Honda Today

Honda Today: which version to buy and why

The Honda Today is a Mini 3-doors kei hatch sold as one generation from 1985-09-01 to 1992-12-31, with 10 versions of 0.7 MT and 0.7 AT. Every engine is 656 cc Gasoline, Inline 3, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No. Power runs 42–58 hp (16 hp, 38% more at the top than at the base). Kerb weight, where measured, runs 630–730 kg.

The Honda Today is a Mini 3-doors kei hatch sold as one generation from 1985-09-01 to 1992-12-31, with 10 versions of 0.7 MT and 0.7 AT. Every engine is 656 cc Gasoline, Inline 3, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No. Power runs 42–58 hp (16 hp, 38% more at the top than at the base). Kerb weight, where measured, runs 630–730 kg. If you are choosing a Today, the decision is not “which generation” — there is only one — but which 0.7-litre tune, which gearbox, and whether AWD is worth 80–90 kg.

Generations: one body, ten versions, no restyle split

1 generation (1985-09-01–1992-12-31) is the whole catalogue: Mini 3-doors, 10 versions, all 656 cc. Body, tank (28 l), front Disc / rear Drum brakes, and Independent, spring suspension at both ends do not change. What does change is power (42 / 48 / 52 / 58 hp), fuel system (Carburetor vs Distributed injection (multi-point)), fuel grade (92 vs 95), gearbox (4- or 5-speed Manual vs 3-speed Automatic), drive (FWD vs AWD), kerb weight (630–730 kg), ground clearance (155 vs 160 mm), and the two measured top speeds (140 and 150 km/h). There is no second generation to “wait for.”

Specs: every 0.7 MT and 0.7 AT side by side

Engine position is Front, transverse on the 42 hp trio, both 52 hp 0.7 MT cars, and the 52 hp 0.7 AT. On the 48 hp 0.7 AT, 48 hp 0.7 MT, 58 hp 0.7 AT, and 58 hp 0.7 MT it is not measured. Compression is 9.8 and bore × stroke is 66 × 64 on every version.

Specific output on 0.656 l: 42 hp → 64.0 hp/l; 48 hp → 73.2 hp/l; 52 hp → 79.3 hp/l; 58 hp → 88.4 hp/l. The 58 hp 0.7 MT makes 24.4 hp/l more than the 42 hp Carburetor cars.

Performance and economy (mpg, 0–100, top speed)

0–100 km/h is not measured on all 10 versions. Combined, city, and highway consumption are not measured on all 10 — there is no mpg figure to rank economy. CO2 and eco class are not measured.

Top speed is measured on two cars only:

• 0.7 MT 48 hp FWD: 140 km/h
• 0.7 MT 58 hp FWD: 150 km/h (+10 km/h, same 680 kg kerb)

Those two share 5-speed Manual, FWD, 155 mm clearance, and 680 kg. The extra 10 hp and 3 Nm (60 vs 57) buy 10 km/h. For the other eight versions, top speed is not measured — including both AWD cars and every Automatic.

Torque peak rpm tells you how the engine wants to be used. The 52 hp cars peak at 54 Nm @ 4500 rpm — the lowest torque rpm in the table — while making peak power at 7500 rpm. The 58 hp cars peak at 60 Nm @ 6200 rpm. The 42 hp Carburetor cars peak at 53 Nm @ 5000. On paper the 52 hp tune is the one that makes its 54 Nm earliest; the 58 hp tune makes the most torque (60 Nm, +7 Nm vs 42 hp, +6 Nm vs 52 hp) but later.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Tank is 28 l on every version. Wheel size is not measured on every version. Gross weight is not measured on every version.

Kerb weight and kg per hp, only where mass is measured:

Lightest: 630 kg (both 42 hp FWD cars). Heaviest: 730 kg (0.7 MT 52 hp AWD) — 100 kg more than the lightest, 80 kg more than the matching 52 hp FWD 0.7 MT (650 kg). AWD vs matching FWD at 42 hp: +90 kg (720 vs 630) and +5 mm clearance (160 vs 155). Best measured power-to-weight: 11.72 kg/hp on the 58 hp 0.7 MT. Worst measured: 17.14 kg/hp on the 42 hp AWD 0.7 MT.

Which version to choose

There is no price in this catalogue, so “what the extra money buys” means what the extra hardware buys in the numbers: horsepower, torque, gears, drive, and kilograms.

If you want the strongest FWD hatch: 0.7 MT 58 hp. It is the peak of the range: 58 hp / 43 kW @ 7300, 60 Nm @ 6200, Distributed injection (multi-point), Gasoline 95, 5-speed Manual, FWD, 680 kg, 155 mm, top speed 150 km/h. Versus the 42 hp FWD 0.7 MT it is +16 hp, +7 Nm, one extra Manual ratio (5 vs 4), +50 kg, and 3.28 kg/hp lighter (11.72 vs 15.00). Versus the 48 hp 0.7 MT it is the same 680 kg and the same 5-speed FWD layout, with +10 hp, +3 Nm, and +10 km/h (150 vs 140). That is the cleanest like-for-like upgrade in the list: identical mass, ten more horsepower, ten more km/h.

If you want that 58 hp tune but not a clutch: 0.7 AT 58 hp. Same 58 hp / 43 kW, same 60 Nm, same 95 fuel and multi-point injection, 3-speed Automatic, FWD, 155 mm. Kerb weight is not measured, so you cannot compare kg/hp with the Manual twin. You give up two Manual ratios (3 vs 5) and you do not get a measured top speed.

If you want the best measured kg/hp that is not the 58: 0.7 MT 52 hp FWD — 52 hp, 650 kg, 12.50 kg/hp. It is 30 kg lighter than the 58 hp 0.7 MT (680 kg) and 10 kg lighter than the 52 hp 0.7 AT (660 kg). It stays on Gasoline 92 (same as the 42 hp cars), unlike the 48 and 58 hp cars that specify 95. Peak torque is 54 Nm @ 4500 — 4 Nm less than the 58 hp car, but 1700 rpm earlier. If 92 fuel and a lower torque peak matter more than the last 6 hp and 6 Nm, this is the FWD Manual to take.

If you want 52 hp with an Automatic: 0.7 AT 52 hp — 52 hp, 54 Nm, 3-speed Automatic, FWD, 660 kg (12.69 kg/hp), Gasoline 92. Versus the 52 hp 0.7 MT FWD you pay 10 kg and two fewer gears. Versus the 42 hp 0.7 AT you gain 10 hp and 30 kg (660 vs 630) and you move from Carburetor to Distributed injection (multi-point).

If you need AWD: only two cars have it, both 0.7 MT.

• 0.7 MT 42 hp AWD: 42 hp, 5-speed Manual, 720 kg, 160 mm. Versus the 42 hp FWD 4-speed 0.7 MT: same 42 hp and 53 Nm, one extra gear, +90 kg, +5 mm clearance. You buy drive and a fifth ratio; you do not buy power. At 17.14 kg/hp this is the heaviest-feeling car in the measured set.
• 0.7 MT 52 hp AWD: 52 hp, 5-speed Manual, 730 kg, 160 mm. Versus the 52 hp FWD 0.7 MT: same 52 hp and 54 Nm, +80 kg, +5 mm. Versus the 42 hp AWD: +10 hp, +1 Nm, +10 kg (730 vs 720). The AWD weight penalty shrinks from 90 kg at 42 hp to 80 kg at 52 hp, and kg/hp improves from 17.14 to 14.04. If AWD is required, the 52 hp 0.7 MT is the rational of the two: 10 hp for 10 kg.

There is no AWD Automatic and no 48 hp or 58 hp AWD in the data.

If you want the lightest, simplest FWD car: 0.7 MT 42 hp (4-speed) or 0.7 AT 42 hp. Both are 630 kg, Carburetor, Gasoline 92, 42 hp / 53 Nm, 155 mm, Front, transverse. The Manual has 4 speeds; the Automatic has 3. They are tied for lowest mass. They are also lowest specific output (64.0 hp/l) and, among FWD cars, worst kg/hp (15.00). Choose them for mass and 92 carbureted simplicity, not for power.

The 48 hp pair sits in the middle and asks for 95: 0.7 MT 48 hp is 680 kg with a measured 140 km/h; 0.7 AT 48 hp has kerb weight not measured. Both use Distributed injection (multi-point) and Gasoline 95, 48 hp / 57 Nm. The 48 hp 0.7 MT is the same 680 kg as the 58 hp 0.7 MT but 10 hp and 10 km/h behind. Unless you specifically need the 48 hp / 57 Nm @ 5500 rpm point, the 58 hp Manual at the same mass is the stronger buy on these numbers; the 52 hp FWD Manual is 30 kg lighter and stays on 92.

Fuel grade as a filter: 92 appears on all three 42 hp cars and all three 52 hp cars. 95 appears on both 48 hp cars and both 58 hp cars. Injection type follows the same split except that the 52 hp cars already have Distributed injection (multi-point) on 92. Carburetor exists only at 42 hp.

Gearbox as a filter: Manual 4-speed exists only on the 42 hp FWD 0.7 MT. Every other Manual is 5-speed. Every Automatic is 3-speed. If you want five ratios, you are in 0.7 MT (42 AWD, 48, 52 FWD, 52 AWD, 58). If you want an Automatic, you are FWD only, at 42, 48, 52, or 58 hp.

Reliability / problems: this dataset has no failure rates, recalls, or service intervals. What it does show is mechanical sameness: one displacement, one cylinder count, boost No, the same 28 l tank, the same brake mix, the same Independent, spring layout. Differences that actually exist in the file are tune, fuel system, fuel grade, ratios, drive, and kilograms — not a second generation or a different body.

Short list

1. Daily FWD, strongest measured car: 0.7 MT 58 hp (11.72 kg/hp, 150 km/h). 2. Daily FWD, 92 fuel, lightest high-tune: 0.7 MT 52 hp (650 kg, 12.50 kg/hp). 3. AWD: 0.7 MT 52 hp AWD, not the 42 hp AWD (10 hp for 10 kg). 4. Automatic: 0.7 AT 52 hp if mass is measured and 92 is required; 0.7 AT 58 hp if you want peak 58 hp / 60 Nm and accept kerb weight not measured. 5. Lightest: 0.7 MT 42 hp or 0.7 AT 42 hp at 630 kg.

Do not pick the 48 hp 0.7 MT over the 58 hp 0.7 MT on mass — they are both 680 kg. Do not pick 42 hp AWD unless you need AWD and cannot get the 52 hp AWD: you pay 90 kg for no extra horsepower.