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 82 more horse power than 1990 Toyota Corolla. (90 HP @ 6000 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 161 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 86 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Toyota Corolla. (135 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1988 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Toyota Corolla. 1990 Toyota Corolla 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. 1990 Toyota Corolla will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
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 | 1587 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 3 valves |
| Horse Power | 172 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 221 Nm | 135 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1176 kg | 1015 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 |
