FSO Polonez

FSO Polonez: generations: what actually changed in the numbers

Duplicate names must be split by power. There are three different 1.6 MT 87 hp cars (one per generation block), two 1.6 MT 75 hp cars on the restyle (injection vs carburetor), two 1.6 MT cars on 2 generation (81 hp vs 87 hp), two 1.5 MT cars on 1 generation (82 hp vs 95 hp Turbo), and two 1.9 MT cars that are not the same fuel.

1 generation (1977–1986) is five Hatchback 5-door versions, all 4-speed Manual, ground clearance 140 mm. The buyer’s split is displacement and boost, not body or drive.

1 generation, restyling (1987–1991) keeps the same body, RWD, 140 mm clearance, and Independent, spring front suspension. The gearbox count moves from 4 to 5. The 1.3 MT and both 1.5 MT cars disappear. A 1.9 MT Gasoline 69 hp version appears. Two 1.6 MT 75 hp cars remain, now split by Central injection (single-point or single- point) versus Carburetor.

2 generation (1992–2002) is five versions, still Hatchback 5-door, still 5-speed Manual RWD. Ground clearance falls 10 mm to 130 mm. Rear suspension is measured: Independent, spring. Front and rear brakes are Disc. A 45 l tank is measured. Kerb and gross mass are measured on four of five cars. The new 1.4 MT is the only 4 valves-per-cylinder and Distributed injection (multi-point) petrol. The 1.9 MT here is Diesel, not the restyle’s Gasoline 1.9 MT.

Engines and specs: same badge, different cars

Duplicate names must be split by power. There are three different 1.6 MT 87 hp cars (one per generation block), two 1.6 MT 75 hp cars on the restyle (injection vs carburetor), two 1.6 MT cars on 2 generation (81 hp vs 87 hp), two 1.5 MT cars on 1 generation (82 hp vs 95 hp Turbo), and two 1.9 MT cars that are not the same fuel.

Valves per cylinder: 4 only on 2 generation 1.4 MT; 2 where measured on the other engines; not measured on 1.3 MT, restyle 1.6 MT 75 hp (both), and 1 generation 1.5 MT 95 hp and 1.6 MT 75 hp. Fuel grade where measured: 80 on 1.4 MT, 1.5 MT 82 hp (both generations that list it), 92 on 2 generation 1.6 MT 81 hp and restyle 1.9 MT, Diesel on 2 generation 1.9 MT.

Horsepower, litres, and kg/hp

Specific output (hp ÷ litres) ranks the engines without guessing:

• 2 generation 1.4 MT: 103 / 1.398 = 73.7 hp/l
• 1 generation 1.5 MT 95 hp Turbo: 95 / 1.499 = 63.4 hp/l
• 1.5 MT 82 hp (either generation): 82 / 1.481 = 55.4 hp/l
• 1.6 MT 87 hp (all three blocks): 87 / 1.598 = 54.4 hp/l
• 2 generation 1.6 MT 81 hp: 81 / 1.598 = 50.7 hp/l
• 1 generation 1.3 MT: 64 / 1.295 = 49.4 hp/l
• 1.6 MT 75 hp: 75 / 1.581 = 47.4 hp/l
• 2 generation 1.9 MT Diesel: 70 / 1.905 = 36.7 hp/l
• restyle 1.9 MT Gasoline: 69 / 1.905 = 36.2 hp/l

The 1.4 MT makes 22 hp more than the 1.6 MT 81 hp from 200 cm³ less (1398 vs 1598). It makes 21 hp more than the 1.5 MT 82 hp from 83 cm³ less. Versus the 1.9 MT Diesel, it is 33 hp up from 507 cm³ down.

Mass per horsepower is only computable where kerb mass is measured (2 generation only):

• 1.4 MT: 1115 / 103 = 10.8 kg/hp
• 1.5 MT: 1115 / 82 = 13.6 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 81 hp: 1115 / 81 = 13.8 kg/hp
• 1.9 MT Diesel: 1135 / 70 = 16.2 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 87 hp on 2 generation: kerb mass not measured, so kg/hp not measured

The 1.4 MT carries 2.8 kg less per horsepower than the 1.5 MT and 5.4 kg less per horsepower than the diesel. The diesel’s extra 20 kg kerb (1135 vs 1115) and 33 hp deficit both go the wrong way for acceleration.

Performance and economy (mpg)

0–100 km/h is measured only on four 2 generation cars: 1.4 MT 12 s, 1.6 MT 81 hp 15 s, 1.5 MT 18 s, 1.9 MT Diesel 20 s. The 1.4 MT is 3 s quicker than the 1.6 MT 81 hp, 6 s quicker than the 1.5 MT, and 8 s quicker than the diesel. 1.6 MT 87 hp in every generation: 0–100 not measured. All 1 generation and restyle versions: 0–100 not measured.

Top speed, same four cars: 1.4 MT 158 km/h, 1.6 MT 81 hp 156 km/h, 1.5 MT 155 km/h, 1.9 MT Diesel 140 km/h. The petrol trio is within 3 km/h. The diesel is 18 km/h below the 1.4 MT. Every other version: top speed not measured.

City, highway, and mixed consumption: not measured on all 14 versions. CO2 and eco class: not measured. An mpg ranking cannot be built from this catalogue.

Torque shape, where measured: 1.4 MT 127 Nm at 5000 rpm (peak late); 1.6 MT 81 hp 125 Nm at 3200 rpm; 1.6 MT 87 hp 132 Nm at 3800 rpm; 1.5 MT 82 hp 114 Nm at 3400 rpm; Diesel 120 Nm at 2000 rpm. The diesel’s peak is 3000 rpm earlier than the 1.4 MT’s, with 7 Nm less. The 87 hp 1.6 MT has the highest listed torque (132 Nm), 5 Nm above the 1.4 MT, but no 0–100 figure to show whether that helps.

Dimensions, weight, tank

Wheel sizes: not measured on all versions.

Ground clearance: 140 mm on 1 generation and the restyling; 130 mm on 2 generation (10 mm less).

Tank: 45 l on all five 2 generation versions; not measured on 1 generation and restyle.

Kerb / gross: 1115 / 1540 kg on 2 generation 1.4 MT, 1.5 MT, and 1.6 MT 81 hp (payload 425 kg). Diesel: 1135 / 1560 kg (also 425 kg payload, 20 kg heavier at both ends). 2 generation 1.6 MT 87 hp and every earlier car: kerb and gross not measured.

Front suspension is Independent, spring on every version. Rear suspension is Independent, spring on 2 generation and not measured on 1 generation and restyle. Front brakes Disc everywhere; rear brakes Disc on 2 generation, not measured earlier.

Which version to choose

Buy the 2 generation 1.4 MT (103 hp) if you want the measured performance peak. It is the only Distributed injection (multi-point) petrol, the only 4 valves-per-cylinder engine, 103 hp at 6000 rpm, 127 Nm at 5000 rpm, 12 s to 100 km/h, 158 km/h, 1115 kg, 45 l, 130 mm, 5-speed Manual RWD. Fuel grade listed: 80. Compression 9.5, bore × stroke 75 × 79.5. Reliability figures are not measured.

Buy the 2 generation 1.6 MT (81 hp) if you want 92-grade fuel and earlier torque without leaving the generation that has 0–100 numbers. Versus the 1.4 MT you give up 22 hp, 2 Nm, 3 s to 100 km/h, and 2 km/h top speed. You gain 200 cm³, peak torque 1800 rpm earlier (3200 vs 5000), Central injection (single-point or single- point), and fuel 92. Same 1115 / 1540 kg, same 45 l, same 130 mm, same 5-speed RWD. Specific output drops from 73.7 to 50.7 hp/l.

Do not pick the 2 generation 1.5 MT (82 hp) for “more engine” than the 1.4 MT. It is 21 hp down, 13 Nm down, 6 s slower to 100 km/h, 3 km/h slower on top, Carburetor, 2 valves, same 1115 kg. Displacement is only 83 cm³ larger. It is the same 82 hp / 114 Nm / 1481 cm³ / Carburetor recipe as 1 generation 1.5 MT 82 hp, with a 5-speed instead of 4 and 18 s / 155 km/h finally measured.

The 2 generation 1.6 MT (87 hp) is not a proven upgrade over the 81 hp 1.6 MT. On paper it is 6 hp and 7 Nm more (87 / 132 vs 81 / 125), still Carburetor, still 1598 cm³. 0–100, top speed, kerb mass, gross mass, compression, bore × stroke, and fuel grade are not measured. You cannot rank it against the 12 s 1.4 MT with a stopwatch from this data. The same 87 hp / 132 Nm / 1598 cm³ / Carburetor 1.6 MT exists in 1 generation (4-speed) and the restyling (5-speed); those two also have 0–100 and top speed not measured.

The 1 generation 1.5 MT (95 hp) Turbo is the only other high-output petrol — and the only Turbo. It is 8 hp below the 1.4 MT, 13 hp above the 82 hp 1.5 MT, 63.4 hp/l. Displacement 1499 cm³. Gearbox 4-speed. Torque, 0–100, top speed, tank, mass, valves, injection, fuel grade: not measured. If you want boost, this is the only listed car; if you want a complete spec sheet, it is not.

Skip 1 generation 1.3 MT (64 hp) unless the smallest petrol is the point. 64 hp, 1295 cm³, 49.4 hp/l, Carburetor, 4-speed, clearance 140 mm. Torque, 0–100, top speed, tank, mass, valves: not measured. It is 39 hp below the 1.4 MT.

The two restyle 1.6 MT 75 hp cars differ only in injection. Both: 75 hp, 1581 cm³, 4 Inline, boost No, 5-speed Manual RWD, 140 mm. One is Central injection (single-point or single- point); one is Carburetor. Torque, 0–100, top speed, tank, mass, valves, fuel: not measured on both. The 1 generation 1.6 MT 75 hp is the same 75 hp / 1581 cm³ / Carburetor with 4 gears instead of 5. Choosing restyle over 1 generation for this engine is the extra gear, not extra power.

1.9 MT: two different engines, both the low-power end. Restyle 1.9 MT is Gasoline, 69 hp at 4500 rpm, 1905 cm³, fuel 92, 5-speed; torque, 0–100, top speed, tank, mass not measured. 2 generation 1.9 MT is Diesel, 70 hp at 4600 rpm, 120 Nm at 2000 rpm, compression 23, 83 × 88, 20 s, 140 km/h, 1135 / 1560 kg, 45 l. Versus the 1.4 MT the diesel is 33 hp down, 8 s slower, 18 km/h slower, 20 kg heavier. Economy is not measured, so a diesel mpg case is not in the data. Injection on both 1.9 MT cars is not measured.

Reliability, problems, review

No failure rates, service intervals, or problem lists are in the data. Reliability is not measured. A review from this file is only the arithmetic above.

Short map

• Fastest measured / highest hp / best kg/hp: 2 generation 1.4 MT 103 hp.
• Same generation, 92 fuel, earlier torque peak: 2 generation 1.6 MT 81 hp.
• Only Turbo: 1 generation 1.5 MT 95 hp.
• Highest listed torque: 1.6 MT 87 hp at 132 Nm (three generation blocks; performance not measured except that torque).
• Only Diesel: 2 generation 1.9 MT 70 hp (slowest measured 0–100 and top speed).
• Extra gear without a new engine family: restyle vs 1 generation (5 vs 4).
• Extra millimetres of clearance: 1 generation / restyle 140 mm vs 2 generation 130 mm.

That is the buying order the numbers support. Names stay as in the catalogue so each version page still matches: 1.4 MT, 1.5 MT, 1.6 MT, 1.9 MT, 1.3 MT.