Honda Concerto

Honda Concerto: which version to buy

The Honda Concerto exists as one generation (1 generation), a Sedan built from 1988-06-01 to 1994-12-31. The catalogue lists 18 versions; 12 of them are shown here, all Gasoline, all 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, transverse, 45 L tank, Independent, spring suspension front and rear, Ventilated disc front brakes and Drum rear.

The Honda Concerto exists as one generation (1 generation), a Sedan built from 1988-06-01 to 1994-12-31. The catalogue lists 18 versions; 12 of them are shown here, all Gasoline, all 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, transverse, 45 L tank, Independent, spring suspension front and rear, Ventilated disc front brakes and Drum rear. Wheel sizes are not measured on every version. If you are choosing a car, the split is not by generation — there is only one — but by displacement (1493 vs 1590 cc), fuel system (Central injection (single-point or single- point), Carburetor, or Distributed injection (multi-point)), drive (FWD vs AWD), and gearbox (Manual 5 vs Automatic 4). The numbers below are the buying map.

Which Honda Concerto generation to buy

There is no second generation to compare. 1 generation runs 1988-06-01–1994-12-31 as a Sedan. Every listed version here starts 1988-06-01 and stops 1992-09-30, so the later years of the generation (through 1994-12-31) are not represented by extra power or extra body types in this table. Choosing a Concerto is choosing among the 12 named versions, not among restyles or later generations.

Specs: the 12 versions side by side

Compression: 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT 9.2; Carburetor 1.6 (105 hp) 9.1; 112 hp multi-point 9.1; 120 hp AWD 9.1; 120 hp FWD 9.5. Bore × stroke: 75 × 84.5 on 1493 cc, 75 × 90 on 1590 cc.

Engine: what extra displacement and injection actually buy

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres from the listed cc):

• 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT 90 hp: 90 ÷ 1.493 ≈ 60.3 hp/L
• 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT 105 hp (Carburetor): 105 ÷ 1.590 ≈ 66.0 hp/L
• 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT 112 hp: 112 ÷ 1.590 ≈ 70.4 hp/L
• 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT 120 hp: 120 ÷ 1.590 ≈ 75.5 hp/L

Stepping from 1493 cc to 1590 cc is +97 cc. On FWD Manual that is 1.5 MT 90 hp → 1.6 MT 105 hp Carburetor: +15 hp (+16.7%) and +17 Nm (118 → 135). The same jump on Automatic is 1.5 AT 90 hp → 1.6 AT 105 hp FWD.

Staying at 1590 cc, injection is the next lever. Carburetor 105 hp vs Distributed injection (multi-point) 112 hp is +7 hp and +2 Nm (135 → 137), with peak torque later (4500 → 5200 rpm) and fuel 92 → 95. The 120 hp multi-point FWD pair (1.6 MT 120 hp FWD and 1.6 AT 120 hp FWD) adds another 8 hp over 112 hp; torque is 140 Nm at 5700 rpm vs 137 Nm at 5200. The 120 hp AWD pair peaks at 142 Nm at 5500 rpm — 2 Nm more than the 120 hp FWD engines, at 200 rpm lower — and still runs on 92.

Specific output of the strongest engines (75.5 hp/L) is +15.2 hp/L versus the 1.5 (60.3 hp/L), a 25% rise in output density on +6.5% displacement.

Weight per horsepower: who feels lightest

Kerb kg per hp (where kerb is measured):

• 1.5 MT 90 hp: 960 ÷ 90 = 10.67 kg/hp
• 1.5 AT 90 hp: 980 ÷ 90 = 10.89 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 105 hp FWD: 1030 ÷ 105 = 9.81 kg/hp
• 1.6 AT 105 hp FWD: 1050 ÷ 105 = 10.00 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 105 hp AWD: 1110 ÷ 105 = 10.57 kg/hp
• 1.6 AT 105 hp AWD: 1130 ÷ 105 = 10.76 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 112 hp: 1080 ÷ 112 = 9.64 kg/hp
• 1.6 MT 120 hp FWD: 1080 ÷ 120 = 9.00 kg/hp (best measured)
• 1.6 MT 120 hp AWD: 1140 ÷ 120 = 9.50 kg/hp
• 1.6 AT 120 hp AWD: 1160 ÷ 120 = 9.67 kg/hp
• 1.6 AT 112 hp and 1.6 AT 120 hp FWD: kerb not measured — kg/hp cannot be calculated

Automatic vs Manual on the same engine and drive is a consistent +20 kg: 980−960, 1050−1030, 1130−1110, 1160−1140. AWD vs FWD on 105 hp Carburetor is +80 kg (1110−1030 Manual, 1130−1050 Automatic). The 120 hp AWD Manual sits 60 kg above the 120 hp FWD Manual (1140−1080), but those two 120 hp engines are not identical (142 Nm / 6300 rpm / 92 vs 140 Nm / 6800 rpm / 95).

The lightest car in the table is 1.5 MT at 960 kg; the heaviest measured is 1.6 AT 120 hp AWD at 1160 kg (+200 kg, +20.8%). The best power-to-weight among measured kerb figures is 1.6 MT 120 hp FWD at 9.00 kg/hp, 1.67 kg/hp better than 1.5 MT.

Performance and mpg: measured vs not measured

0–100 km/h, top speed, and consumption are not measured on: 1.5 MT, 1.5 AT, both 105 hp FWD, both 105 hp AWD, and both 120 hp AWD. Do not treat those blanks as “no such parameter” — they are unlisted.

Where they are listed:

Manual vs Automatic on the 112 hp pair: Manual is 1.4 s quicker to 100 (10.6 vs 12.0) and 5 km/h faster (185 vs 180). Mixed consumption is 0.1 L/100 km lower on Manual (9.1 vs 9.2); city is 0.8 L lower (9.8 vs 10.6); highway 0.2 L lower (7.1 vs 7.3).

On the 120 hp FWD pair the same gearbox gap is 1.5 s (10.0 vs 11.5) and 5 km/h (190 vs 185). Fuel figures match the 112 hp pair exactly: Manual 9.8 / 7.1 / 9.1, Automatic 10.6 / 7.3 / 9.2.

1.6 MT 120 hp FWD vs 1.6 MT 112 hp: same kerb 1080 kg, same mixed 9.1 L/100 km, 0.6 s quicker (10.0 vs 10.6), 5 km/h more top speed (190 vs 185). That is the extra 8 hp with no measured fuel penalty.

Gross mass, where listed, is 1580 kg on 1.6 AT 112 hp, 1.6 MT 112 hp, 1.6 MT 120 hp FWD, and 1.6 AT 120 hp FWD. Payload on 1.6 MT 112 hp and 1.6 MT 120 hp FWD is 1580−1080 = 500 kg. Gross is not measured on the 1.5s, the Carburetor 105s, and both 120 hp AWDs.

CO2 and eco class: not measured on all 12 versions.

Dimensions, clearance, tank, wheels

Tank is 45 L on every version. Ground clearance is 150 mm on all FWD cars and 160 mm on all AWD cars (+10 mm with AWD). Wheel sizes: not measured on all 12. Chassis hardware does not change with engine: Independent, spring both ends; Ventilated disc front; Drum rear.

Reliability and problems: what the sheet does and does not say

The data do not list failure rates, rust scores, or typical faults. Reliability cannot be ranked from these figures. What can be ranked is mechanical complexity that the buyer actually pays to own:

• Simplest fuel path: 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT — Central injection (single-point or single- point), 92.
• Carburetor 1.6 at 105 hp — still 92, no multi-point rail.
• Multi-point 112 hp and 120 hp FWD — 95.
• Multi-point 120 hp AWD — 92, extra drive hardware, +80 kg class versus FWD 105s and +60 kg versus FWD 120 Manual.

AWD versions also raise clearance to 160 mm. None of that is a reliability verdict; it is the extra hardware the numbers show.

Which version to choose

Lightest daily FWD, 92 fuel, lowest kerb: 1.5 MT (90 hp, 960 kg, 10.67 kg/hp). If you need Automatic on the same engine, 1.5 AT adds 20 kg and four Automatic gears; 0–100, top speed, and mpg remain not measured on both.

Carburetor 1.6 without AWD: 1.6 MT 105 hp FWD (1030 kg, 9.81 kg/hp) or 1.6 AT 105 hp FWD (1050 kg). You gain 15 hp and 17 Nm over the 1.5 for 70–90 kg extra mass. Performance and mpg: not measured.

Need AWD on the cheap 1.6: 1.6 MT 105 hp AWD (1110 kg, 160 mm) or 1.6 AT 105 hp AWD (1130 kg). Same 105 hp / 135 Nm Carburetor as the FWD 105s; you pay 80 kg and still have 0–100 / top speed / mpg not measured.

Measured performance, FWD, 95 fuel: start with 1.6 MT 112 hp (10.6 s, 185 km/h, 9.1 mixed, 1080 kg) or, if you want the strongest measured FWD, 1.6 MT 120 hp FWD (10.0 s, 190 km/h, same 9.1 mixed, same 1080 kg, 9.00 kg/hp). The Automatic twins are 1.6 AT 112 hp (12.0 s, 180 km/h, 9.2 mixed, kerb not measured) and 1.6 AT 120 hp FWD (11.5 s, 185 km/h, 9.2 mixed, kerb not measured). Automatic costs 1.4–1.5 s and 5 km/h versus the matching Manual, and about 0.8 L/100 km in town.

Strongest AWD: 1.6 MT 120 hp AWD (120 hp, 142 Nm, 1140 kg, 9.50 kg/hp) or 1.6 AT 120 hp AWD (1160 kg). Both use 92 and Distributed injection (multi-point). 0–100, top speed, and mpg: not measured — so you cannot prove they are quicker than the 120 hp FWD Manual on the clock; you can only prove they are heavier and sit 10 mm higher.

If one car has to win on the measured sheet: 1.6 MT 120 hp FWD — highest listed top speed (190 km/h), shortest listed 0–100 (10.0 s), best measured kg/hp (9.00), mixed 9.1 L/100 km, 1080 kg, 1580 kg gross. If the job is AWD: 1.6 MT 120 hp AWD among the 120 hp AWD pair, or 1.6 MT 105 hp AWD if you stay on Carburetor and 92. If the job is minimum mass: 1.5 MT.