1988 Lotus Esprit vs. 1990 Toyota Corolla

To start off, 1990 Toyota Corolla is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Lotus Esprit (172 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 98 more horse power than 1990 Toyota Corolla. (74 HP @ 6200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1990 Toyota Corolla. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 251 kg more than 1990 Toyota Corolla. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1988 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 1988 Lotus Esprit. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1990 Toyota Corolla, 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, 1988 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM) has 118 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Toyota Corolla. (103 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Toyota Corolla.

Compare all specifications:

1988 Lotus Esprit 1990 Toyota Corolla
Make Lotus Toyota
Model Esprit Corolla
Year Released 1988 1990
Body Type Coupe Sedan
Engine Position Middle Front
Engine Size 2174 cc 1295 cc
Engine Cylinders 4 cylinders 4 cylinders
Engine Type in-line in-line
Valves per Cylinder 4 valves 3 valves
Horse Power 172 HP 74 HP
Engine RPM 6500 RPM 6200 RPM
Torque 221 Nm 103 Nm
Torque RPM 5000 RPM 4200 RPM
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline
Drive Type Rear Front
Transmission Type Manual Manual
Number of Seats 2 seats 5 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 4 doors
Vehicle Weight 1176 kg 925 kg
Vehicle Length 4350 mm 4200 mm
Vehicle Width 1870 mm 1660 mm
Vehicle Height 1160 mm 1370 mm
Wheelbase Size 2440 mm 2440 mm