Daewoo Matiz: which version to buy
The Daewoo Matiz that is worth buying is the restyled 1.0 MT if you want the most power and the shortest measured 0–100 km/h among manuals, and the restyled 0.8 AT if you want the shortest measured 0–100 km/h of any Matiz in this catalogue.
The Daewoo Matiz that is worth buying is the restyled 1.0 MT if you want the most power and the shortest measured 0–100 km/h among manuals, and the restyled 0.8 AT if you want the shortest measured 0–100 km/h of any Matiz in this catalogue. The pre-restyle cars (December 1997–August 2000) are lighter; the restyle (September 2000–October 2015) adds 10 mm of ground clearance and, on the 1.0 MT, a fourth cylinder. There is no price data here, so “what the extra engine buys” is read from kilograms, seconds, and litres — not from a sticker.
Generations: what actually changed
1 generation (December 1997–August 2000), Mini 5-doors, three versions: 0.8 AT, 0.8 MT, 0.8 CVT. All three use the same 796 cm³ Gasoline inline-3, 52 hp (38 kW) at 5900 rpm, 69 Nm at 4600 rpm, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, FWD, 92 fuel. Ground clearance is 140 mm. Gross weight is 1210 kg on every row. Kerb weight is 725 kg on 0.8 AT and 0.8 MT; kerb weight of 0.8 CVT is not measured. Wheels on 0.8 AT and 0.8 MT are 145/70 R13 and 155/65 R13; wheels on 0.8 CVT are not measured. Rear suspension on 0.8 CVT is Independent, spring; on the other two it is Semi-independent, spring.
1 generation, restyling (September 2000–October 2015), still Mini 5-doors, still three versions: 1.0 MT, 0.8 MT, 0.8 AT. Clearance rises from 140 mm to 150 mm (+10 mm). Kerb weight of the manuals rises from 725 kg to 770 kg (+45 kg). The restyled 0.8 AT is 795 kg, 70 kg heavier than the 1997–2000 0.8 AT. The new engine is the 995 cm³ 1.0 MT: 64 hp (47 kW) at 5400 rpm, 87 Nm at 4200 rpm, Gasoline inline-4. The restyled 0.8 AT gearbox is Automatic 4-speed (the first-generation 0.8 AT is Automatic 3-speed) and its torque is 73 Nm at 4400 rpm versus 69 Nm at 4600 rpm on the earlier automatic.
Production span of the restyle is 15 years 2 months versus 2 years 9 months for the first body. If the question is “which generation to buy,” the restyle is the one that added a 1.0-litre four-cylinder and a 4-speed automatic; the first generation is the one that is 45–70 kg lighter and 10 mm lower.
Engine specs: every version, named as in the catalogue
| Version | Years | hp / kW | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 AT | 1997–2000 | 52 / 38 @ 5900 | 69 @ 4600 | 796 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | Front, transverse | No | Automatic 3 | FWD |
| 0.8 MT | 1997–2000 | 52 / 38 @ 5900 | 69 @ 4600 | 796 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | Front, transverse | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 0.8 CVT | 1997–2000 | 52 / 38 @ 5900 | 69 @ 4600 | 796 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | not measured | No | Variable | FWD |
| 1.0 MT | 2000–2015 | 64 / 47 @ 5400 | 87 @ 4200 | 995 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | Front, transverse | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 0.8 MT | 2000–2015 | 52 / 38 @ 5900 | 69 @ 4600 | 796 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | Front, transverse | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 0.8 AT | 2000–2015 | 52 / 38 @ 6000 | 73 @ 4400 | 796 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | Front, transverse | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
Both generations have a 0.8 MT at 52 hp and a 0.8 AT at 52 hp. They are not the same car: the restyled automatic is a 4-speed with 73 Nm and 795 kg; the first automatic is a 3-speed with 69 Nm and 725 kg. Compression ratio is 9.3 and bore × stroke is 68.5 × 72 on every engine in this data set, including the 995 cm³ four. Engine oil capacity is not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured on all six.
Power per litre (arithmetic on the given displacements): 52 hp ÷ 0.796 L ≈ 65.3 hp/L on every 0.8; 64 hp ÷ 0.995 L ≈ 64.3 hp/L on 1.0 MT. The 1.0 is not a higher-strung engine; it is a larger one. Peak power arrives 500 rpm earlier on 1.0 MT (5400 vs 5900) and 100 rpm later on the restyled 0.8 AT (6000 vs 5900).
Horsepower, 0–100, and which clock you actually get
1.0 MT is the only Matiz here above 52 hp: +12 hp versus every 0.8, which is +23%. Torque is 87 Nm versus 69 Nm on the manuals and the first 0.8 AT (+18 Nm, +26%) and versus 73 Nm on the restyled 0.8 AT (+14 Nm).
Measured 0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest:
1. Restyled 0.8 AT — 14.8 s 2. Restyled 1.0 MT — 15.2 s (0.4 s slower than the restyled automatic) 3. First-generation 0.8 AT, first-generation 0.8 MT, restyled 0.8 MT — 17 s (2.2 s slower than the restyled automatic; 1.8 s slower than 1.0 MT) 4. 0.8 CVT — 18.5 s (3.7 s slower than the restyled automatic; 3.3 s slower than 1.0 MT)
Top speed is 145 km/h on 1.0 MT and 144 km/h on every 0.8 — a 1 km/h gap. If “how fast” means a highway number, the 1.0 does not buy a different car. If “how fast” means 0–100, the restyled 0.8 AT is the quickest row in the table, and 0.8 CVT is the slowest.
Weight per horsepower:
- First-generation 0.8 MT / 0.8 AT: 725 ÷ 52 ≈ 13.9 kg/hp
- Restyled 1.0 MT: 770 ÷ 64 ≈ 12.0 kg/hp (lightest load per horsepower)
- Restyled 0.8 MT: 770 ÷ 52 ≈ 14.8 kg/hp
- Restyled 0.8 AT: 795 ÷ 52 ≈ 15.3 kg/hp (heaviest load per horsepower)
- 0.8 CVT kerb weight: not measured, so kg/hp for that version is not measured
The restyle made the 0.8 manuals ~0.9 kg/hp worse (13.9 → 14.8) because mass rose 45 kg and power did not. The 1.0 MT more than pays for that extra 45 kg: 12.0 kg/hp is the best figure in the set.
Mileage / mpg: only the restyle was measured
City / highway / mixed (L/100 km):
- Restyled 1.0 MT: 7.3 / 6.3 / 6.6
- Restyled 0.8 MT: 7.3 / 6.3 / 6.8
- Restyled 0.8 AT: 8.4 / 5.3 / 6.5
First-generation 0.8 AT, 0.8 MT, and 0.8 CVT: city, highway, and mixed are not measured.
On the restyle, city consumption of both manuals is identical at 7.3; the automatic uses 1.1 L/100 km more in town (8.4). On the highway the automatic is the cheapest of the three: 5.3 versus 6.3 (−1.0 L/100 km). Mixed: 0.8 AT 6.5, 1.0 MT 6.6 (+0.1), 0.8 MT 6.8 (+0.3 versus the automatic). The 1.0-litre four does not use more mixed fuel than the restyled 0.8 three in this data; it uses 0.2 L/100 km less than restyled 0.8 MT.
Tank volume is 35 L on all six. Range arithmetic is only possible where mixed consumption is measured: 35 ÷ 6.5 ≈ 538 km on restyled 0.8 AT; 35 ÷ 6.6 ≈ 530 km on 1.0 MT; 35 ÷ 6.8 ≈ 515 km on restyled 0.8 MT. First-generation range is not measured.
Dimensions, weight, wheels — what the buyer can check
Length, width, and height are not measured in this data set. What is measured:
Kerb weight. Lightest measured: 725 kg (1997–2000 0.8 AT and 0.8 MT). Restyled manuals: 770 kg. Restyled 0.8 AT: 795 kg. 0.8 CVT: not measured. Gross weight is 1210 kg on every version, so payload on a 725 kg car is 485 kg and on a 795 kg car is 415 kg (−70 kg of payload on the heaviest restyle automatic versus the lightest first-generation cars).
Ground clearance. 140 mm before the restyle, 150 mm after. That +10 mm is the only dimension change stated here.
Wheels. 145/70 R13 and 155/65 R13 on first-generation 0.8 AT and 0.8 MT, and on restyled 0.8 AT. Wheels are not measured on first-generation 0.8 CVT, restyled 1.0 MT, and restyled 0.8 MT.
Chassis common to five of six versions: front Independent, spring; rear Semi-independent, spring; front Disc; rear Drum. 0.8 CVT is the exception at the rear: Independent, spring.
Which version to choose
Buy restyled 1.0 MT if the decision is power and mass-to-power. It is the only 64 hp Matiz, the only 995 cm³, the only inline-4, the only 87 Nm, the only 145 km/h, and the only 12.0 kg/hp. Versus restyled 0.8 MT you gain 12 hp and 18 Nm for the same 770 kg kerb weight, the same 7.3 city and 6.3 highway, and 0.2 L/100 km less mixed fuel (6.6 vs 6.8). Versus restyled 0.8 AT you are 0.4 s slower to 100 km/h but 25 kg lighter and 12 hp up. Versus first-generation 0.8 MT you pay 45 kg and gain 12 hp, 10 mm of clearance, and measured fuel figures the older car does not have.
Buy restyled 0.8 AT if the decision is the stopwatch and town/highway split. 14.8 s to 100 km/h is the best 0–100 in the catalogue — 0.4 s quicker than 1.0 MT, 2.2 s quicker than every 17 s 0.8, 3.7 s quicker than 0.8 CVT. It is also the only Automatic 4-speed; the 1997–2000 0.8 AT is Automatic 3. Highway 5.3 L/100 km is the lowest measured highway figure; city 8.4 is the highest. You carry 795 kg, the heaviest kerb, and 15.3 kg/hp, the worst measured ratio. Versus the first-generation 0.8 AT you add 70 kg, 4 Nm, one extra gear, 10 mm of clearance, and a 2.2 s shorter 0–100 (14.8 vs 17).
Buy restyled 0.8 MT only if you want a five-speed 0.8 after September 2000 and do not want the 1.0. It shares 52 hp, 69 Nm, 17 s, and 144 km/h with the first-generation 0.8 MT, but weighs 770 kg instead of 725 kg and sits 10 mm higher. Mixed 6.8 L/100 km is the thirstiest measured mixed figure. There is no performance gain versus the 1997–2000 0.8 MT; the restyle here is mass and clearance, not speed.
Buy first-generation 0.8 MT if kerb weight is the criterion. 725 kg is the lightest measured Matiz, tied with first-generation 0.8 AT. Same 52 hp and 17 s as later 0.8 MT, 45 kg less. Fuel consumption is not measured, so you cannot compare mpg with the restyle from this table. Clearance 140 mm is the lower of the two generations.
Buy first-generation 0.8 AT if you want an automatic and the lowest mass: 725 kg, Automatic 3, 17 s, 52 hp, 69 Nm. It is 70 kg lighter than restyled 0.8 AT and 2.2 s slower to 100 km/h. Fuel is not measured.
Do not buy 0.8 CVT if 0–100 is the test: 18.5 s is the slowest, 1.5 s behind the other first-generation 0.8s. Gearbox is Variable; number of gears is not measured. Kerb weight is not measured. Engine location is not measured. Wheels are not measured. Rear suspension is Independent, spring, unlike the rest of the family. It matches the others only on 52 hp, 69 Nm, 144 km/h, 35 L tank, 140 mm clearance, and 1210 kg gross.
2000 / 2002 / 2004 calendar years sit inside the restyle window (from September 2000). A 2000 car built from September onward is the restyle set (1.0 MT, 0.8 MT, 0.8 AT); a 1999 car is first generation. A 2002 or 2004 Matiz in this catalogue is one of those three restyle versions — there is no fourth engine.
Engine problems, oil capacity, engine swap, and sale price are not measured in this data. What is measured is enough to rank the six rows: 1.0 MT for power and kg/hp; restyled 0.8 AT for 0–100 and highway litres; first-generation 0.8 MT or 0.8 AT for 725 kg; 0.8 CVT last on acceleration; restyled 0.8 MT as the 0.8 that gained weight without gaining horsepower.