Daihatsu Delta Wagon

Daihatsu Delta Wagon: which version to buy

Buy the Daihatsu Delta Wagon 3 generation 2.0 AT (130 hp) if the goal is the strongest petrol and the lowest weight per horsepower in this catalogue (1460 kg / 130 hp = 11.2 kg/hp). Buy the 3 generation 2.2 MT (91 hp) AWD or 2.2 AT (91 hp) AWD if you need the only versions with a measured 0–100 km/h time (11 s) and a measured top speed (175 km/h).

Buy the Daihatsu Delta Wagon 3 generation 2.0 AT (130 hp) if the goal is the strongest petrol and the lowest weight per horsepower in this catalogue (1460 kg / 130 hp = 11.2 kg/hp). Buy the 3 generation 2.2 MT (91 hp) AWD or 2.2 AT (91 hp) AWD if you need the only versions with a measured 0–100 km/h time (11 s) and a measured top speed (175 km/h). Buy the 3 generation 1.8 AT (82 hp) if payload is the job: 2140 − 1280 = 860 kg between gross and kerb, the largest gap in the data. The 2 generation (1982-01-01–1996-10-31, Minivan) is the lighter, mostly RWD choice; the 3 generation (1996-11-01–2001-10-31, Compact Van) is the only generation with AWD and the peak 130 hp. Fuel consumption, CO2, eco class, wheel sizes, and most 0–100 / top-speed figures are not measured. Prices are not in the data.

Generations: what changed when you pick 2 generation vs 3 generation

The catalogue lists 2 generations and 25 versions in the tables below (9 in 3 generation, 12 shown of 16 in 2 generation). Body type is Minivan in 2 generation and Compact Van in 3 generation.

2 generation (1982-01-01–1996-10-31) is the longer run. Power in the shown list runs from 79 hp (1.8 MT) to 115 hp (2.0 MT / 2.0 AT). Every shown version is RWD. Front suspension is Independent, spring; rear is Dependent, spring. Ground clearance is 160 mm, 170 mm, or 175 mm. Kerb weight in the shown list is 1260–1500 kg. There is no AWD line here.

3 generation (1996-11-01–2001-10-31) is the later, shorter run. Peak petrol power jumps from 115 hp to 130 hp on 2.0 AT (+15 hp, +13%). Peak diesel torque jumps from 188 Nm (2 generation 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT, 88 hp) to 211 Nm (3 generation 2.2 AT, 94 hp): +23 Nm. Four versions add AWD: 2.0 AT (130 hp), 2.2 AT (91 hp), 2.2 MT (91 hp), 2.2 AT (94 hp). Front suspension becomes Independent, torsion. Rear is Independent, spring on eight of nine versions; only 1.8 AT (82 hp) keeps Dependent, spring. Ground clearance is 175 mm on both 2.0 AT (130 hp) lines, 180 mm on the diesel lines, and not measured on 1.8 AT. Kerb weight spans 1280–1640 kg.

What the later generation does not buy: a larger tank (still 55 L on every version), a change in brakes (Ventilated disc front, Drum rear on every version), or measured mpg (city, highway, mixed: not measured on every version).

Engine specs: power per litre and the same name twice

All engines in the data are 4 cylinders, Inline. Boost is No on petrol and Turbo on diesel. Gearboxes are Automatic 4 or Manual 5. Fuel labels are 92, 95, or Diesel.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres) is the clean way to rank the engines, because several badges share a name.

The densest petrol is 3 generation 2.0 AT (130 hp): 65.4 hp/L, compression 10, bore × stroke 86 × 86, fuel 95, injection Distributed injection (multi-point). The densest petrol in 2 generation is 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (115 hp): 57.6 hp/L — 7.8 hp/L behind the later 2.0 AT.

The densest small petrol in 2 generation is 1.8 MT (95 hp) at 52.4 hp/L, beating 3 generation 1.8 AT (82 hp) at 46.0 hp/L even though the later engine is smaller (1781 vs 1812 cc, −31 cc). The later 1.8 AT is the only petrol with 2 valves per cylinder and the only version with engine location measured: Front, longitudinal.

Diesel density is clustered: 40.3–44.6 hp/L. The 3 generation 2.2 AT (94 hp) is 43.0 hp/L with 2 valves per cylinder, compression 22.6, and 86 × 94. The 3 generation 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT (91 hp) is 41.7 hp/L with 4 valves per cylinder; bore × stroke, compression, and injection are not measured. The 2 generation 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT (88 hp) is the least dense diesel at 40.3 hp/L, but torque arrives earliest: 188 Nm at 1800 rpm.

On 2 generation 2.0 MT (88 hp, Diesel) and 2.0 AT (88 hp, Diesel) the data lists 88 hp and 45 kW together; both figures are reported as given.

Specs vs weight: kg per horsepower

The 2.0 AT (130 hp) in 3 generation is the lightest per horsepower even at 1460 kg kerb, because 130 hp is 15 hp above the next petrol. The 2 generation 2.0 MT (115 hp) is almost as lean (11.4 kg/hp) and 150 kg lighter in kerb (1310 vs 1460). Stepping from that 2.0 MT (115 hp) to 2.0 AT (115 hp) costs +40 kg kerb for Automatic.

The 3 generation 2.2 AT (94 hp) is the heaviest kerb at 1640 kg. Versus the 91 hp 2.2 AT RWD at 1450 kg, the 94 hp line adds +3 hp, +17 Nm (194 → 211), and +190 kg. That is 63 kg per extra horsepower — the extra diesel does not buy a better kg/hp ratio (17.4 vs 15.9).

AWD weight is not uniform. On 3 generation 2.0 AT (130 hp), RWD and AWD share the same kerb 1460 kg and the same gross 1845 kg. On 3 generation 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT (91 hp), AWD is 1560 kg vs 1450 kg RWD: +110 kg. On 3 generation 2.2 AT (94 hp), RWD and AWD again share 1640 kg.

Performance and mpg: the only measured 0–100 and top speed

0–100 km/h and top speed are measured on two versions only, both 3 generation, both 91 hp, both AWD, both 2184 cc Diesel Turbo:

• 2.2 AT (91 hp, AWD): 11 s, 175 km/h
• 2.2 MT (91 hp, AWD): 11 s, 175 km/h

Automatic vs Manual does not change those two numbers. RWD twins of the same 91 hp diesel (2.2 AT and 2.2 MT) have 0–100 and top speed not measured. Every petrol version in both generations: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured. Every 2 generation diesel: both not measured. 3 generation 2.2 AT (94 hp) RWD and AWD: both not measured.

City, highway, and mixed consumption: not measured on all 21 rows in the tables. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured.

Torque timing still separates work engines from peak-power engines. 3 generation 2.2 AT (94 hp) peaks at 211 Nm at 2000 rpm. 3 generation 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT (91 hp) peaks at 194 Nm at 2200 rpm. 2 generation 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT (88 hp) peaks at 188 Nm at 1800 rpm — 200 rpm earlier than the later 94 hp diesel, with 23 Nm less. The peak petrol 2.0 AT (130 hp) waits until 181 Nm at 4400 rpm. The 1.8 AT (82 hp) is 142 Nm at 2800 rpm.

Dimensions, weight, tank, clearance

Tank is 55 L on every version. Wheel size is not measured on every version.

Gross weight is measured on four 3 generation lines only:

• 1.8 AT: kerb 1280 kg, gross 2140 kg, payload 860 kg
• 2.0 AT (130 hp, RWD and AWD): kerb 1460 kg, gross 1845 kg, payload 385 kg
• 2.2 AT (94 hp, RWD and AWD): kerb 1640 kg, gross 2025 kg, payload 385 kg

1.8 AT therefore carries 860 − 385 = 475 kg more payload than the 130 hp 2.0 AT, at 48 hp less and 180 kg less kerb. Gross is not measured on all 2 generation versions and on the 91 hp diesels in 3 generation.

Ground clearance, if you buy by millimetres:

• 160 mm: 2 generation 1.8 MT (79 hp), 1.8 MT (95 hp), 2.0 MT (88 hp, Diesel), 2.0 AT (88 hp, Diesel)
• 170 mm: 2 generation 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (85 hp, Diesel), 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT (88 hp)
• 175 mm: 2 generation 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT (97 hp and 115 hp); 3 generation 2.0 AT (130 hp, both drives)
• 180 mm: all 3 generation 2.2 diesels
• not measured: 3 generation 1.8 AT

The later diesel sits 5 mm higher than the later petrol 2.0 AT (180 vs 175). Versus the lowest 2 generation petrol (160 mm), the later diesel is +20 mm.

Lightest kerb in the catalogue: 2 generation 1.8 MT (95 hp) at 1260 kg. Heaviest: 3 generation 2.2 AT (94 hp) at 1640 kg (+380 kg).

Which version to choose

Peak petrol, best kg/hp, later body: 3 generation 2.0 AT (130 hp). RWD and AWD share 130 hp, 181 Nm, 1460 kg, 1845 kg gross, 175 mm. The data does not add kerb for AWD on this engine, so the arithmetic extra of AWD here is drive type only, not mass. Fuel is 95; the rest of the petrols in both generations use 92. 0–100, top speed, mpg: not measured.

Peak petrol in the earlier generation, lighter kerb: 2 generation 2.0 MT (115 hp) at 1310 kg, or 2.0 AT (115 hp) at 1350 kg. You give up 15 hp and 1 Nm versus the later 2.0 AT (130 / 181) and you stay RWD only. You gain 150 kg (MT) or 110 kg (AT) less kerb than 1460 kg. Clearance matches the later petrol: 175 mm.

Lightest petrol overall: 2 generation 1.8 MT (95 hp), 1260 kg, 95 hp, 152 Nm, 13.3 kg/hp, 160 mm. Versus 1.8 MT (79 hp) at the same 1812 cc and the same 1.8 MT name: +16 hp, +12 Nm, −20 kg kerb. The 95 hp 1.8 MT is the better 1.8 if both are on the list.

Maximum payload: 3 generation 1.8 AT (82 hp). 860 kg payload, 1280 kg kerb, 2140 kg gross, RWD, Automatic 4, Gasoline 92, 2 valves per cylinder, rear Dependent, spring. Clearance not measured. It is the weakest petrol in 3 generation (82 hp, 15.6 kg/hp) and the only 3 generation petrol that is not 2.0 AT.

Measured acceleration and top speed: only 3 generation 2.2 AT (91 hp, AWD) and 2.2 MT (91 hp, AWD). Both 11 s and 175 km/h, both 1560 kg, both 180 mm. Choose Manual 5 vs Automatic 4 on preference; the measured speed figures do not split. If you do not need AWD, the RWD 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT (91 hp) are 110 kg lighter (1450 kg) with the same 91 hp / 194 Nm, but 0–100 and top speed are not measured.

Highest diesel torque: 3 generation 2.2 AT (94 hp), 211 Nm at 2000 rpm, RWD or AWD, both 1640 kg / 2025 kg, payload 385 kg, 180 mm, 2 valves per cylinder. Versus 91 hp RWD you pay 190 kg extra kerb for 3 hp and 17 Nm. Versus 2 generation 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT (88 hp) you gain +6 hp and +23 Nm and +140 kg (1640 vs 1500), plus the option of AWD.

2 generation diesel without stretching to 2.2: 2.0 MT (88 hp, Diesel) at 1340 kg and 160 mm is the lightest diesel (15.2 kg/hp). 2.0 AT (88 hp, Diesel) adds +40 kg. The 85 hp pair is heavier (1480 / 1490 kg) with more torque (173 Nm vs 167 Nm) and 170 mm. Injection on these 2.0 diesels is Distributed injection (multi-point); on 3 generation diesels injection is not measured.

Problems and reliability: no failure rates, service intervals, or defect counts are in the data. Those figures are not measured. What the numbers do show is hardware that does not change: Ventilated disc front and Drum rear on every version; 55 L tank on every version; petrol without boost; diesel with Turbo.

Short map: 2.0 AT (130 hp) in 3 generation for power density; 2.0 MT (115 hp) in 2 generation if you want nearly the same kg/hp at lower kerb and earlier years; 1.8 AT in 3 generation for payload; 2.2 MT or 2.2 AT (91 hp, AWD) in 3 generation for the only timed run; 2.2 AT (94 hp) in 3 generation for 211 Nm; 1.8 MT (95 hp) in 2 generation for the lightest kerb.