2005 Land Rover Defender vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 2005 Land Rover Defender is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1987 Lotus Esprit. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1987 Lotus Esprit would be higher. At 2,498 cc, 2005 Land Rover Defender is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 Land Rover Defender weights approximately 991 kg more than 1987 Lotus Esprit.
Because 2005 Land Rover Defender is four wheel drive (4WD), it will have significant more traction and grip than 1987 Lotus Esprit. In wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2005 Land Rover Defender will offer significantly more control. 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, 2005 Land Rover Defender (300 Nm @ 1950 RPM) has 79 more torque (in Nm) than 1987 Lotus Esprit. (221 Nm @ 5250 RPM). This means 2005 Land Rover Defender will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1987 Lotus Esprit.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 Land Rover Defender | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Land Rover | Lotus |
| Model | Defender | Esprit |
| Year Released | 2005 | 1987 |
| Body Type | SUV | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 2498 cc | 2174 cc |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 0 HP | 160 HP |
| Torque | 300 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1950 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84.5 mm | 95.4 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 19.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | 4WD | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 9 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2058 kg | 1067 kg |
| Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 75 L | 31 L |
