Caterham 21

Caterham 21: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Caterham 21 was offered in one generation from 1994 to 2000, with a Roadster body and six listed versions. Choosing between them is primarily a question of performance: every version has a naturally aspirated Gasoline inline-four engine, a 6-speed Manual gearbox, RWD, a 650 kg kerb weight, 110 mm of ground clearance and a 66-liter fuel tank.

The Caterham 21 was offered in one generation from 1994 to 2000, with a Roadster body and six listed versions. Choosing between them is primarily a question of performance: every version has a naturally aspirated Gasoline inline-four engine, a 6-speed Manual gearbox, RWD, a 650 kg kerb weight, 110 mm of ground clearance and a 66-liter fuel tank. The 117 hp 1.6 MT is the least powerful option, while the 190 hp 1.8 MT has the strongest acceleration and highest top speed. Buyers seeking the quickest Caterham 21 should therefore choose the 190 hp 1.8 MT; those wanting the best-performing 1.6-liter version should consider the 133 hp 1.6 MT.

Caterham 21 generations and versions

There is only one Caterham 21 generation in the supplied catalogue data. It ran from 1994 to 2000 as a Roadster and contains six versions: two named 1.6 MT and four named 1.8 MT. Because several versions share the same database name, they are distinguished below by power.

No second generation, Series 2 generation or separate restyling is listed in the data. Consequently, there is no numerical basis for comparing changes between generations. All meaningful comparisons concern engines and performance within the single 1994–2000 generation.

Caterham 21 engine and specs

All six engines use Gasoline, distributed injection (multi-point), four Inline cylinders, four valves per cylinder and no boost. Every version also combines a 6-speed Manual transmission with RWD.

The two 1.6 MT versions have the same 1588 cc displacement but different outputs. The 133 hp version adds 16 hp over the 117 hp version, although its peak torque is 1 Nm lower and arrives 2000 rpm later. Their calculated specific outputs are approximately 73.7 hp per liter and 83.8 hp per liter, respectively.

The four 1.8 MT versions all use a 1795 cc displacement. Their calculated specific outputs rise from approximately 69.1 hp per liter for the 124 hp version to 78.0 hp per liter at 140 hp, 85.2 hp per liter at 153 hp and 105.8 hp per liter at 190 hp. Within this group, the 190 hp 1.8 MT provides 66 hp and 38 Nm more than the 124 hp 1.8 MT.

Caterham 21 performance and economy

The 190 hp 1.8 MT is the performance choice. It reaches 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and has a 220 km/h top speed. Compared with the 117 hp 1.6 MT, it is 1.4 seconds quicker to 100 km/h and 30 km/h faster at maximum speed.

The 153 hp 1.8 MT is the next-fastest option, recording 5.3 seconds to 100 km/h and 210 km/h. Moving from this version to the 190 hp 1.8 MT adds 37 hp and 23 Nm, reduces the acceleration time by 0.3 seconds and raises top speed by 10 km/h.

Among the middle choices, the 133 hp 1.6 MT reaches 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds. That makes it 0.3 seconds quicker than both the 124 hp and 140 hp 1.8 MT versions, despite having less displacement and less torque than either. All three have the same listed top speed of 200 km/h.

City, highway and combined fuel-consumption figures are not measured for any version. CO₂ emissions and emissions class are also not measured, so the supplied data cannot support an economy or environmental ranking.

Caterham 21 dimensions, weight and chassis

External length, width and height are not measured. Wheelbase is not measured, and wheel sizes are not measured for every version.

Each Caterham 21 version has a listed kerb weight of 650 kg, ground clearance of 110 mm and a 66-liter fuel tank. Gross weight is 950 kg for the 117 hp and 133 hp 1.6 MT versions and for the 124 hp, 140 hp and 153 hp 1.8 MT versions. Gross weight for the 190 hp 1.8 MT is not measured.

The calculated weight-to-power ratios clearly separate the variants:

All versions use Independent, spring front suspension and Dependent, spring rear suspension. Front and rear brakes are Disc on every version. Because the recorded weight, clearance, tank capacity, suspension and brake specifications do not vary, the engine output and measured performance provide the clearest basis for choosing.

Which Caterham 21 version to buy and why

Choose the 190 hp 1.8 MT if outright performance matters most. Its 190 hp, 203 Nm, 5.0-second acceleration time and 220 km/h top speed are the strongest figures in the range. Its calculated 3.42 kg per hp is also the best weight-to-power result.

Choose the 153 hp 1.8 MT if you want the closest alternative to the fastest version. It produces 180 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and tops out at 210 km/h. It gives up 37 hp, 23 Nm and 10 km/h to the 190 hp version, but remains 1.0 second quicker to 100 km/h than the 124 hp and 140 hp 1.8 MT versions.

Choose the 133 hp 1.6 MT if you prefer the stronger 1.6-liter specification. Against the 117 hp 1.6 MT, it supplies 16 hp more, cuts the 0–100 km/h time from 6.4 to 6.0 seconds and raises top speed from 190 to 200 km/h. It also equals the listed top speed of the 124 hp and 140 hp 1.8 MT versions.

The 124 hp and 140 hp 1.8 MT versions both record 6.3 seconds to 100 km/h and 200 km/h. The 140 hp version adds 16 hp and 2 Nm, but the measured acceleration and top-speed figures do not improve. On the available numbers alone, that makes the 124 hp version the simpler choice between those two if peak output is unimportant; the 140 hp version is relevant if the higher power rating itself is the priority.

The supplied data contains no Caterham 21 prices or sale listings, so it cannot show what any performance increase costs or identify the best financial value. Reliability and problem records are also not measured. A purchase decision based strictly on these specifications therefore favors the 190 hp 1.8 MT for maximum performance, the 153 hp 1.8 MT as the next-fastest choice, and the 133 hp 1.6 MT as the strongest 1.6-liter option.