Fiat 132: Which Version to Buy and Why
The Fiat 132 was offered as a Sedan in a single generation produced from 1972 to 1982. The supplied catalogue lists 17 modifications, with specifications shown for 12. Every listed version uses a naturally aspirated Gasoline inline 4-cylinder engine and FWD, while the main buying decisions concern engine output, fuel system, and transmission.
The Fiat 132 was offered as a Sedan in a single generation produced from 1972 to 1982. The supplied catalogue lists 17 modifications, with specifications shown for 12. Every listed version uses a naturally aspirated Gasoline inline 4-cylinder engine and FWD, while the main buying decisions concern engine output, fuel system, and transmission. The range covered here extends from the 1.6 MT with 88 hp to the 2.0 MT with 115 hp. Because acceleration, fuel-consumption, weight, and several other figures were not measured, the most defensible comparison is based on engine output, displacement, torque where available, transmission, and recorded top speed.
Fiat 132 generation and versions
The 1 generation ran from 1972 to 1982 and used a Sedan body. It contains 17 modifications in the catalogue, of which 12 are represented in the supplied specifications. There is no second generation to compare, so choosing a Fiat 132 means comparing versions within this sole generation rather than looking for a later redesign.
The displayed range consists of five 1.6 variants, four 1.8 variants, and three 2.0 variants. Identical version names must be separated by their power figures: the 1.6 MT appears with 88, 90, and 98 hp; the 1.6 AT appears with 90 and 98 hp; the 1.8 MT appears with 105, 107, and 111 hp; and the 2.0 MT appears with 112 and 115 hp.
Engine and transmission specs
| Version | Output | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 MT — 88 hp | 88 hp / 65 kW | not measured | 1585 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| 1.6 MT — 90 hp | 90 hp / 66 kW at 6250 rpm | 122 Nm at 4250 rpm | 1585 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| 1.6 AT — 90 hp | 90 hp / 66 kW at 6250 rpm | 122 Nm at 4250 rpm | 1585 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic, 3-speed | FWD |
| 1.6 MT — 98 hp | 98 hp / 72 kW | not measured | 1585 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| 1.6 AT — 98 hp | 98 hp / 72 kW | not measured | 1585 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic, 3-speed | FWD |
| 1.8 MT — 105 hp | 105 hp / 77 kW | not measured | 1756 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| 1.8 MT — 107 hp | 107 hp / 79 kW | not measured | 1756 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| 1.8 AT — 107 hp | 107 hp / 79 kW | not measured | 1756 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic, 3-speed | FWD |
| 1.8 MT — 111 hp | 111 hp / 82 kW | not measured | 1759 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| 2.0 MT — 112 hp | 112 hp / 82 kW | not measured | 1995 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
| 2.0 AT — 112 hp | 112 hp / 82 kW | not measured | 1995 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic, 3-speed | FWD |
| 2.0 MT — 115 hp | 115 hp / 85 kW | not measured | 1995 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | FWD |
Fuel delivery also separates the versions. The 1.6 MT with 88 hp uses a Carburetor, while the 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT with 90 hp and the 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT with 98 hp use Distributed injection (multi-point). All displayed 1.8 and 2.0 versions use a Carburetor.
Calculated specific output helps compare engines of different sizes. The 1.6 MT with 88 hp produces approximately 55.5 hp per litre. Both 90 hp 1.6 versions produce approximately 56.8 hp per litre, while both 98 hp 1.6 versions reach approximately 61.8 hp per litre. The 1.8 MT with 105 hp produces approximately 59.8 hp per litre; the 107 hp 1.8 manual and automatic versions produce approximately 60.9 hp per litre; and the 1.8 MT with 111 hp produces approximately 63.1 hp per litre. Among the 2.0 versions, the 112 hp manual and automatic variants produce approximately 56.1 hp per litre, while the 115 hp 2.0 MT produces approximately 57.6 hp per litre.
On this measure, the 1.8 MT with 111 hp has the highest specific output in the supplied range. The 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT with 98 hp follow, despite their smaller displacement. Specific output alone does not establish acceleration, economy, or durability, because those figures were not measured.
Performance, top speed, and mpg
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h was not measured for any displayed Fiat 132 version. Fuel consumption in city, highway, and combined driving was also not measured for every version, so no evidence-based mpg ranking can be made from the supplied data.
Top speed was measured for only three versions:
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 MT — 90 hp | not measured | 145 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.8 MT — 105 hp | not measured | 155 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 2.0 MT — 112 hp | not measured | 165 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Within this measured trio, each successive engine step adds 10 km/h: the 1.8 MT with 105 hp is 10 km/h faster than the 1.6 MT with 90 hp, and the 2.0 MT with 112 hp is 10 km/h faster than the 1.8 MT with 105 hp. The difference between the 1.6 MT with 90 hp and the 2.0 MT with 112 hp is 22 hp and 20 km/h.
Top speed was not measured for the 1.6 MT with 88 hp, the 1.6 AT with 90 hp, both 98 hp 1.6 versions, the 1.8 MT with 107 hp, the 1.8 AT with 107 hp, the 1.8 MT with 111 hp, the 2.0 AT with 112 hp, or the 2.0 MT with 115 hp. Their power figures must not be treated as proof of a particular maximum speed.
Dimensions, weight, and ground clearance
Ground clearance is 125 mm for every displayed Fiat 132 version. Kerb weight and gross weight were not measured, which means weight per horsepower cannot be calculated without inventing a vehicle weight. Fuel-tank capacity was not measured, and wheel sizes were not measured.
The recorded chassis equipment is consistent across all displayed versions: the front suspension is Independent, spring, and the front brakes are Disc. Rear suspension and rear brake specifications were not measured. Since these entries do not distinguish one displayed version from another, they should not determine the choice among the available engines and transmissions.
Which Fiat 132 version should you buy?
For the highest recorded output, choose the 2.0 MT with 115 hp. Its 1995 cc engine produces 85 kW and delivers 27 hp more than the 1.6 MT with 88 hp. It combines the strongest output in the supplied data with a Manual 5-speed gearbox, although its top speed, torque, acceleration, and fuel consumption were not measured.
For the strongest specific output, the 1.8 MT with 111 hp is the standout. Its 1759 cc engine produces approximately 63.1 hp per litre, about 5.5 hp per litre more than the 2.0 MT with 115 hp. It gives away only 4 hp to that 2.0 MT while using 236 cc less displacement. Buyers prioritizing output relative to engine size have the clearest numerical case for this version.
For the best-documented 1.6 choice, consider the 1.6 MT with 90 hp. It is the only displayed version for which output speed, torque, torque speed, and top speed are all measured: 90 hp at 6250 rpm, 122 Nm at 4250 rpm, and 145 km/h. The otherwise matching 1.6 AT with 90 hp has the same engine output and torque figures, but its top speed was not measured. The practical documented difference is transmission choice: Manual with 5 speeds for the 1.6 MT and Automatic with 3 speeds for the 1.6 AT.
If choosing purely between manual and automatic versions with the same engine output, the data provides three direct pairs: 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT with 90 hp, 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT with 98 hp, and the 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT with 112 hp. There is also a 107 hp pairing between the 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT. In every case, the Manual has 5 speeds and the Automatic has 3 speeds. Acceleration and consumption were not measured, so claims that either transmission is quicker or more economical would not be supported.
The 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT with 98 hp offer 8 hp more than their 90 hp counterparts without increasing the 1585 cc displacement. Their calculated specific output rises from approximately 56.8 to 61.8 hp per litre. Torque and top speed were not measured for the 98 hp versions, however, so the extra 8 hp is the only measured performance advantage.
Among the 1.8 choices, the 1.8 MT with 105 hp has a measured top speed of 155 km/h. Moving to the 107 hp 1.8 MT adds 2 hp with the same 1756 cc displacement, while the 1.8 AT with 107 hp offers the same power with an Automatic 3-speed gearbox. The 1.8 MT with 111 hp adds 6 hp over the 105 hp version and 4 hp over the 107 hp versions, though it uses 1759 cc rather than 1756 cc. Top speeds for the 107 hp and 111 hp versions were not measured.
For buyers who value a verified maximum speed, the 2.0 MT with 112 hp has the highest measured figure at 165 km/h. The 2.0 MT with 115 hp adds 3 hp at the same 1995 cc displacement, but its top speed was not measured. The 2.0 AT with 112 hp matches the measured engine output of the 112 hp manual, yet its maximum speed was not measured and it uses an Automatic 3-speed gearbox instead of a Manual 5-speed.
Overall, the 1.8 MT with 111 hp is the data-led choice for output relative to displacement, the 2.0 MT with 115 hp is the choice for maximum recorded power, and the 2.0 MT with 112 hp is the choice if the highest measured top speed matters. The 1.6 MT with 90 hp is the most completely documented smaller-engine option, while the automatic variants suit a buyer whose primary requirement is an Automatic gearbox rather than a performance or economy advantage that the available measurements cannot establish.