1993 Lotus Elan vs. 1990 Nissan Santana
To start off, 1993 Lotus Elan is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1990 Nissan Santana. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1990 Nissan Santana would be higher. At 1,779 cc (4 cylinders), 1990 Nissan Santana is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1993 Lotus Elan (164 HP @ 6600 RPM) has 71 more horse power than 1990 Nissan Santana. (93 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1993 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1990 Nissan Santana. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 Nissan Santana weights approximately 50 kg more than 1993 Lotus Elan.
Both vehicles are front wheel drive (FWD). Which offers better traction when its slippery than rear 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, 1993 Lotus Elan (204 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 62 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Nissan Santana. (142 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1993 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Nissan Santana. 1990 Nissan Santana has automatic transmission and 1993 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1993 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1990 Nissan Santana will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1993 Lotus Elan | 1990 Nissan Santana | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Elan | Santana |
| Year Released | 1993 | 1990 |
| Engine Size | 1588 cc | 1779 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 164 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6600 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 204 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1020 kg | 1070 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3810 mm | 4550 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1240 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2260 mm | 2560 mm |
