transmission. 1985 Ford Escort will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Nissan Laurel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Ford Escort | 1981 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Ford | Nissan |
| Model | Escort | Laurel |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1981 |
| Body Type | Convertible | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1296 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 68 HP | 96 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 103 Nm | 135 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 3980 mm | 4060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1650 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1320 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2410 mm | 2410 mm |
