1990 BMW 520 vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1990 BMW 520 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mazda 626. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mazda 626 would be higher. At 1,991 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 BMW 520 (145 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 52 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 626. (93 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1990 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 626. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 520 weights approximately 547 kg more than 1978 Mazda 626. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1990 BMW 520 (186 Nm @ 4700 RPM) has 36 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 626. (150 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1990 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 626. 1978 Mazda 626 has automatic transmission and 1990 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1990 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mazda 626 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 520 | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | BMW | Mazda |
| Model | 520 | 626 |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 186 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4700 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 88 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1542 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2520 mm |
