Hyundai Lavita: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Hyundai Lavita was produced from 2001 to 2007 as a Compact Van in a single generation. Its seven listed versions cover Gasoline and Diesel engines, Manual and Automatic gearboxes, and outputs from 82 hp to 123 hp.
The Hyundai Lavita was produced from 2001 to 2007 as a Compact Van in a single generation. Its seven listed versions cover Gasoline and Diesel engines, Manual and Automatic gearboxes, and outputs from 82 hp to 123 hp. The best choice depends on priorities: the 1.5 MT Diesel offers the lowest measured fuel consumption and the strongest low-speed torque, the 1.5 MT Gasoline combines the lighter listed kerb weight with a Manual gearbox, and the 1.8 MT delivers the fastest acceleration and highest top speed. Every Lavita version listed here uses FWD.
Hyundai Lavita generations and versions
The 1 generation ran from 2001 to 2007 and used the Compact Van body type. It contains seven versions: 1.5 MT Diesel with 82 hp, 1.5 AT Gasoline with 103 hp, 1.5 MT Gasoline with 103 hp, 1.6 MT with 102 hp, 1.6 AT with 102 hp, 1.8 MT with 123 hp, and 1.8 AT with 123 hp.
Because the Diesel and Gasoline choices can share the exact 1.5 MT name, they must be distinguished by output and fuel: the 82 hp 1.5 MT is Diesel, while the 103 hp 1.5 MT is Gasoline.
Hyundai Lavita engine and gearbox specs
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 MT, 82 hp | 82 hp | 187 Nm | 1,493 cc | Diesel | 3 | Inline | Turbo | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.5 AT, 103 hp | 103 hp | 131 Nm | 1,495 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| 1.5 MT, 103 hp | 103 hp | 131 Nm | 1,495 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.6 MT, 102 hp | 102 hp | 138 Nm | 1,599 cc | Gasoline | 3 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.6 AT, 102 hp | 102 hp | 138 Nm | 1,599 cc | Gasoline | 3 | Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
| 1.8 MT, 123 hp | 123 hp | 162 Nm | 1,796 cc | Gasoline | 3 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| 1.8 AT, 123 hp | 123 hp | 162 Nm | 1,796 cc | Gasoline | 3 | Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | FWD |
The 82 hp 1.5 MT Diesel produces 187 Nm at 2,000 rpm, giving it 25 Nm more torque than either 1.8 version and 56 Nm more than either 103 hp 1.5 Gasoline version. Its power output is about 54.9 hp per litre, compared with about 68.9 hp per litre for the 103 hp 1.5 Gasoline versions, about 63.8 hp per litre for the 1.6 versions, and about 68.5 hp per litre for the 1.8 versions.
The 1.5 MT Diesel has its engine mounted Front, transverse. Engine position is not measured for the remaining versions. The Gasoline engines use Distributed injection (multi-point), while the Diesel fuel-system type is not measured.
Hyundai Lavita performance, fuel economy and mpg data
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 MT, 82 hp Diesel | 17.9 s | 157 km/h | 7.6 L/100 km | 5 L/100 km | 6 L/100 km |
| 1.5 AT, 103 hp Gasoline | 14 s | 165 km/h | 10.4 L/100 km | 6 L/100 km | 7.8 L/100 km |
| 1.5 MT, 103 hp Gasoline | 14 s | 165 km/h | 10.4 L/100 km | 6 L/100 km | 7.8 L/100 km |
| 1.6 MT, 102 hp | not measured | 172 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.6 AT, 102 hp | not measured | 160 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.8 MT, 123 hp | 11.1 s | 185 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 1.8 AT, 123 hp | 11.3 s | 175 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
For economy based strictly on measured figures, the 82 hp 1.5 MT Diesel is the clear choice. Its combined consumption is 1.8 L/100 km lower than that of either 103 hp 1.5 Gasoline version. The difference is 2.8 L/100 km in the city and 1 L/100 km on the highway.
That saving comes with slower measured performance. The Diesel takes 3.9 seconds longer to reach 100 km/h than either 103 hp 1.5 Gasoline version, while its top speed is 8 km/h lower. Compared with the 1.8 MT, the Diesel takes 6.8 seconds longer to reach 100 km/h and has a top speed lower by 28 km/h.
The Manual gearbox has the clearest performance advantage with the 1.8 engine. The 1.8 MT reaches 100 km/h in 11.1 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than the 1.8 AT, and its 185 km/h top speed is 10 km/h higher. With the 1.6 engine, the 1.6 MT has a 172 km/h top speed, 12 km/h above the 1.6 AT. Acceleration for both 1.6 versions is not measured.
The two 103 hp 1.5 Gasoline versions have identical listed acceleration, top speed and consumption figures, so their measured performance does not separate the 1.5 MT from the 1.5 AT. Their principal recorded difference is the transmission: 5-speed Manual versus 4-speed Automatic.
Hyundai Lavita dimensions, weight and capacity
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 MT, 82 hp Diesel | 1,370 kg | 1,840 kg | 160 mm | 55 L | not measured |
| 1.5 AT, 103 hp Gasoline | 1,269 kg | 1,820 kg | 160 mm | 55 L | not measured |
| 1.5 MT, 103 hp Gasoline | 1,269 kg | 1,820 kg | 160 mm | 55 L | not measured |
| 1.6 MT, 102 hp | 1,269 kg | 1,840 kg | 160 mm | 55 L | not measured |
| 1.6 AT, 102 hp | not measured | 1,840 kg | 160 mm | 55 L | not measured |
| 1.8 MT, 123 hp | 1,292 kg | 1,840 kg | 160 mm | 55 L | not measured |
| 1.8 AT, 123 hp | not measured | 1,840 kg | 160 mm | 55 L | not measured |
Ground clearance and fuel capacity do not distinguish the versions: every one has 160 mm of clearance and a 55 L tank. Wheel sizes are not measured for any version.
Among versions with a measured kerb weight, the 103 hp 1.5 MT, 103 hp 1.5 AT and 102 hp 1.6 MT are the lightest at 1,269 kg. The 1.8 MT is 23 kg heavier, while the 82 hp 1.5 MT Diesel is 101 kg heavier.
Using the listed kerb weights, the 1.8 MT has the strongest weight-to-power result at about 10.5 kg per hp. The 103 hp 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT each carry about 12.3 kg per hp, the 1.6 MT carries about 12.4 kg per hp, and the Diesel carries about 16.7 kg per hp. Kerb weight is not measured for the 1.6 AT or 1.8 AT, so the same comparison cannot be calculated for those versions.
All versions use Independent, spring suspension at both ends, Ventilated disc front brakes and Drum rear brakes. These specifications therefore provide no reason to favor one engine or gearbox over another.
Which Hyundai Lavita version should you buy?
Choose the 82 hp 1.5 MT Diesel if measured fuel economy and low-rpm torque matter most. It has the lowest recorded consumption at 6 L/100 km combined and the highest torque at 187 Nm, delivered at 2,000 rpm. Its compromises are the slowest measured acceleration, the lowest top speed and the highest measured kerb weight.
Choose the 103 hp 1.5 MT Gasoline for a balanced Manual option. It matches the 1.5 AT at 14 seconds to 100 km/h, 165 km/h and 7.8 L/100 km combined, but uses a 5-speed Manual instead of a 4-speed Automatic. Choose the 103 hp 1.5 AT Gasoline when Automatic transmission is the priority, because the supplied performance and economy figures show no penalty relative to the equivalent Manual.
The 102 hp 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT are harder to recommend from economy data because their consumption and acceleration figures are not measured. The Manual reaches 172 km/h, 12 km/h more than the Automatic, while offering 1 hp less than the 103 hp 1.5 versions and 7 Nm more torque. On the available numbers, the 1.6 MT is the more performance-oriented of the two 1.6 choices.
Choose the 1.8 MT for the strongest measured performance. Its 123 hp output exceeds the 1.5 Gasoline versions by 20 hp, and its 162 Nm torque adds 31 Nm. It records the quickest acceleration at 11.1 seconds, the highest speed at 185 km/h and the best calculated weight-to-power figure among versions with measured kerb weight.
Choose the 1.8 AT if you want the highest-output engine with an Automatic gearbox. It retains the same 123 hp and 162 Nm as the 1.8 MT, but reaches 100 km/h 0.2 seconds later and has a top speed 10 km/h lower. Fuel consumption is not measured for either 1.8 version, so the supplied data cannot establish their economy relative to the smaller engines.
No prices, reliability results or problem records are included in the data, so this comparison cannot determine which version costs less to buy, maintain or repair. Based only on the available specifications, the 82 hp 1.5 MT Diesel is the economy choice, the 103 hp 1.5 MT Gasoline is the balanced Manual choice, and the 1.8 MT is the performance choice.