2005 Lotus Elise vs. 1996 Nissan Laurel
To start off, 2005 Lotus Elise is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1996 Nissan Laurel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1996 Nissan Laurel would be higher. At 1,998 cc (6 cylinders), 1996 Nissan Laurel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2005 Lotus Elise (189 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 66 more horse power than 1996 Nissan Laurel. (123 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2005 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1996 Nissan Laurel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 Nissan Laurel weights approximately 480 kg more than 2005 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, 2005 Lotus Elise (186 Nm @ 6800 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 Nissan Laurel. (171 Nm @ 4400 RPM). This means 2005 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 Nissan Laurel. 1996 Nissan Laurel has automatic transmission and 2005 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 2005 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 Nissan Laurel will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2005 Lotus Elise | 1996 Nissan Laurel | |
| Make | Lotus | Nissan |
| Model | Elise | Laurel |
| Year Released | 2005 | 1996 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1998 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 189 HP | 123 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7800 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 186 Nm | 171 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6800 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 850 kg | 1330 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4720 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2730 mm |
