Chevrolet Corsa

Buying guide

Generations: one generation, eleven versions

Because there is only one generation, “which generation changed what” is not a generation jump. The spread is inside 1 generation: kerb weight from 845 kg to 1070 kg (225 kg), 0–100 from 9 s to 18.5 s (9.5 s), top speed from 150 km/h to 190 km/h (40 km/h), ground clearance 140 mm or 150 mm.

1 generation (1994–2001) is the whole model. Body: Sedan. Versions: 11. Gearbox on all: Manual. Drive on all: FWD. Fuel types: Gasoline (ten versions) and Diesel (one: 1.7 MT).

Because there is only one generation, “which generation changed what” is not a generation jump. The spread is inside 1 generation: kerb weight from 845 kg to 1070 kg (225 kg), 0–100 from 9 s to 18.5 s (9.5 s), top speed from 150 km/h to 190 km/h (40 km/h), ground clearance 140 mm or 150 mm.

Engines and specs

All engines are 4 cylinders, Inline, boost No. Gasoline versions use Distributed injection (multi-point) except where noted. Engine position is Front, transverse on 1.6 MT 102 hp and 1.7 MT 60 hp; on the other nine it is not measured.

1.7 MT fuel system: not measured. Compression: gasoline 9.4–10.1; 1.7 MT diesel 22. Bore × stroke: 1.0 MT 71 × 62.9 (or 71.1 × 62.9 on 67 hp); 1.6 MT 79 × 81.5; 1.7 MT 79 × 88.

Specific output (hp per litre, displacement ÷ 1000):

• 1.0 MT 60 hp / 0.996 L ≈ 60.2 hp/L
• 1.0 MT 67 hp / 0.999 L ≈ 67.1 hp/L
• 1.0 MT 68 hp / 0.996 L ≈ 68.3 hp/L (highest gasoline density in this set)
• 1.6 MT 92 hp / 1.598 L ≈ 57.6 hp/L (lowest gasoline density)
• 1.6 MT 101 hp / 1.598 L ≈ 63.2 hp/L
• 1.6 MT 102 hp / 1.598 L ≈ 63.8 hp/L
• 1.7 MT 60 hp / 1.688 L ≈ 35.5 hp/L (diesel; lowest of all eleven)

The 1.0 MT 68 hp four-valve unit extracts about 10.7 hp/L more than the 1.6 MT 92 hp two-valve (68.3 − 57.6). The extra displacement of 1.6 MT still wins on absolute power: 92 − 68 = 24 hp, 101 − 68 = 33 hp, 102 − 68 = 34 hp.

Performance and economy (mpg / 0–100)

City, highway, and combined consumption: not measured on all 11 versions. CO2: not measured. There is no mpg figure in the data, so economy cannot be ranked by litres — only by tank size (46 L on all) and by how hard the engine works (power, mass, 0–100).

The 1.6 MT 101 hp at 9 s is 9.5 s quicker than 1.7 MT (18.5 − 9) and 9.1 s quicker than 1.0 MT 60 hp / 905 kg (18.1 − 9). Top speed span: 190 − 150 = 40 km/h.

The odd pairing is 1.6 MT 92 hp with 15.7 s / 160 km/h: same 0–100 and top speed as 1.0 MT 67 hp, so the extra 25 hp and 37 Nm (127 − 90) do not show as a quicker sprint in that row. Prefer the other 1.6 MT 92 hp rows: 11 s / 182 km/h or 9.9 s / 177 km/h.

1.6 MT 102 hp (10.6 s, 190 km/h) is 1.6 s slower to 100 than 1.6 MT 101 hp (9 s) despite +1 hp. Kerb on 102 hp is 1025 kg vs 1015 kg or 1035 kg on the 101 hp cars — mass does not explain the gap by itself.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel size: not measured on all 11. Fuel tank: 46 L on all. Suspension: Independent, spring front and rear on all. Rear brakes: Drum on all. Front brakes: Disc or Ventilated disc.

Kerb / gross / clearance:

• 1.0 MT 60 hp, 845 kg: 845 / 1320 kg, 140 mm, Disc — lightest; payload 1320 − 845 = 475 kg
• 1.0 MT 60 hp, 905 kg: 905 / 1395 kg, 150 mm, Disc — payload 490 kg; +10 mm clearance vs the 845 kg car
• 1.0 MT 68 hp: 910 / 1405 kg, 140 mm, Disc — payload 495 kg
• 1.6 MT 92 hp, 915 kg: 915 / 1375 kg, 140 mm, Disc — payload 460 kg (smallest payload among gasoline)
• 1.0 MT 67 hp: 975 / 1435 kg, 150 mm, Ventilated disc — payload 460 kg; only 95 gasoline
• 1.6 MT 92 hp, 15.7 s: 975 / 1435 kg, 150 mm, Ventilated disc — same mass as 67 hp 1.0 MT
• 1.6 MT 92 hp, 9.9 s: 975 / 1475 kg, 140 mm, Disc — payload 500 kg
• 1.6 MT 101 hp, 1015 kg: 1015 / 1475 kg, 140 mm, Disc — payload 460 kg
• 1.6 MT 102 hp: 1025 / 1445 kg, 140 mm, Disc — payload 420 kg
• 1.6 MT 101 hp, 1035 kg: 1035 / 1495 kg, 150 mm, Ventilated disc — payload 460 kg; +10 mm vs the 1015 kg 101 hp
• 1.7 MT: 1070 / 1530 kg, 150 mm, Ventilated disc — heaviest; payload 460 kg

Weight per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp):

• 1.6 MT 92 hp / 915 kg: 915 / 92 ≈ 9.95 kg/hp (best)
• 1.6 MT 102 hp: 1025 / 102 ≈ 10.05 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 101 hp / 1015 kg: 1015 / 101 ≈ 10.05 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 101 hp / 1035 kg: 1035 / 101 ≈ 10.25 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 92 hp / 975 kg (both 15.7 s and 9.9 s): 975 / 92 ≈ 10.60 kg/hp
• 1.0 MT 68 hp: 910 / 68 ≈ 13.38 kg/hp
• 1.0 MT 60 hp / 845 kg: 845 / 60 ≈ 14.08 kg/hp
• 1.0 MT 67 hp: 975 / 67 ≈ 14.55 kg/hp
• 1.0 MT 60 hp / 905 kg: 905 / 60 ≈ 15.08 kg/hp
• 1.7 MT: 1070 / 60 ≈ 17.83 kg/hp (worst)

The 1.6 MT cluster sits around 10 kg/hp; the 1.0 MT cluster 13.4–15.1 kg/hp; diesel 17.8 kg/hp.

Which version to choose

There is no price in this catalogue, so “what extra money buys” is read as what extra displacement, valves, and mass buy in seconds and km/h.

Buy a 1.6 MT 101 hp (9 s) if the goal is the fastest Corsa in this data. Both 1.6 MT 101 hp rows share 9 s and 190 km/h, 145 Nm @ 4000, 4 valves, fuel 80. Difference: 1035 kg, 150 mm, Ventilated disc, gross 1495 kg versus 1015 kg, 140 mm, Disc, gross 1475 kg. Choose 150 mm + ventilated front discs if clearance and front brakes matter; choose 1015 kg if you want 20 kg less and the same sprint.

Buy 1.6 MT 102 hp only if you specifically want 102 hp / 75 kW and Front, transverse (the only gasoline version with engine position measured). You do not buy it for a quicker 0–100: 10.6 s is 1.6 s slower than 101 hp, top speed is the same 190 km/h, and you add 10 kg versus the 1015 kg 101 hp (1025 − 1015).

Buy 1.6 MT 92 hp — but pick the row by 0–100, not by the name. Three cars are named 1.6 MT at 92 hp / 68 kW, 127 Nm @ 2800, 2 valves, 1598, fuel 80:

1. 11 s, 182 km/h, 915 kg, 140 mm, Disc — lightest 1.6, best kg/hp in the whole model 2. 9.9 s, 177 km/h, 975 kg, 140 mm, Disc — quickest 92 hp 3. 15.7 s, 160 km/h, 975 kg, 150 mm, Ventilated disc — slowest 1.6; same sprint as 1.0 MT 67 hp

If you want 92 hp for the power, take 9.9 s or 11 s. The 15.7 s 1.6 MT 92 hp does not buy a faster car than a strong 1.0 MT.

Buy 1.0 MT 68 hp if you want the smallest engine with the best 1.0 sprint: 14.9 s, 155 km/h, 68 hp, 89 Nm, 4 valves, 910 kg, fuel 80. Versus 1.0 MT 60 hp / 905 kg: +8 hp, −3.2 s (18.1 − 14.9), same 155 km/h top speed, +5 kg. Versus 1.0 MT 60 hp / 845 kg: +8 hp, −1.0 s (15.9 − 14.9), +4 km/h (155 − 151), +65 kg.

Buy 1.0 MT 67 hp if you need fuel 95 (the only 95 in the set) and Ventilated disc on a 1.0: 15.7 s, 160 km/h, 999 cc, compression 10.1, 150 mm. Versus 68 hp: −1 hp, +0.8 s to 100, +5 km/h top speed, +65 kg, fuel 95 instead of 80.

Buy 1.0 MT 60 hp / 845 kg if mass is the priority: 845 kg is 225 kg below 1.7 MT and 190 kg below the heaviest 1.6 MT 101 hp (1035 − 845). Sprint 15.9 s is already 2.2 s quicker than the other 60 hp gasoline (18.1 s) at the cost of 140 mm vs 150 mm and 151 vs 155 km/h.

Buy 1.0 MT 60 hp / 905 kg only if you want that 60 hp / 81 Nm / 2-valve / 996 recipe with 150 mm. It is the slowest gasoline 0–100 (18.1 s).

Buy 1.7 MT only for Diesel. You get 112 Nm @ 2650 — 31 Nm more than 1.0 MT 60 hp (81 Nm) and 23 Nm more than 1.0 MT 67 hp (90 Nm), at 2650 rpm versus 3200–4000. You pay 18.5 s, 150 km/h, 1070 kg, and 17.83 kg/hp. Fuel system not measured; consumption not measured, so diesel economy is not a measured advantage here.

What you cannot choose: Automatic, AWD, another generation, pick-up, 1.4, or a Corsa after 2001-12-31 — they are not in this data. Reliability and typical faults are not measured.

Practical shortlist: 1.6 MT 101 hp 9 s (pick 1015 kg or 1035 kg by clearance and front brakes) for speed; 1.6 MT 92 hp 11 s / 915 kg for the lowest kg/hp; 1.0 MT 68 hp for the strongest 1.0; 1.7 MT only if the fuel must be Diesel.