1985 Lotus Esprit vs. 1986 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1986 Nissan Santana is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 65 more horse power than 1986 Nissan Santana. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1985 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1986 Nissan Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1986 Nissan Santana weights approximately 2 kg more than 1985 Lotus Esprit.
Because 1985 Lotus Esprit 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 1985 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1986 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, 1985 Lotus Esprit (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 75 more torque (in Nm) than 1986 Nissan Santana. (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1985 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1986 Nissan Santana.
Compare all specifications:
| 1985 Lotus Esprit | 1986 Nissan Santana | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Esprit | Santana |
| Year Released | 1985 | 1986 |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1780 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 158 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 217 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1068 kg | 1070 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4200 mm | 4550 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1860 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1120 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2490 mm | 2560 mm |
