1997 GMC Safari vs. 2006 Lotus Elise

To start off, 2006 Lotus Elise is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1997 GMC Safari. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1997 GMC Safari would be higher. At 4,293 cc (6 cylinders), 1997 GMC Safari is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2006 Lotus Elise (189 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1997 GMC Safari. (187 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2006 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1997 GMC Safari. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 GMC Safari weights approximately 1169 kg more than 2006 Lotus Elise.

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, 1997 GMC Safari (338 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 170 more torque (in Nm) than 2006 Lotus Elise. (168 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1997 GMC Safari will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2006 Lotus Elise. 1997 GMC Safari has automatic transmission and 2006 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 2006 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1997 GMC Safari will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

1997 GMC Safari 2006 Lotus Elise
Make GMC Lotus
Model Safari Elise
Year Released 1997 2006
Body Type Van Roadster
Engine Position Front Middle
Engine Size 4293 cc 1796 cc
Engine Cylinders 6 cylinders 4 cylinders
Engine Type V in-line
Valves per Cylinder 2 valves 4 valves
Horse Power 187 HP 189 HP
Engine RPM 4400 RPM 5500 RPM
Torque 338 Nm 168 Nm
Torque RPM 2800 RPM 3500 RPM
Engine Bore Size 102 mm 82 mm
Engine Stroke Size 88 mm 85 mm
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline - Premium
Drive Type Rear Rear
Transmission Type Automatic Manual
Number of Seats 8 seats 2 seats
Number of Doors 3 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1955 kg 786 kg
Vehicle Length 4830 mm 3790 mm
Vehicle Width 1980 mm 1730 mm
Vehicle Height 1910 mm 1150 mm
Wheelbase Size 2830 mm 2310 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 98 L 40 L