Great Wall Coolbear

Great Wall Coolbear: which version to buy

The Great Wall Coolbear was sold in one generation (September 2009–February 2012) as a Mini 5-doors with three factory versions: 1.3 MT, 1.5 CVT, and 1.5 MT. The buying question is not “which generation” — there is only one — but which of those three drivetrains to take.

The Great Wall Coolbear was sold in one generation (September 2009–February 2012) as a Mini 5-doors with three factory versions: 1.3 MT, 1.5 CVT, and 1.5 MT. The buying question is not “which generation” — there is only one — but which of those three drivetrains to take. The numbers split them into a lighter, slower 1.3-litre manual, a 1.5-litre manual that is 4.5 seconds quicker to 100 km/h, and a 1.5-litre Variable pairing whose 0–100 km/h, top speed, and kerb weight are not measured.

Specs that actually differ between versions

Shared across all three: Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, No boost, Distributed injection (multi-point), FWD, 45-litre tank, Euro 4, 160 mm ground clearance, Independent, spring front / Semi-independent, torsion rear, Disc front / Drum rear, gross weight 1600 kg, production window 2009-09-01 to 2012-02-29. Fuel grade is 92 on every version.

What is not shared:

Valves per cylinder: 1.3 MT is 4; 1.5 CVT and 1.5 MT are not measured.

Engine: what the extra 199 cc buys

1.5 MT and 1.5 CVT share the same 1497 cc, 105 hp / 77 kW, 138 Nm engine. 1.3 MT is 1298 cc, 92 hp / 68 kW, 118 Nm. Peak power and torque sit at the same crank speeds on all three (6000 rpm and 4200 rpm).

Arithmetic on those figures:

• Displacement: 1.5 MT / 1.5 CVT are 199 cc larger than 1.3 MT (1497 − 1298).
• Power: +13 hp / +9 kW (105 − 92; 77 − 68).
• Torque: +20 Nm (138 − 118).
• Specific output: 1.3 MT is 92 / 1.298 ≈ 70.9 hp per litre; the 1.5-litre versions are 105 / 1.497 ≈ 70.1 hp per litre. The 1.5 does not make more power per litre — it is a larger engine at almost the same specific output.
• Torque per litre: 1.3 MT 118 / 1.298 ≈ 90.9 Nm/L; 1.5-litre 138 / 1.497 ≈ 92.2 Nm/L — essentially the same specific torque.

If the decision is “more engine,” the step from 1.3 MT to either 1.5 is +14% power and +17% torque, not a different state of tune.

Performance and economy: measured vs not measured

Fuel consumption (mpg or L/100 km) is not measured on any Coolbear version. Economy cannot decide the purchase from this catalogue.

Acceleration can. 1.5 MT reaches 100 km/h in 12.6 s; 1.3 MT takes 17.1 s — a 4.5 s gap (17.1 − 12.6), about 26% less time. Both manuals are listed at 160 km/h top speed, so the extra 13 hp does not raise the listed maximum; it shortens the run-up.

1.5 CVT uses the same 105 hp / 138 Nm engine as 1.5 MT, but 0–100 km/h and top speed are not measured. You cannot rank Variable against Manual on sprint or Vmax from these figures. What is known: Variable gearbox, FWD, same Euro 4 and 45-litre tank.

Dimensions and weight: payload and kg per horsepower

Body type does not change: Mini 5-doors, one generation. Wheel sizes are not measured on any version. Ground clearance is 160 mm on all three. Tank is 45 litres on all three.

Gross mass is 1600 kg for every version, so payload is kerb-dependent where kerb is known:

• 1.3 MT: 1600 − 1125 = 475 kg payload.
• 1.5 MT: 1600 − 1185 = 415 kg payload — 60 kg less payload than 1.3 MT because the 1.5-litre car is 60 kg heavier at the kerb (1185 − 1125).
• 1.5 CVT: kerb not measured, so payload is not measured (gross still 1600 kg).

Mass per horsepower (lower is less weight per unit of power):

• 1.3 MT: 1125 / 92 ≈ 12.2 kg/hp.
• 1.5 MT: 1185 / 105 ≈ 11.3 kg/hp — about 0.9 kg/hp lighter per horsepower despite the extra 60 kg.

The 1.5-litre manual is the heavier car in absolute terms and the lighter car relative to its power. If you load toward the 1600 kg cap, 1.3 MT has the larger remaining payload (475 vs 415 kg).

Which version to choose

There is no second generation to wait for and no restyle listed. Chassis, drive, brakes, suspension, tank, clearance, eco class, and fuel grade do not change with the badge. The choice is engine size plus gearbox.

Choose 1.3 MT if payload and listed kerb matter more than sprint. It is the lightest measured Coolbear (1125 kg), with 475 kg to the 1600 kg gross, 92 hp, 118 Nm, 5-speed Manual, FWD. It is also the slowest measured car: 17.1 s to 100 km/h, 160 km/h top speed. Valves per cylinder are the only ones measured (4). Specific output is essentially the same as the 1.5, so you are not buying a “weaker tune” of the same engine — you are buying 199 cc less.

Choose 1.5 MT if the 0–100 km/h figure is the decision. Same 5-speed Manual and FWD as 1.3 MT, but 105 hp, 138 Nm, 1497 cc, 12.6 s to 100 km/h, 160 km/h. Versus 1.3 MT that is +13 hp, +20 Nm, +60 kg kerb, −60 kg payload, −4.5 s to 100 km/h, and ≈0.9 kg/hp better mass-to-power. Top speed does not change (both 160). Consumption is not measured on either, so you cannot claim the 1.3 is cheaper to run from this data.

Choose 1.5 CVT only if Variable is the requirement. Engine numbers match 1.5 MT exactly (105 hp / 77 kW @ 6000, 138 Nm @ 4200, 1497 cc, Gasoline, 4 Inline, No boost). Gearbox is Variable rather than 5-speed Manual. 0–100 km/h, top speed, and kerb weight are not measured — so you cannot prove it is quicker, slower, heavier, or lighter than 1.5 MT. Gross 1600 kg, tank 45 L, clearance 160 mm, Euro 4, FWD remain the same. If you need a number for acceleration or kerb, this catalogue does not give one for 1.5 CVT; 1.5 MT is the 1.5-litre version with those numbers filled in.

Do not choose on mpg, CO2, or wheel size — all not measured. Do not choose on AWD or a different body — every version is FWD Mini 5-doors. Do not choose on generation — one generation, three versions, same dates.

Short ranking on what is measured: 1.5 MT for the shortest 0–100 (12.6 s) and best measured kg/hp; 1.3 MT for lowest kerb (1125 kg) and highest payload (475 kg); 1.5 CVT when the gearbox must be Variable and you accept that sprint, Vmax, and kerb are not measured.