1990 Honda NSX vs. 1989 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1990 Honda NSX is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,977 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 Honda NSX is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1990 Honda NSX (252 HP @ 6600 RPM) has 80 more horse power than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (172 HP @ 6500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1990 Honda NSX should accelerate faster than 1989 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Honda NSX weights approximately 230 kg more than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 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 Honda NSX (285 Nm @ 6500 RPM) has 64 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1990 Honda NSX will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Lotus Esprit. 1990 Honda NSX has automatic transmission and 1989 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1989 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1990 Honda NSX will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 Honda NSX | 1989 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | NSX | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1989 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2977 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 252 HP | 172 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 285 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1175 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4410 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1820 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1160 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2540 mm | 2440 mm |
