Daihatsu Leeza

Daihatsu Leeza: which version to buy

The Daihatsu Leeza ran as 1 generation from 1986-11-01 to 1991-12-31, only as a Cabrio, with 5 versions — all named 0.7 MT or 0.7 AT. The buying choice is not body or generation: it is 33 hp, 50 hp, or 64 hp, Carburetor versus Turbo with Distributed injection (multi-point), and 5-speed Manual versus 3-speed Automatic.

The Daihatsu Leeza ran as 1 generation from 1986-11-01 to 1991-12-31, only as a Cabrio, with 5 versions — all named 0.7 MT or 0.7 AT. The buying choice is not body or generation: it is 33 hp, 50 hp, or 64 hp, Carburetor versus Turbo with Distributed injection (multi-point), and 5-speed Manual versus 3-speed Automatic. Power per litre spans 50.1 hp/L (33 hp 0.7 MT) to 97.1 hp/L (64 hp 0.7 AT / 0.7 MT). Kerb weight per horsepower spans 11.4 kg/hp (64 hp 0.7 MT, 730 kg) to 19.4 kg/hp (33 hp 0.7 MT, 640 kg). The 64 hp cars were sold only from 1991-11-01 to 1991-12-31.

Generations compared for a buyer

There is no second generation to trade against. 1 generation is the whole catalogue: Cabrio, 5 versions, 1986-11-01–1991-12-31.

What changed inside that generation is the late Turbo pair. The 33 hp 0.7 MT, 50 hp 0.7 MT, and 50 hp 0.7 AT cover 1986-11-01–1991-12-31. The 64 hp 0.7 AT and 64 hp 0.7 MT exist only for about two months at the end (1991-11-01–1991-12-31). A buyer who wants the +31 hp jump over the 33 hp 0.7 MT is shopping a short production window, not a different generation.

Body type does not split the choice: every version is Cabrio. Drive does not split it: every version is FWD. Displacement does not split it: every engine is 659 cm³ Gasoline.

Engine and specs: the five versions side by side

Exact names as in the data. Two 0.7 MT and two 0.7 AT lines are split by horsepower.

All five sit Front, transverse. Fuel grade in the data is 92. Bore × stroke is 68 × 60.5 on every version.

The 33 hp 0.7 MT is the odd engine: 2 valves per cylinder, Carburetor, compression 10, peak power at 6000 rpm. The 50 hp 0.7 MT and 50 hp 0.7 AT keep Carburetor and compression 10 but use 4 valves per cylinder and peak at 7500 rpm. The 64 hp pair drop compression to 8, add Turbo, and switch to Distributed injection (multi-point) with 4 valves per cylinder.

+17 hp from the 33 hp 0.7 MT to either 50 hp version is a 52% power increase on the same 659 cm³. +14 hp from 50 hp to 64 hp is a further 28%. +31 hp from 33 hp to 64 hp is 94% more power on unchanged displacement — 50.1 hp/L versus 97.1 hp/L.

Torque is the sharper split than horsepower. 43 Nm (33 hp 0.7 MT) to 52 Nm (50 hp versions) is +9 Nm (21%). 52 Nm to 92 Nm (64 hp Turbo) is +40 Nm (77%). Peak torque stays at 4000 rpm on the 33 hp and 64 hp engines and moves to 4500 rpm on the 50 hp pair.

Performance and economy (mpg)

0–100 is not measured on all five versions.

Top speed is measured only on two manuals:

• 0.7 MT (33 hp): 120
• 0.7 MT (50 hp): 130 — +10 over the 33 hp 0.7 MT

Top speed is not measured for 0.7 AT (50 hp), 0.7 AT (64 hp), and 0.7 MT (64 hp). The 64 hp cars cannot be ranked on top speed from this dataset.

City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on all five versions. mpg cannot be compared from these figures. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

What can be compared without inventing economy numbers is mass and tank: every version has a 32 litre tank. The lightest cars (640 kg) are the 33 hp 0.7 MT and 50 hp 0.7 MT. The 64 hp 0.7 MT is 730 kg (+90 kg, +14%). The 64 hp 0.7 AT is 740 kg (+100 kg versus 640 kg, +16%). Kerb weight of the 50 hp 0.7 AT is not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is 165 on every version. Wheel sizes are not measured on every version. Gross weight is not measured on every version.

Kerb weight, where measured:

• 0.7 MT (33 hp): 640 kg → 19.4 kg/hp
• 0.7 MT (50 hp): 640 kg → 12.8 kg/hp
• 0.7 MT (64 hp): 730 kg → 11.4 kg/hp
• 0.7 AT (64 hp): 740 kg → 11.6 kg/hp
• 0.7 AT (50 hp): kerb not measured

The 50 hp 0.7 MT is the same 640 kg as the 33 hp 0.7 MT with +17 hp, so it is 6.6 kg/hp lighter per horsepower (12.8 versus 19.4). The 64 hp 0.7 MT is the best kg/hp in the table (11.4) even after adding 90 kg. The 64 hp 0.7 AT is 10 kg heavier than the 64 hp 0.7 MT for the same 64 hp and 92 Nm — 0.2 kg/hp worse.

Front brakes split with the engines: Disc on the 33 hp 0.7 MT, 50 hp 0.7 MT, and 50 hp 0.7 AT; Ventilated disc on both 64 hp versions. Rear brakes are Drum on all five. Front and rear suspension are Independent, spring on all five.

Which version to choose

If the goal is the lowest mass and the longest production window: 0.7 MT (33 hp). It is 640 kg, 5-speed Manual, FWD, Carburetor, No boost, 120 top speed. It is also the weakest: 33 hp, 43 Nm, 2 valves per cylinder, 19.4 kg/hp. Versus the 50 hp 0.7 MT you give up 17 hp and 10 of top speed for no weight saving.

If the goal is the best naturally aspirated numbers without Turbo: 0.7 MT (50 hp). Same 640 kg as the 33 hp 0.7 MT, same 5-speed Manual, same Carburetor, No boost, 4 valves per cylinder, 50 hp, 52 Nm, 130 top speed. Versus the 33 hp 0.7 MT: +17 hp, +9 Nm, +10 top speed, 0 kg extra. Versus the 64 hp 0.7 MT: −14 hp, −40 Nm, −90 kg, and a measured 130 top speed where the turbo manual’s top speed is not measured.

If the goal is an Automatic without Turbo: 0.7 AT (50 hp). Same engine as the 50 hp 0.7 MT (50 hp, 52 Nm, Carburetor, 4 valves, compression 10) with 3-speed Automatic. Top speed not measured. Kerb weight not measured, so kg/hp cannot be calculated. Versus the 64 hp 0.7 AT you give up Turbo, Distributed injection (multi-point), 14 hp, and 40 Nm, and you keep a much longer date range (1986-11-01–1991-12-31 versus 1991-11-01–1991-12-31).

If the goal is maximum power and torque with a Manual: 0.7 MT (64 hp). 64 hp, 92 Nm, Turbo, Distributed injection (multi-point), 5-speed Manual, 730 kg, 11.4 kg/hp, Ventilated disc front. Versus the 50 hp 0.7 MT: +14 hp, +40 Nm, +90 kg. Versus the 64 hp 0.7 AT: same engine, −10 kg, 5 gears instead of 3. Production is only 1991-11-01–1991-12-31. 0–100, top speed, and mpg are not measured.

If the goal is maximum power with Automatic: 0.7 AT (64 hp). Same 64 hp / 92 Nm Turbo engine as the 64 hp 0.7 MT, 3-speed Automatic, 740 kg, 11.6 kg/hp. It is 10 kg heavier than the turbo manual. Same two-month window. 0–100, top speed, and mpg are not measured.

What the extra output “buys” in this dataset (no prices): moving from 33 hp 0.7 MT to 50 hp 0.7 MT buys +17 hp and +10 top speed at 0 kg. Moving from 50 hp 0.7 MT to 64 hp 0.7 MT buys +14 hp and +40 Nm at +90 kg, Turbo, injection instead of Carburetor, Ventilated disc instead of Disc, and a two-month build span. Moving from any Manual to the matching Automatic costs gears (5 → 3) and, where both weights exist, +10 kg on the 64 hp pair.

Problems and reliability: no failure rates, warranty figures, or common-fault lists are in the data; those values are not measured. What is measured and relevant to upkeep is hardware type: Carburetor on three versions versus Distributed injection (multi-point) plus Turbo on two; 2 versus 4 valves per cylinder; Disc versus Ventilated disc at the front.

Short ranking on the numbers only

1. 0.7 MT (50 hp) — same 640 kg as the entry 33 hp car, +17 hp, only version with both a measured 130 top speed and the light kerb. 2. 0.7 MT (64 hp) — best 11.4 kg/hp and 92 Nm, if the 1991-11–1991-12 window is acceptable. 3. 0.7 AT (64 hp) — same Turbo engine, +10 kg versus the turbo manual. 4. 0.7 AT (50 hp) — Automatic without Turbo; weight and top speed not measured. 5. 0.7 MT (33 hp) — lightest-class 640 kg but 19.4 kg/hp and 120 top speed.

One generation, one Cabrio, five 0.7 versions: pick 33 / 50 / 64 hp, then Manual or Automatic.