Changan Benni

Changan Benni: which 1.3 MT to choose, and why the two generations are not the same car

If you are choosing a Changan Benni rather than reading a model overview, the catalogue only lists two versions, and both are named 1.3 MT. They share 86 hp, 1301 cm³, Gasoline fuel, a 5-speed Manual gearbox and FWD. The buying decision is not “which engine,” because there is only one displacement.

If you are choosing a Changan Benni rather than reading a model overview, the catalogue only lists two versions, and both are named 1.3 MT. They share 86 hp, 1301 cm³, Gasoline fuel, a 5-speed Manual gearbox and FWD. The buying decision is not “which engine,” because there is only one displacement. It is which generation’s 1.3 MT you want: first generation (2006–2011) or second generation (2010–2014). The numbers that actually change are kerb weight, gross weight, payload, when peak torque arrives, rear brakes, fuel-use figures, tank size, ground clearance, and whether engine placement is recorded.

Searches for Changan Benni e-star, Changan Benni EV, Changan Benni Mini 2016, Changan Benni 2019, and price in Pakistan point at other cars or markets. This catalogue has no electric Benni, no 2015–2019 production years, and no prices. The only Mini 5-doors versions here stop in 2014.

Changan Benni versions compared: two 1.3 MT, two generations

Both generations are Mini 5-doors with one version each.

1 generation (2006-01-01 to 2011-12-31) — Mini 5-doors, 1 version: 1.3 MT, 86 hp.

2 generation (2010-01-01 to 2014-12-31) — Mini 5-doors, 1 version: 1.3 MT, 86 hp.

The calendars overlap in 2010–2011. In those years both 1.3 MT cars existed at once. A 2010 or 2011 Benni is not identified by year alone; you have to know the generation. A Changan Benni 2013 or Changan Benni 2014 in this catalogue can only be 2 generation 1.3 MT. There is no 2015, 2016 or 2019 generation in the data.

Name both versions exactly 1.3 MT. Distinguish them by generation, not by renaming.

Engine: same 86 hp, different torque rpm

Power per litre is identical. 86 hp from 1301 cm³ is 66.1 hp per litre on both 1.3 MT cars (86 ÷ 1.301). Both make 63 kW at 6000 rpm, 110 Nm, Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, No boost, Distributed injection (multi-point), 92 fuel. Neither lists compression ratio or bore × stroke (not measured).

The engine difference that matters when you buy is where peak torque sits:

First-generation 1.3 MT reaches 110 Nm at 3500 rpm. Second-generation 1.3 MT reaches the same 110 Nm at 4000 rpm — 500 rpm later. Peak power rpm does not change (6000). If you want the same 110 Nm earlier in the rev range, first-generation 1.3 MT is the one with the earlier figure.

Engine location is recorded only on first-generation 1.3 MT: Front, transverse. On second-generation 1.3 MT engine location is not measured.

There is no “Changan Benni motor 1000” as a separate engine in this data. 1000 is the first-generation kerb weight in kg, not a 1000 cm³ motor. Both engines are 1301 cm³.

Weight per horsepower: first-generation 1.3 MT is the lighter car

Same 86 hp, different mass.

• First-generation 1.3 MT: kerb 1000 kg, gross 1365 kg. Weight per horsepower at kerb: 1000 ÷ 86 = 11.63 kg/hp. Payload: 1365 − 1000 = 365 kg.
• Second-generation 1.3 MT: kerb 1040 kg, gross 1425 kg. Weight per horsepower at kerb: 1040 ÷ 86 = 12.09 kg/hp. Payload: 1425 − 1040 = 385 kg.

Second-generation 1.3 MT is 40 kg heavier at kerb (+4.0%) and 60 kg heavier at gross (+4.4%). Payload is 20 kg higher on the later car (385 vs 365). You do not get more horsepower for that extra mass. What the later car buys in the numbers is +20 kg of payload and a recorded fuel tank, consumption set, and 155 mm clearance — not a stronger engine.

If the choice is “lightest Mini 5-doors Benni for the same 86 hp,” first-generation 1.3 MT at 1000 kg is the lighter one. If the choice is “highest payload on the same 86 hp,” second-generation 1.3 MT at 385 kg payload is the higher one.

Performance and mpg: what is measured, what is not

0–100 km/h is not measured on either 1.3 MT. Do not treat a missing sprint time as “this car has no acceleration figure in real life”; it is simply not in the catalogue.

Top speed is 145 on both versions. The extra 40 kg on second-generation 1.3 MT does not change the listed maximum speed in these data.

Fuel consumption is the split that actually separates the two cars in a buying list:

• First-generation 1.3 MT: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured, tank not measured. You cannot compute range from this catalogue.
• Second-generation 1.3 MT: city 5.5, highway 4.4, mixed 5, tank 41. Mixed 5 L/100 km on 41 L is 41 ÷ 5 × 100 = 820 km of theoretical mixed range. City 5.5 on 41 L is about 745 km; highway 4.4 on 41 L is about 932 km. CO₂ and eco class are not measured.

If you need documented mpg-style figures (city / highway / mixed) before you choose, only second-generation 1.3 MT has them. First-generation 1.3 MT is not “more economical” or “less economical” in this catalogue — the three consumption fields are not measured.

Dimensions, tank, clearance, brakes

Wheel sizes are not measured on either version.

Ground clearance is 155 mm on second-generation 1.3 MT and not measured on first-generation 1.3 MT. You cannot say the later Mini sits higher or lower than the earlier one from these numbers; you can only say 155 mm is recorded for 2 generation.

Tank 41 L exists only on second-generation 1.3 MT. First-generation tank is not measured.

Suspension wording is the same: front Independent, spring; rear Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem (English label as given).

Brakes are not the same at the rear:

• First-generation 1.3 MT: front Disc, rear Disc.
• Second-generation 1.3 MT: front Disc, rear Drum.

That is a hardware change, not a rounding error. The later Mini 5-doors 1.3 MT lists drums at the back; the earlier one lists discs at both ends. If rear-disc braking is a buying criterion, first-generation 1.3 MT is the version that has it in the data. If you are looking at a Changan Benni 2014, that car in this catalogue is second-generation 1.3 MT with rear Drum.

Which version to choose (arithmetic, not a sales pitch)

There is no price in these data, so “what the extra money buys” can only mean what the later generation’s numbers add versus the earlier 1.3 MT, not a currency delta.

Choose first-generation 1.3 MT (2006–2011) if you want the lower kerb weight (1000 vs 1040 kg), the lower kg/hp (11.63 vs 12.09), peak torque 500 rpm earlier (3500 vs 4000), Front, transverse engine location on the spec sheet, and rear Disc brakes. You accept: consumption not measured, tank not measured, clearance not measured, 20 kg less payload, and production that ends 2011-12-31 (no 2013/2014 first-generation car here).

Choose second-generation 1.3 MT (2010–2014) if you want a Changan Benni 2013 / 2014 Mini with documented city 5.5 / highway 4.4 / mixed 5, a 41 L tank, 155 mm clearance, and 385 kg payload. You accept: 40 kg more kerb weight, torque peak 500 rpm later, rear Drum instead of rear Disc, and engine location not measured. Top speed stays 145; power stays 86 hp; displacement stays 1301 cm³.

Do not choose between engines. Both are Gasoline 1.3 MT, 4 Inline, No boost, Manual 5, FWD. There is no higher-output Benni, no Automatic, and no EV in this set.

Do not use 2015, 2016, 2019, e-star, or EV as filters on this catalogue. Those queries exist; these generations do not cover them.

Reliability and problems: this dataset does not list failure rates, recalls, or owner-review scores. A “2015 review” or “e star review” search is not answered by these numbers. What you can compare without inventing faults is the spec delta above: +40 kg kerb, +60 kg gross, +20 kg payload, +500 rpm on peak torque, rear Disc → Drum, and consumption/tank/clearance going from not measured to 5.5 / 4.4 / 5, 41 L, 155 mm.

For a 2010–2011 used Mini, confirm generation first: same 1.3 MT name, different weight, different torque rpm, different rear brakes.