1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair
To start off, 1988 Lotus Esprit is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair would be higher. At 2,555 cc (4 cylinders), 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 60 more horse power than 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair. (112 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair weights approximately 214 kg more than 1988 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, 1988 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair. (206 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair. 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair has automatic transmission and 1988 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1988 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Lotus Esprit | 1985 Mitsubishi Debonair | |
| Make | Lotus | Mitsubishi |
| Model | Esprit | Debonair |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1985 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 2174 cc | 2555 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 172 HP | 112 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 206 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1176 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4350 mm | 4680 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1870 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1160 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2700 mm |
