2006 Lotus Elise vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 2006 Lotus Elise is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mazda 626. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mazda 626 would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2006 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2006 Lotus Elise (190 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 97 more horse power than 1978 Mazda 626. (93 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2006 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 1978 Mazda 626. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mazda 626 weights approximately 45 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, 2006 Lotus Elise (180 Nm @ 6800 RPM) has 30 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mazda 626. (150 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 2006 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mazda 626. 1978 Mazda 626 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. 1978 Mazda 626 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2006 Lotus Elise | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | Lotus | Mazda |
| Model | Elise | 626 |
| Year Released | 2006 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 190 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7800 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 180 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6800 RPM | 3300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 85 mm | 88 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 950 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2520 mm |
