Alfa Romeo Alfasud: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Alfa Romeo Alfasud catalogue data points to three clear choices: the 1.2 MT for the lowest stated kerb weight, the 1.3 MT for a middle ground, and the 1.5 MT for the strongest performance. All belong to the single Alfasud generation, listed from 1971 to 1989 as an Estate 3-door. The database records 16 modifications, with 12 shown here.
The Alfa Romeo Alfasud catalogue data points to three clear choices: the 1.2 MT for the lowest stated kerb weight, the 1.3 MT for a middle ground, and the 1.5 MT for the strongest performance. All belong to the single Alfasud generation, listed from 1971 to 1989 as an Estate 3-door. The database records 16 modifications, with 12 shown here. Every listed version uses a naturally aspirated Gasoline engine with 4 cylinders in an Opposite layout, a 5-speed Manual gearbox and FWD. Prices, market availability, reliability, problems and gross weight are not measured, so a buying decision can only be based on the supplied specifications.
Alfa Romeo Alfasud generations and version choice
There is only 1 generation to compare. It spans 1971–1989, has an Estate 3-door body and contains 16 modifications in the catalogue. The displayed versions cover 1971–1989, although most end in 1981 or 1983; the 1.3 MT, 86 hp continues through 1989. Because no second generation is present, there is no numerical basis for claiming that one generation changed the engine, body or chassis relative to another. The meaningful comparison is therefore among the individual 1.2 MT, 1.3 MT and 1.5 MT specifications within this generation.
Alfa Romeo Alfasud engine and specs
Repeated names are distinguished by output so that each specification remains identifiable.
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders/layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 MT, 63 hp | 63 hp / 46 kW | not measured | 1186 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.3 MT, 65 hp | 65 hp / 48 kW | not measured | 1286 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.3 MT, 69 hp | 69 hp / 51 kW | not measured | 1286 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.2 MT, 60 hp | 60 hp / 44 kW | not measured | 1186 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.3 MT, 68 hp | 68 hp / 50 kW | not measured | 1286 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.3 MT, 69 hp | 69 hp / 51 kW | not measured | 1286 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.3 MT, 76 hp | 76 hp / 56 kW | not measured | 1286 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.3 MT, 86 hp | 86 hp / 63 kW | not measured | 1286 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 MT, 84 hp | 84 hp / 62 kW at 5800 rpm | 123 Nm at 3500 rpm | 1490 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 MT, 95 hp | 95 hp / 70 kW | not measured | 1490 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 MT, 105 hp | 105 hp / 77 kW at 6000 rpm | 136 Nm at 4000 rpm | 1490 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.2 MT, 63 hp | 63 hp / 46 kW | not measured | 1186 cc | Gasoline | 4 / Opposite | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
The 1.2 MT specifications produce 60–63 hp, the 1.3 MT specifications produce 65–86 hp, and the 1.5 MT specifications produce 84–105 hp. The spread between the weakest and strongest displayed engines is 45 hp and 33 kW.
Calculated from the supplied displacement and output, the 1.5 MT, 105 hp has about 70.5 hp per litre. The 1.3 MT, 86 hp follows at about 66.9 hp per litre, while the 1.3 MT, 76 hp produces about 59.1 hp per litre. The 1.5 MT, 95 hp achieves about 63.8 hp per litre, and the 1.5 MT, 84 hp about 56.4 hp per litre. Among the 1.2 MT entries, the 63 hp specification produces about 53.1 hp per litre, compared with about 50.6 hp per litre for the 60 hp specification.
Fuel delivery is a Carburetor where specified for the 1.2 MT, 60 hp, both displayed 1.2 MT, 63 hp entries, the 1.3 MT, 65 hp, two 1.3 MT, 69 hp entries, the 1.3 MT, 86 hp, and the 1.5 MT, 105 hp. The 1.5 MT, 84 hp uses Distributed injection (multi-point). Fuel delivery is not measured for the 1.3 MT, 68 hp, 1.3 MT, 76 hp, and 1.5 MT, 95 hp.
Alfa Romeo Alfasud performance and mpg
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 MT, 63 hp, 1971–1981 | not measured | 152 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 65 hp | not measured | 159 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 69 hp, 1971–1983 | not measured | 159 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.2 MT, 60 hp | not measured | 152 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 68 hp | not measured | 159 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 69 hp, 140 mm clearance | not measured | 159 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 76 hp | not measured | 168 km/h | 11.6 l/100 km | 6.7 l/100 km | 8.9 l/100 km |
| 1.3 MT, 86 hp | not measured | 168 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, 84 hp | not measured | 170 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, 95 hp | not measured | 170 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, 105 hp | not measured | 183 km/h | 10.6 l/100 km | 6.0 l/100 km | 8.1 l/100 km |
| 1.2 MT, 63 hp, 1971–1983 | 14 s | 152 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
The 1.5 MT, 105 hp is the direct performance choice. Its 183 km/h top speed is 15 km/h above either 168 km/h 1.3 MT, 13 km/h above either 170 km/h 1.5 MT, 24 km/h above the 159 km/h 1.3 MT entries and 31 km/h above the 152 km/h 1.2 MT entries.
Only one acceleration result is supplied: the 1.2 MT, 63 hp listed for 1971–1983 reaches 100 km/h in 14 seconds. Acceleration is not measured for every other displayed version, so the data cannot support a complete acceleration ranking.
Only two versions have measured fuel consumption. The 1.5 MT, 105 hp records 10.6 l/100 km city, 6.0 l/100 km highway and 8.1 l/100 km combined. The 1.3 MT, 76 hp records 11.6, 6.7 and 8.9 l/100 km respectively. On these measurements, the 1.5 MT, 105 hp uses 1.0 l/100 km less in the city, 0.7 l/100 km less on the highway and 0.8 l/100 km less combined, while providing 29 hp more. Consumption is not measured for the remaining versions; mpg values are also not measured.
Alfa Romeo Alfasud dimensions, weight and practical specs
Exterior length, width and height are not measured for every displayed Alfasud version. Wheel sizes and gross weight are likewise not measured throughout the supplied data.
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 MT, 63 hp, 1971–1981 | not measured | not measured | 150 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 65 hp | not measured | not measured | 150 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 69 hp, 150 mm clearance | not measured | not measured | 150 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.2 MT, 60 hp | not measured | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 68 hp | 895 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 69 hp, 140 mm clearance | not measured | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 76 hp | 880 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.3 MT, 86 hp | not measured | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, 84 hp | 895 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, 95 hp | 880 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, 105 hp | 895 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
| 1.2 MT, 63 hp, 1971–1983 | 830 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 50 l | not measured |
Among versions with measured kerb weight, the 1.2 MT, 63 hp at 830 kg is the lightest. Its calculated weight-to-power figure is about 13.2 kg per hp. The 1.3 MT, 76 hp weighs 880 kg, or about 11.6 kg per hp. The 1.5 MT, 95 hp also weighs 880 kg, improving that figure to about 9.3 kg per hp. At 895 kg, the 1.5 MT, 84 hp has about 10.7 kg per hp, whereas the 1.5 MT, 105 hp has about 8.5 kg per hp, the strongest measured weight-to-power result in the data.
Every version has a 50-litre tank. Clearance is either 140 mm or 150 mm; the difference is 10 mm. The versions with 150 mm are the 1.2 MT, 63 hp listed through 1981, the 1.3 MT, 65 hp, and one 1.3 MT, 69 hp specification. All other displayed entries have 140 mm.
All versions use Independent, spring front suspension, Dependent, spring rear suspension, and Disc brakes at both ends.
Alfa Romeo Alfasud problems and reliability
Problems, reliability records, repair history and parts availability are not measured in the supplied data. Consequently, the figures cannot establish whether a 1.2 MT, 1.3 MT or 1.5 MT is more dependable, nor can they justify claims about a TI, Sprint, Sprint Veloce, Quadrifoglio Oro or Cloverleaf. Those labels do not appear among the supplied modification names. Any car considered for purchase therefore needs to be judged on evidence outside this specification comparison for its mechanical and structural condition.
Which Alfa Romeo Alfasud version should you buy?
Choose the 1.5 MT, 105 hp when performance is the priority. It has the highest output at 105 hp, the highest top speed at 183 km/h, the best calculated measured weight-to-power figure at about 8.5 kg per hp, and lower measured consumption than the 1.3 MT, 76 hp. It also provides the strongest measured torque, 136 Nm at 4000 rpm.
Choose the 1.5 MT, 95 hp for a lighter high-output specification. Its 880 kg kerb weight is 15 kg below the 1.5 MT, 105 hp, while its output is 10 hp lower and its top speed is 13 km/h lower. Fuel economy and torque are not measured, so its operating advantage cannot be quantified.
Choose the 1.3 MT, 86 hp if you want the strongest 1286 cc option and the displayed version with the latest stop date, 1989. It offers 10 hp more than the 1.3 MT, 76 hp, but both have a stated top speed of 168 km/h. Kerb weight and consumption for the 1.3 MT, 86 hp are not measured.
Choose the 1.3 MT, 76 hp if measured weight and consumption matter more than maximum output. It weighs 880 kg and has recorded consumption of 11.6 l/100 km city, 6.7 l/100 km highway and 8.9 l/100 km combined. However, the 1.5 MT, 105 hp is better on all three supplied consumption figures.
Choose the 1.2 MT, 63 hp listed through 1983 if minimum measured kerb weight is the deciding factor. At 830 kg, it is 50 kg lighter than the measured 880 kg versions and 65 kg lighter than the measured 895 kg versions. It is also the only version with a measured 0–100 km/h time, at 14 seconds, though its 152 km/h top speed is the lowest stated level in the range.
No version can be recommended on price because prices and sale listings are not measured. On specifications alone, the 1.5 MT, 105 hp is the most compelling all-round choice; the 1.3 MT, 86 hp is the strongest smaller-displacement alternative; and the 1.2 MT, 63 hp at 830 kg is the choice for the lowest measured kerb weight.