Geo Prizm

Generations: what actually changed between 2 generation and 3 generation

Calendar overlap: both generations list 1997. Specs for a 1997 Geo Prizm are not one car — they are either 2 generation (1.6 / 1839 cm³ 1.8) or 3 generation (1794 cm³ 1.8). A 1995 Geo Prizm and a 1996 Geo Prizm can only be 2 generation. A 1992 Geo Prizm is 2 generation from its first year. There is no 1990 Geo Prizm in these rows.

2 generation ran 1992-01-01 to 1997-12-31, body Sedan, 8 versions: four 1.6 (1587 cm³) and four 1.8 (1839 cm³). Engine layout is measured as Front, transverse. Ground clearance is 119 mm. Kerb weight is 1105 kg on every 1.6 and 1257 kg on every 1.8 — 152 kg more for the larger engine in this generation.

3 generation ran 1997-01-01 to 2002-12-31, body Sedan, 4 versions, all 1.8 at 1794 cm³ (not the 1839 cm³ of 2 generation). Engine position is not measured. Ground clearance is 120 mm (+1 mm vs 2 generation). Kerb weight is 1090 kg on both 1.8 MT rows and not measured on both 1.8 AT rows. The 1.6 disappears; the 3-speed Automatic survives only on 1.8 AT (122 hp); the 126 hp 1.8 AT is 4-speed.

Calendar overlap: both generations list 1997. Specs for a 1997 Geo Prizm are not one car — they are either 2 generation (1.6 / 1839 cm³ 1.8) or 3 generation (1794 cm³ 1.8). A 1995 Geo Prizm and a 1996 Geo Prizm can only be 2 generation. A 1992 Geo Prizm is 2 generation from its first year. There is no 1990 Geo Prizm in these rows.

Engines and specs: every named version

Use the catalogue names exactly. Duplicate names are split by horsepower.

Valves per cylinder: 4 on every row. Feed: Distributed injection (multi-point) on every row. Compression: 10.1 on all 3 generation 1.8; 9.5 on all 2 generation 1.6 and 1.8. Bore × stroke: 79 × 91.5 (3 generation 1794 cm³); 81 × 77 (1.6 101 hp); 77 × 81 (1.6 106 hp); 82.5 × 86 (2 generation 1839 cm³).

Geo Prizm horsepower range in this file: 101–126 hp. That is +25 hp from the weakest 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT (101 hp) to the strongest 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT (126 hp). 1997 Geo Prizm horsepower is 101, 106, or 117 if the car is 2 generation, and 122 or 126 if it is 3 generation. 1992 / 1994 / 1995 / 1996 Geo Prizm horsepower is only the 2 generation set.

Specific output (hp ÷ litres, litres = cm³ / 1000):

• 3 generation 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT (126 hp): 126 / 1.794 ≈ 70.2 hp/L
• 3 generation 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT (122 hp): 122 / 1.794 ≈ 68.0 hp/L
• 2 generation 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT (106 hp): 106 / 1.587 ≈ 66.8 hp/L
• 2 generation 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT (101 hp): 101 / 1.587 ≈ 63.6 hp/L
• 2 generation 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT (117 hp): 117 / 1.839 ≈ 63.6 hp/L
• 2 generation 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT (106 hp): 106 / 1.839 ≈ 57.6 hp/L

The 1839 cm³ 1.8 (106 hp) is the least power per litre. The 3 generation 1794 cm³ 1.8 (126 hp) is the most. The 2 generation 1.6 (106 hp) beats the 2 generation 1.8 (117 hp) on hp/L (66.8 vs 63.6) even though the 1.8 has +11 hp absolute.

Torque trade-offs on 2 generation 1.6: the 101 hp engine makes 142 Nm at 4400 rpm; the 106 hp engine makes 135 Nm at 4800 rpm — +5 hp and −7 Nm, peak torque 400 rpm higher. On 2 generation 1.8, the 106 hp engine makes 159 Nm at 2800 rpm; the 117 hp engine makes 156 Nm at 2800 rpm — +11 hp and −3 Nm at the same rpm. On 3 generation, the 126 hp engine is +4 hp and +5 Nm versus 122 hp, with torque peak 400 rpm earlier (4000 vs 4400).

Performance and economy (mpg in L/100 km)

0–100 km/h is not measured on every version.

Top speed: 190 km/h on both 3 generation 1.8 MT (122 hp and 126 hp). Top speed is not measured on both 3 generation 1.8 AT rows and on all eight 2 generation versions.

Fuel (city / highway / mixed), L/100 km:

3 generation

• 1.8 MT (122 hp): city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured
• 1.8 AT (122 hp): city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured
• 1.8 MT (126 hp): 7.4 / 5.7 / 6.5
• 1.8 AT (126 hp): 7.8 / 5.9 / 6.7

2 generation

• 1.6 MT (101 hp): 7.8 / 6.9 / 7.3
• 1.6 AT (101 hp): 9.4 / 8.1 / 8.7
• 1.6 MT (106 hp): 8.7 / 6.9 / 8.1
• 1.6 AT (106 hp): 9.0 / 8.1 / 8.7
• 1.8 MT (106 hp): 8.1 / 6.9 / 7.6
• 1.8 AT (106 hp): 8.1 / 6.9 / 7.6
• 1.8 MT (117 hp): 8.4 / 6.9 / 7.8
• 1.8 AT (117 hp): 9.0 / 7.1 / 8.1

On measured mixed figures, 3 generation 1.8 MT (126 hp) at 6.5 uses 0.8 L/100 km less than 2 generation 1.6 MT (101 hp) at 7.3, and 1.6 L/100 km less than 2 generation 1.6 MT (106 hp) at 8.1. The 3 generation 1.8 AT (126 hp) at 6.7 mixed uses 2.0 L/100 km less than either 1.6 AT at 8.7.

Manual vs automatic penalty, same engine, mixed:

• 3 generation 1.8 126 hp: 6.7 − 6.5 = 0.2 L/100 km extra for 1.8 AT
• 2 generation 1.6 101 hp: 8.7 − 7.3 = 1.4 L/100 km extra for 1.6 AT
• 2 generation 1.6 106 hp: 8.7 − 8.1 = 0.6 L/100 km extra for 1.6 AT
• 2 generation 1.8 106 hp: 7.6 − 7.6 = 0 (same mixed on 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT)
• 2 generation 1.8 117 hp: 8.1 − 7.8 = 0.3 L/100 km extra for 1.8 AT

The 3-speed Automatic on 1.6 AT (101 hp) is the thirstiest city figure: 9.4 L/100 km, 1.6 L/100 km above that engine’s 1.6 MT city 7.8. Highway on every 2 generation Manual is 6.9 L/100 km; 3 generation 1.8 MT (126 hp) highway is 5.7, 1.2 L/100 km lower.

Tank is 50 L on all twelve versions. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Length is not measured on any version (a Geo Prizm length search has no number here). Wheel sizes are not measured except 2 generation 1.8 MT (117 hp): 175/65 R14 and 185/65 R14. Gross weight is not measured on every version.

Kerb weight:

• 3 generation 1.8 MT (122 hp and 126 hp): 1090 kg
• 3 generation 1.8 AT (122 hp and 126 hp): not measured
• 2 generation all 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT: 1105 kg (+15 kg vs 3 generation 1.8 MT)
• 2 generation all 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT: 1257 kg (+167 kg vs 3 generation 1.8 MT; +152 kg vs same-generation 1.6)

Weight per horsepower (kg/hp), only where kerb is measured:

• 3 generation 1.8 MT (126 hp): 1090 / 126 ≈ 8.65 kg/hp
• 3 generation 1.8 MT (122 hp): 1090 / 122 ≈ 8.93 kg/hp
• 2 generation 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT (106 hp): 1105 / 106 ≈ 10.42 kg/hp
• 2 generation 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT (117 hp): 1257 / 117 ≈ 10.74 kg/hp
• 2 generation 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT (101 hp): 1105 / 101 ≈ 10.94 kg/hp
• 2 generation 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT (106 hp): 1257 / 106 ≈ 11.86 kg/hp

2 generation 1.8 (106 hp) carries about 3.2 kg extra per hp versus 3 generation 1.8 MT (126 hp). Ground clearance: 120 mm (3 generation), 119 mm (2 generation). Chassis labels are the same on every row: front and rear Independent, spring; front brakes Ventilated disc; rear brakes Drum.

Which version to choose

Default pick — 3 generation 1.8 MT (126 hp). Highest hp (126), highest Nm in the file (170), best measured mixed (6.5), lightest measured kerb (1090 kg), best kg/hp (≈ 8.65), best hp/L (≈ 70.2), top speed 190 km/h, 5-speed Manual, FWD. Versus 3 generation 1.8 MT (122 hp) you get +4 hp and +5 Nm; that 122 hp row has no measured consumption, so you cannot claim it is cheaper to run from these numbers.

Automatic pick — 3 generation 1.8 AT (126 hp). Same 126 hp / 170 Nm / 1794 cm³ as the preferred manual, 4-speed Automatic, mixed 6.7 (+0.2 vs the 126 hp manual). Do not confuse it with 3 generation 1.8 AT (122 hp): that one is 3-speed, and city / highway / mixed / kerb / top speed are all not measured.

Avoid treating 3 generation 1.8 AT (122 hp) as equivalent to 1.8 AT (126 hp). Same catalogue name, −4 hp, −5 Nm, 3 gears instead of 4, and a blank economy sheet.

If you want 2 generation and a small engine — 1.6 MT (101 hp), not 1.6 MT (106 hp). The 101 hp 1.6 MT uses 7.3 mixed versus 8.1 on the 106 hp 1.6 MT (−0.8 L/100 km) and makes +7 Nm (142 vs 135). The 106 hp 1.6 only wins on peak power (+5 hp) and hp/L. Both 1.6 AT rows sit at 8.7 mixed; the 101 hp 1.6 AT is worse in the city (9.4 vs 9.0).

If you want 2 generation and a 1.8 — 1.8 MT (117 hp) for power, 1.8 MT (106 hp) or 1.8 AT (106 hp) for equal measured economy. 1.8 MT (117 hp) is +11 hp vs 1.8 MT (106 hp) at −3 Nm, mixed 7.8 vs 7.6 (+0.2). 1.8 AT (106 hp) matches its manual on 8.1 / 6.9 / 7.6 and is the rare automatic with no measured mixed penalty. 1.8 AT (117 hp) pays +0.3 mixed and +0.6 city versus 1.8 MT (117 hp). All four 2 generation 1.8 cars weigh 1257 kg; they are the heaviest Prizms here.

Do not buy 2 generation 1.8 (106 hp) expecting “more engine” than 1.6 (106 hp). Same 106 hp, but 1839 vs 1587 cm³, +152 kg, worse hp/L (57.6 vs 66.8), worse kg/hp (11.86 vs 10.42). Torque is higher (159 vs 135 Nm) and arrives at 2800 vs 4800 rpm — that is the only numerical reason to take the larger 2 generation 1.8 at the same horsepower.

Manual vs Automatic in one line. 3 generation: 5-speed Manual vs 3- or 4-speed Automatic. 2 generation 1.6: 5-speed Manual vs 3-speed Automatic. 2 generation 1.8: 5-speed Manual vs 4-speed Automatic. Drive never changes: FWD only.

Reliability / problems. This file has no failure rates, no engine-swap data, and no parts list. What it does show: every engine is Gasoline, 4 Inline, boost No, same injection label, same 95 fuel. Differences that affect a used-car choice are the ones already counted: 3-speed vs 4- or 5-speed, 1090 vs 1105 vs 1257 kg, 1587 vs 1794 vs 1839 cm³, and the measured L/100 km gaps above.

What the later generation buys in numbers, not slogans. Versus the strongest 2 generation 1.8 MT (117 hp), 3 generation 1.8 MT (126 hp) is +9 hp, +14 Nm, −167 kg, mixed 6.5 vs 7.8 (−1.3 L/100 km), displacement −45 cm³ (1794 vs 1839), compression 10.1 vs 9.5. Versus the lightest 2 generation 1.6 MT (101 hp), the same 3 generation manual is +25 hp, +28 Nm, −15 kg, mixed −0.8 L/100 km, and it drops the 1.6 entirely. If those deltas do not matter to you, 2 generation 1.6 MT (101 hp) remains the lowest-displacement Manual with a complete economy row.