1987 Lotus Esprit vs. 1990 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1990 Nissan Santana is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1987 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1987 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 67 more horse power than 1990 Nissan Santana. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1990 Nissan Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Nissan Santana weights approximately 3 kg more than 1987 Lotus Esprit.
Because 1987 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 1987 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1990 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, 1987 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5250 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Nissan Santana. (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1987 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Nissan Santana. 1990 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1987 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1987 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1990 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1987 Lotus Esprit | 1990 Nissan Santana | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Esprit | Santana |
| Year Released | 1987 | 1990 |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 1779 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 160 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5250 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1067 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 |
