Asia Retona

Asia Retona: which version to buy (1997–2003)

The Asia Retona was sold in one generation (1997–2003) as an SUV 3-doors with six versions, all named 2.0 MT. The buying choice is not “which generation” — there is only one — but which 2.0 MT to take: diesel or gasoline, turbo or no turbo, AWD or RWD, 83, 87, 128 or 136 hp. Every version uses a 1998 cm³ inline 4, a Manual 5 gearbox, a 60 L tank, 200 mm ground clearance and Euro 4.

The Asia Retona was sold in one generation (1997–2003) as an SUV 3-doors with six versions, all named 2.0 MT. The buying choice is not “which generation” — there is only one — but which 2.0 MT to take: diesel or gasoline, turbo or no turbo, AWD or RWD, 83, 87, 128 or 136 hp. Every version uses a 1998 cm³ inline 4, a Manual 5 gearbox, a 60 L tank, 200 mm ground clearance and Euro 4. Kerb weight is 1510 kg on the 83 hp diesel AWD and 1480 kg on the other five. 0–100 km/h, fuel consumption, CO2, wheel size and gross weight are not measured on any version, so they cannot decide the purchase.

People searching “kia asia retona” are usually matching this Asia model to a Kia-era compact SUV. The data here describe only the Asia Retona and its six 2.0 MT rows.

Which generation to buy

There is one generation: 1 generation, 1997-01-01 to 2003-12-31, SUV 3-doors, 6 versions. No later generation exists in the data, so there is no “newer chassis” to pay for. Restyling is not listed as a separate generation. If you want this model at all, you are choosing among the six 2.0 MT specs below, not among model years as separate products.

Engine and specs: six 2.0 MT versions compared

Displacement is identical (1998 cm³). Power per litre is therefore just power ÷ 1.998 L.

The gasoline 2.0 MT rows make 45–53 hp more than the diesel 2.0 MT rows from the same 1998 cm³. The naturally aspirated 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT is the densest: 68.1 hp/L versus 41.5 hp/L on the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT (a 26.6 hp/L gap).

Diesel 2.0 MT vs gasoline 2.0 MT

Buy diesel 2.0 MT if torque at 2000 rpm matters more than peak horsepower. The 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT has 195 Nm at 2000 rpm; the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT has 200 Nm at 2000 rpm. The 128 hp gasoline 2.0 MT has only 175 Nm at 2000 rpm — 20 Nm less than the 83 hp diesel and 25 Nm less than the 87 hp diesel — despite 41–45 more horsepower. The 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT has 181 Nm, but it arrives at 4000 rpm, not 2000 rpm: 2000 rpm later than every diesel and the turbo gasoline.

Buy gasoline 2.0 MT if you want the highest listed speed and the lowest weight per horsepower. Top speed is 150 km/h on all three gasoline 2.0 MT versions versus 130 km/h on the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT and 120 km/h on both 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT versions. That is +20 km/h versus the 83 hp diesel and +30 km/h versus the 87 hp diesels. Weight per horsepower on the 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT is 10.9 kg/hp versus 18.2 kg/hp on the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT (7.3 kg more mass per horsepower on the diesel) and 17.0 kg/hp on the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT.

Fuel type in the data is Diesel versus 95. Consumption (city, highway, mixed) is not measured on any version, so mpg cannot pick a winner. Euro 4 is the same on all six.

Two diesel 2.0 MT outputs: 83 hp vs 87 hp

Both diesels are Turbo, Inline 4, 1998 cm³, Manual 5.

The 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT adds 4 hp and 5 Nm over the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT and is 30 kg lighter (1480 vs 1510 kg). Peak power is quoted at 6000 rpm versus 4000 rpm on the 83 hp row: the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT reaches its 83 hp 2000 rpm earlier.

Top speed moves the other way: 130 km/h on the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT versus 120 km/h on both 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT versions (−10 km/h despite +4 hp and −30 kg). If the listed maximum speed is the criterion, the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT is the faster diesel. If kerb weight and torque (200 vs 195 Nm) are the criterion, the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT is the stronger diesel on paper.

The 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT is AWD only. The 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT is sold as AWD and as RWD at the same 1480 kg, 87 hp, 200 Nm and 120 km/h. Choosing AWD on the 87 hp diesel does not add listed weight in this dataset.

Two gasoline 2.0 MT outputs: 128 hp turbo vs 136 hp no turbo

Both gasoline versions use 95, Inline 4, 1998 cm³, Manual 5, Euro 4, 1480 kg, 200 mm clearance, 60 L tank, 150 km/h top speed.

The 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT has No boost and 8 hp / 6 Nm more than the turbo 128 hp gasoline 2.0 MT (136 vs 128 hp, 181 vs 175 Nm). Power per litre is 68.1 versus 64.1. Peak torque on the turbo 128 hp 2.0 MT is at 2000 rpm; on the 136 hp 2.0 MT it is at 4000 rpm. Peak power is at 5300 rpm (128 hp) versus 6000 rpm (136 hp).

So the turbo gasoline 2.0 MT (128 hp, RWD only) is the gasoline that puts its 175 Nm down at the same 2000 rpm as the diesels. The 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT is the peak-power choice and is the only gasoline offered with AWD as well as RWD. Top speed does not change: 150 km/h on all gasoline 2.0 MT rows.

Drive on the 128 hp gasoline 2.0 MT is RWD only. If you want gasoline and AWD together, the data give only the 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT with AWD.

AWD or RWD on the same 2.0 MT

AWD appears on three versions: 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT, 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT, 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT. RWD appears on three versions: 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT, 128 hp gasoline 2.0 MT, 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT.

On the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT, AWD and RWD share 87 hp, 64 kW, 200 Nm, 120 km/h, 1480 kg, 60 L, 200 mm. The data do not charge extra mass for AWD on that pair.

On the 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT, AWD and RWD share 136 hp, 100 kW, 181 Nm, 150 km/h, 1480 kg, 60 L, 200 mm. Again, AWD is not heavier in the listed kerb weight.

The 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT is the only AWD that is heavier (1510 kg) and the only diesel with 130 km/h. The 128 hp gasoline 2.0 MT is RWD only.

Ground clearance is 200 mm on every version, so AWD is not buying extra listed ride height.

Performance and mpg

0–100 km/h is not measured on any 2.0 MT. City, highway and mixed consumption are not measured on any 2.0 MT. CO2 is not measured on any 2.0 MT.

What is measured for speed:

• 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT (AWD and RWD): 120 km/h
• 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT (AWD): 130 km/h
• 128 hp and 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT: 150 km/h

The gasoline 2.0 MT is 30 km/h faster than the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT and 20 km/h faster than the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT. Without 0–100 or mpg figures, “economy” and “sprint” cannot be ranked; only top speed, power, torque rpm and kg/hp can.

Dimensions and weight (what is the same, what is not)

Same on all six 2.0 MT versions: SUV 3-doors, 60 L tank, 200 mm ground clearance, Euro 4, Manual 5, 1998 cm³, 4 Inline. Wheel sizes are not measured. Gross weight is not measured.

Kerb weight is the only mass split: 1510 kg on the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT AWD; 1480 kg on the other five (−30 kg). That 30 kg is 2.0% of 1510 kg. It is also the version with the highest kg/hp (18.2).

Problems and reliability (what the spec sheet can and cannot say)

The data do not list failure rates, recalls or service intervals. Reliability cannot be scored from this table. What the table does show as shared hardware: one body (SUV 3-doors), one gearbox type (Manual 5), one tank (60 L), one clearance (200 mm), one eco label (Euro 4), independent torsion front suspension, independent spring rear suspension, ventilated disc front brakes, drum rear brakes — all six versions.

Differences that affect how the car is used, not how often it breaks: Diesel vs Gasoline (95); Turbo vs No; AWD vs RWD; 83 / 87 / 128 / 136 hp; torque peak at 2000 rpm (all diesels and the 128 hp gasoline 2.0 MT) versus 4000 rpm (both 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT).

Which version to choose

Need AWD and the most torque at 2000 rpm among AWD diesels: 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT AWD — 200 Nm at 2000 rpm, 1480 kg, 43.5 hp/L. Top speed 120 km/h is the lowest in the catalogue.

Need AWD diesel and the higher listed top speed among diesels: 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT AWD — 130 km/h, 195 Nm at 2000 rpm, but 1510 kg and 18.2 kg/hp, and 4 hp / 5 Nm less than the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT.

Need diesel without AWD: only the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT RWD. Same 87 hp, 200 Nm, 1480 kg and 120 km/h as the AWD twin.

Need gasoline, turbo, and torque at 2000 rpm: 128 hp gasoline 2.0 MT (RWD only) — 175 Nm at 2000 rpm, 128 hp at 5300 rpm, 150 km/h, 11.6 kg/hp. It is the only turbo gasoline and the only gasoline without an AWD pair.

Need the most horsepower and the lowest kg/hp: 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT — 136 hp, 68.1 hp/L, 10.9 kg/hp, 150 km/h, No boost, 181 Nm at 4000 rpm. Take AWD or RWD; mass and speed are the same (1480 kg, 150 km/h).

Need gasoline and AWD together: only the 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT AWD. There is no 128 hp AWD in the data.

Need the lightest diesel AWD: 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT AWD at 1480 kg, not the 83 hp diesel 2.0 MT at 1510 kg.

There is no second generation to “skip to.” Extra listed power from the weakest to the strongest 2.0 MT is 136 − 83 = 53 hp (63.9% more than 83). Extra listed top speed from slowest to fastest is 150 − 120 = 30 km/h. Extra listed torque from lowest to highest is 200 − 175 = 25 Nm, and that peak belongs to the 87 hp diesel 2.0 MT, not to the 136 hp gasoline 2.0 MT. Prices are not in the data, so “what the extra money buys” can only be read as what the extra horsepower, newton-metres, drive type and 30 kg of kerb weight buy on this sheet.