Dodge Aries

Dodge Aries: which version to buy and why (2.6 MT vs 2.6 AT)

The Dodge Aries in this catalogue is a one-generation car (1981–1989), a Sedan 2-doors, with two versions that share the same engine and differ only in the gearbox: 2.6 MT (Manual, 4 gears) and 2.6 AT (Automatic, 3 gears). Both make 131 hp (96 kW) at 4750 rpm and 212 Nm at 3750 rpm from 2555 cc Gasoline, Inline 4, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No. Ground clearance is 117 mm on both.

The Dodge Aries in this catalogue is a one-generation car (1981–1989), a Sedan 2-doors, with two versions that share the same engine and differ only in the gearbox: 2.6 MT (Manual, 4 gears) and 2.6 AT (Automatic, 3 gears). Both make 131 hp (96 kW) at 4750 rpm and 212 Nm at 3750 rpm from 2555 cc Gasoline, Inline 4, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No. Ground clearance is 117 mm on both. 0–100, top speed, mpg, kerb weight, gross weight, tank, and wheel sizes are not measured for either version, so the buying choice cannot rest on economy or mass figures. It rests on how you want to use the same 131 hp / 212 Nm drivetrain.

Specs that are identical — so they do not decide the purchase

If you are choosing between 2.6 MT and 2.6 AT, these numbers do not separate them:

Power per litre is the same: 131 hp ÷ 2.555 L = 51.3 hp/L. Torque per litre is the same: 212 Nm ÷ 2.555 L = 83.0 Nm/L. Specific output does not favour one badge over the other.

What actually differs: gearbox arithmetic

The automatic has one fewer gear (3 vs 4). That is a 25% drop in gear count (1 ÷ 4). The manual gives you four ratios to place the 212 Nm peak (at 3750 rpm) and the 131 hp peak (at 4750 rpm). The automatic gives you three.

Neither version has a measured 0–100 or top speed, so you cannot claim the 2.6 MT is faster in seconds. You can only say the 2.6 MT has more ratios for the same peak power and torque. The 2.6 AT has fewer ratios and an Automatic control path.

Generations: there is nothing later to “wait for”

There is 1 generation, 1981-01-01 to 1989-12-31, body Sedan 2-doors, 2 versions. No second generation in this data set, so there is no later engine, no later drive layout, no later clearance, and no restyling generation to treat as a separate car.

Buying “a later Aries” in these records still means 2.6 MT or 2.6 AT in the same year window, same 117 mm clearance, same RWD, same 2555 cc Gasoline Inline 4. Generation-to-generation change is zero because there is only one generation.

Performance and economy: what is not measured (do not infer mpg)

For 2.6 MT: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, city / highway / combined consumption not measured, CO2 not measured, eco class not measured.

For 2.6 AT: the same fields are not measured.

You cannot pick the automatic for “better mpg” or the manual for “better 0–100” from this catalogue. Those figures are absent on both rows. Weight per horsepower is also unavailable: kerb weight and gross weight are not measured on 2.6 MT and 2.6 AT, so hp-per-tonne cannot be calculated.

Tank size is not measured. Wheel sizes are not measured. Dimensions beyond the stated 117 mm clearance are not in the version rows used here.

Dimensions and weight: the only measured chassis figure is clearance

Ground clearance is 117 mm on 2.6 MT and 117 mm on 2.6 AT. Difference: 0 mm. The Automatic does not sit higher or lower in these data.

Kerb weight: not measured (both). Gross weight: not measured (both). Tank: not measured (both). Wheels: not measured (both). Front suspension is Independent, spring on both. Rear suspension not measured on both. Front brakes Disc on both. Rear brakes not measured on both.

If you need a number for payload, tank range, or tyre size, this catalogue does not supply it for either version.

Which version to choose

Choose 2.6 MT if you want the extra ratio: 4 Manual gears versus 3 Automatic gears, with identical 131 hp, 212 Nm, 2555 cc, RWD, and 117 mm clearance. The extra gear is the only counted advantage in the data.

Choose 2.6 AT if you want Automatic control and accept 3 gears instead of 4, with no change in power, torque, displacement, fuel (Gasoline, 92), cylinders (4, Inline), boost (No), drive (RWD), or clearance (117 mm).

There is no “more powerful” Aries here: both versions are 131 hp. There is no “bigger engine” Aries: both are 2555 cc. There is no AWD option: both are RWD. There is no later generation with a different body: the only body is Sedan 2-doors.

“What the extra money buys” cannot be priced — prices are not in the data — but mechanically the Automatic buys a 3-speed Automatic in place of a 4-speed Manual, not more horsepower and not more torque.

Reliability and problems: what this catalogue can and cannot say

This article does not list failure rates; they are not in the launch data. What the data do fix: both versions use the same 2555 cc Gasoline Inline 4, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, compression 9.2, bore × stroke 91.1 × 98, fuel 92. Shared engine architecture means shared engine specification, not a proven reliability ranking.

The driveline split is gearbox-only: 2.6 MT Manual 4, 2.6 AT Automatic 3, both RWD. Any gearbox-specific issue would sit on that split; the catalogue does not measure it.

Engine recap for a single extracted paragraph

Dodge Aries 2.6 MT (1981–1989): 131 hp (96 kW) at 4750 rpm, 212 Nm at 3750 rpm, 2555 cc Gasoline, 4 Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Manual 4, RWD, clearance 117 mm, 0–100 not measured, mpg not measured.

Dodge Aries 2.6 AT (1981–1989): 131 hp (96 kW) at 4750 rpm, 212 Nm at 3750 rpm, 2555 cc Gasoline, 4 Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Automatic 3, RWD, clearance 117 mm, 0–100 not measured, mpg not measured.

If you can only keep one sentence: buy 2.6 MT for 4 Manual gears, 2.6 AT for 3 Automatic gears; every other numbered spec in this catalogue is the same.