Chevrolet Prizm specs: four versions, two power levels
Every version uses 1794 cm³, 4 cylinders, Inline layout, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.1, bore and stroke 79 × 91.5, fuel 95, FWD, No boost, disc front / drum rear brakes, independent spring suspension front and rear, 50 L tank, 120 mm ground clearance, top speed 190 km/h. Engine position is not measured. Wheel size is not measured.
Every version uses 1794 cm³, 4 cylinders, Inline layout, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.1, bore and stroke 79 × 91.5, fuel 95, FWD, No boost, disc front / drum rear brakes, independent spring suspension front and rear, 50 L tank, 120 mm ground clearance, top speed 190 km/h. Engine position is not measured. Wheel size is not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured.
| Version (exact name) | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 MT (122 hp) | 122 hp / 90 kW at 5600 rpm | 165 Nm at 4400 rpm | 1794 cm³ | Gasoline, 95 | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 5 | FWD |
| 1.8 AT (122 hp) | 122 hp / 90 kW at 5600 rpm | 165 Nm at 4400 rpm | 1794 cm³ | Gasoline, 95 | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 3 | FWD |
| 1.8 MT (126 hp) | 126 hp / 93 kW at 5800 rpm | 170 Nm at 4000 rpm | 1794 cm³ | Gasoline, 95 | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 5 | FWD |
| 1.8 AT (126 hp) | 126 hp / 93 kW at 5800 rpm | 170 Nm at 4000 rpm | 1794 cm³ | Gasoline, 95 | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 4 | FWD |
The extra 4 hp (+3.3%) and 5 Nm (+3.0%) sit on the same 1794 cm³. Specific output is 68.0 hp/L on both 122 hp versions and 70.2 hp/L on both 126 hp versions. Peak power arrives 200 rpm later on the 126 hp engine (5800 vs 5600). Peak torque arrives 400 rpm earlier (4000 vs 4400).
Chevrolet Prizm engine: 122 hp vs 126 hp
There is one displacement and one cylinder layout. The engine decision is only the output step.
1.8 MT 122 hp and 1.8 AT 122 hp share 122 hp / 90 kW and 165 Nm. 1.8 MT 126 hp and 1.8 AT 126 hp share 126 hp / 93 kW and 170 Nm. That is +4 hp and +3 kW. Torque density is 92.0 Nm/L at 122 hp and 94.8 Nm/L at 126 hp.
If you want the stronger Chevrolet Prizm engine, you take a 126 hp version. If you want the same 1794 cm³ with the lower peak, you take a 122 hp version. There is no other engine family in this generation.
Manual vs automatic: what the extra gears buy
1.8 MT 122 hp and 1.8 MT 126 hp both use Manual with 5 gears. 1.8 AT 122 hp uses Automatic with 3 gears. 1.8 AT 126 hp uses Automatic with 4 gears.
That is the largest mechanical split after power. The 122 hp automatic has 2 fewer ratios than either 1.8 MT. The 126 hp automatic has 1 fewer ratio than either 1.8 MT, and 1 more ratio than 1.8 AT 122 hp. If the gearbox is the buying criterion, 1.8 AT 126 hp is the only Automatic with 4 gears; 1.8 AT 122 hp is the only Automatic with 3.
Drive does not change: all four are FWD. Boost does not change: all four are No.
Chevrolet Prizm mpg and 0–100: measured vs not measured
1.8 MT 122 hp: 0–100 km/h 8.3 s; city 7.6 / highway 5.8 / combined 6.6 L/100 km. 1.8 MT 126 hp: 0–100 km/h 8.2 s; city 7.4 / highway 5.7 / combined 6.5 L/100 km. 1.8 AT 126 hp: 0–100 km/h not measured; city 7.8 / highway 5.9 / combined 6.7 L/100 km. 1.8 AT 122 hp: 0–100 km/h not measured; city not measured; highway not measured; combined not measured.
Among measured 0–100 figures, 1.8 MT 126 hp is 0.1 s quicker than 1.8 MT 122 hp. Top speed is 190 km/h on all four versions — the extra 4 hp does not change the listed maximum.
Among measured combined mpg, 1.8 MT 126 hp is the lowest at 6.5 L/100 km, then 1.8 MT 122 hp at 6.6, then 1.8 AT 126 hp at 6.7. City: 7.4 vs 7.6 vs 7.8. Highway: 5.7 vs 5.8 vs 5.9. The 126 hp manual uses 0.1 L/100 km less combined than the 122 hp manual, and 0.2 L/100 km less than the 126 hp automatic. 1.8 AT 122 hp fuel use is not measured — do not treat a blank as “no consumption.”
Tank is 50 L on every version. Using combined figures that exist: 1.8 MT 126 hp at 6.5 L/100 km implies a longer range from the same 50 L than 1.8 MT 122 hp at 6.6 or 1.8 AT 126 hp at 6.7. Range for 1.8 AT 122 hp is not measured because consumption is not measured.
Dimensions, weight, Chevrolet Prizm 2000–2002 packaging
This is 1 generation, Sedan, 1997-01-01 to 2002-12-31. There is no second generation to compare. Years people search (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) sit inside the same generation and the same four versions.
Kerb weight is 1090 kg on 1.8 MT 122 hp and 1.8 MT 126 hp. Kerb weight is not measured on both 1.8 AT versions. Gross weight is not measured on all four. Ground clearance is 120 mm on all four. Wheel size is not measured on all four.
On the two measured kerb weights, mass per horsepower is 8.93 kg/hp for 1.8 MT 122 hp (1090 / 122) and 8.65 kg/hp for 1.8 MT 126 hp (1090 / 126). Same 1090 kg, 4 hp more, 0.28 kg/hp less. Automatic kerb weight cannot be compared: it is not measured.
Which Chevrolet Prizm version to buy
Buy 1.8 MT 126 hp if you want the strongest measured combination in this catalogue: 126 hp, 170 Nm, 5-speed Manual, 8.2 s 0–100, combined 6.5 L/100 km, kerb 1090 kg. It beats 1.8 MT 122 hp by 4 hp, 5 Nm, 0.1 s, and 0.1 L/100 km combined, at the same 1090 kg and the same 190 km/h.
Buy 1.8 MT 122 hp if you want Manual 5 gears with the lower output: 122 hp, 165 Nm, 8.3 s, combined 6.6 L/100 km, kerb 1090 kg. Versus the 126 hp manual you give up 4 hp and 0.1 s; you do not change displacement, drive, tank, clearance, or top speed.
Buy 1.8 AT 126 hp if you need Automatic and want the only 4-speed automatic here, plus the 126 hp / 170 Nm engine. Combined mpg is 6.7 — 0.2 L/100 km above 1.8 MT 126 hp. 0–100 is not measured. Kerb weight is not measured.
Buy 1.8 AT 122 hp only if you specifically want Automatic with 3 gears and 122 hp. 0–100 is not measured. City, highway, and combined mpg are not measured. Kerb weight is not measured. Relative to 1.8 AT 126 hp you lose 4 hp, 5 Nm, and 1 gear, with no economy numbers to offset that.
Chevrolet Prizm vs itself (and searches this page does not invent)
There is no second generation, so “which generation changed what” is empty: body stays Sedan, years stay 1997–2002, versions stay these four. Chevrolet Prizm vs Toyota Corolla is not measured in this dataset — no Corolla figures are given, so no comparison is written.
Reliability, problems, and oil type (including 1998 / 2000 / 2001 / 2002 searches) are not measured here. Do not treat missing reliability as “no problems.” For sale listings and prices are not in the data and are not used.
Summary in one line: the four Chevrolet Prizm versions are two engines (122 hp / 165 Nm vs 126 hp / 170 Nm) times two gearboxes (Manual 5 vs Automatic 3 or 4). The measured winner on power, 0–100, and mpg is 1.8 MT 126 hp. The measured automatic with a full fuel set is 1.8 AT 126 hp. 1.8 AT 122 hp is the version with the most not measured performance fields.