Isuzu Gemini

Which Isuzu Gemini Version Should You Buy?

The Isuzu Gemini choice depends on whether you want the broadest performance range, a diesel, AWD, or the later sedan specification. Across five generations, the supplied data covers Coupe, Sedan, and Hatchback 3-door bodies. The strongest listed engines produce 140 hp, while the least powerful diesel produces 50 hp.

The Isuzu Gemini choice depends on whether you want the broadest performance range, a diesel, AWD, or the later sedan specification. Across five generations, the supplied data covers Coupe, Sedan, and Hatchback 3-door bodies. The strongest listed engines produce 140 hp, while the least powerful diesel produces 50 hp. AWD appears among the third-generation versions shown; the fourth- and fifth-generation cars listed here are FWD sedans. For the best power-to-weight figure that can be calculated from measured data, the second-generation 1.6 MT combines 140 hp with a 1,000 kg kerb weight, or about 7.1 kg per hp. Buyers prioritising the newest listed generation instead get a choice between 1.5 MT, 1.5 AT, 1.6 MT, and 1.6 AT versions produced from February 1997 through September 2000.

Isuzu Gemini generations: what changed?

The first generation ran from January 1974 through December 1987 as a Coupe, with 10 versions in the database. The listed 1.6 MT and 1.8 MT versions span Gasoline and Diesel engines, all with FWD and a 4-speed Manual gearbox. Outputs range from 61 hp to 140 hp. This generation is also the only one in which measured fuel-consumption figures appear in the supplied data.

The second generation ran from January 1985 through December 1990 as a Sedan and contains 20 versions. Its listed selection includes 1.5 MT, 1.5 AT, 1.6 MT, and 1.6 AT versions, with both Gasoline and Diesel engines. Manual versions use 5 speeds, Automatic versions use 3 speeds, and every listed version is FWD. The range extends from a 50 hp non-turbo Diesel to a 140 hp Gasoline 1.6 MT or 1.6 AT.

The third generation ran from March 1990 through July 1993 as a Hatchback 3-door and contains 51 versions. The supplied extract shows 12 of them: repeated 1.5 AT, 1.5 MT, 1.6 MT, 1.6 AT, 1.8 MT, and 1.8 AT names must therefore be identified by power, gearbox, and drive. Outputs in the shown selection range from 95 hp to 140 hp. This is the most drivetrain-diverse generation shown because both FWD and AWD are listed, alongside 3-speed Automatic and 5-speed Manual transmissions.

The fourth generation ran from August 1993 through January 1997 as a Sedan and contains 6 versions. The choices are 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT with 94 hp, 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT with 130 hp, and a second pair of 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT versions with 120 hp. All are Gasoline, FWD, and naturally aspirated. Manual cars have 5 speeds; Automatic cars have 4.

The fifth generation ran from February 1997 through September 2000 as a Sedan and contains 4 versions: 1.5 MT, 1.5 AT, 1.6 MT, and 1.6 AT. The 1.5 versions produce 105 hp and the 1.6 versions produce 120 hp. All use Gasoline, FWD, front transverse engines, and distributed multi-point injection. Compared with the fourth generation, the later 1.5 gains 11 hp and 2 Nm, while the later 120 hp 1.6 retains the same listed 120 hp and 142 Nm.

Isuzu Gemini engine specs and version comparison

Because several generations reuse identical version names, the generation and output are included beside each exact database name.

The power-per-litre comparison favours the second-generation 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT among the naturally aspirated engines: 140 hp from 1,588 cc equals about 88.2 hp per litre. The turbocharged 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT versions make 120 hp from 1,471 cc, or about 81.6 hp per litre. The third-generation 1.8 versions produce about 77.4 hp per litre, while the fifth-generation 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT produce about 75.5 hp per litre.

Isuzu Gemini performance, top speed, and fuel economy

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is not measured for every supplied version. A top speed is also not measured for most versions.

The available top-speed figures all belong to second-generation Manual cars. The 100 hp 1.5 MT Gasoline reaches 175 km/h; the 120 hp turbocharged 1.5 MT Gasoline reaches 200 km/h; and the 140 hp 1.6 MT Gasoline reaches 210 km/h. The 50 hp and 67 hp Diesel 1.5 MT versions are each listed at 165 km/h. Thus, the measured advantage of the 140 hp 1.6 MT over the 100 hp 1.5 MT is 35 km/h, while its advantage over the 120 hp turbocharged 1.5 MT is 10 km/h.

Fuel consumption is not measured for the second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-generation versions in the data. In the first generation, measured 1.6 MT and 1.8 MT entries record 7.2 l/100 km in the city, 5.1 l/100 km on the highway, and 5.9 l/100 km combined. Those figures should not be applied to first-generation entries where consumption is not measured.

Isuzu Gemini weight, clearance, tank, and wheel sizes

Measured first-generation kerb weight is 925 kg for several 1.6 MT and 1.8 MT entries. Their ground clearance is 145 mm and their tank holds 52 litres. Kerb weight is not measured for the other first-generation entries, gross weight is not measured for any of them, and wheel sizes are not measured.

For the second generation, the 100 hp Gasoline 1.5 MT weighs 970 kg, the 120 hp turbocharged Gasoline 1.5 MT weighs 1,010 kg, the 140 hp Gasoline 1.6 MT weighs 1,000 kg, and the 50 hp and 67 hp Diesel 1.5 MT versions each weigh 1,040 kg. Ground clearance is 145 mm and the recorded tank capacity is 47 litres. Kerb weight for the Automatic versions, gross weight, and wheel sizes are not measured.

Third-generation kerb and gross weights are not measured. Its ground clearance is 145 mm, while tank capacity and wheel sizes are not measured.

Fourth-generation 1.5 MT and both 1.6 MT entries have a measured kerb weight of 1,030 kg. Ground clearance is 150 mm and tank capacity is 45 litres. Automatic kerb weights, all gross weights, and wheel sizes are not measured. At 1,030 kg, the 94 hp 1.5 MT carries about 11.0 kg per hp, the 120 hp 1.6 MT about 8.6 kg per hp, and the 130 hp 1.6 MT about 7.9 kg per hp.

The fifth-generation 1.5 MT and 1.6 MT each weigh 1,030 kg. Ground clearance is 150 mm and the tank holds 45 litres. Automatic kerb weights, gross weights, and wheel sizes are not measured. The 105 hp 1.5 MT has about 9.8 kg per hp, compared with about 8.6 kg per hp for the 120 hp 1.6 MT.

Which Isuzu Gemini version should you choose?

For the strongest measured power-to-weight result, choose the second-generation 1.6 MT. Its 140 hp and 1,000 kg give about 7.1 kg per hp, and its measured 210 km/h top speed is the highest supplied figure. The 120 hp turbocharged second-generation 1.5 MT is the next performance-oriented measured option at about 8.4 kg per hp and 200 km/h.

For AWD, look to the shown third-generation selection. The 120 hp turbocharged 1.5 AT and 1.5 MT and the 140 hp 1.8 AT and 1.8 MT are all listed with AWD alternatives. The 1.8 versions add 20 hp over the turbocharged 1.5 versions and provide a measured 162 Nm, whereas torque for the 120 hp turbo 1.5 is not measured.

For a fourth-generation sedan, the 130 hp 1.6 MT or 1.6 AT gives 36 hp more than the 94 hp 1.5 equivalent. The alternative 120 hp 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT make 10 hp less than the 130 hp versions but deliver 142 Nm, which is 4 Nm more than the 130 hp engine’s 138 Nm and reaches its torque peak at 3,000 rpm rather than 5,800 rpm.

For the newest generation in the catalogue, the fifth-generation 1.6 MT or 1.6 AT is the stronger choice. It adds 15 hp and 9 Nm over the fifth-generation 1.5 equivalent while sharing FWD, a 45-litre tank, 150 mm of ground clearance, and the same suspension and brake descriptions. Choose the 1.6 MT when you want the 5-speed Manual; choose the 1.6 AT when you want the 4-speed Automatic. Measured top speed, acceleration, fuel consumption, Automatic kerb weight, gross weight, and wheel size are unavailable, so those points cannot support a factual comparison.

For a Diesel, the second-generation 67 hp 1.5 MT offers 17 hp and 42 Nm more than the 50 hp 1.5 MT while retaining the same measured 1,040 kg kerb weight and 165 km/h top speed. The first-generation 73 hp 1.8 MT Diesel has 12 hp and 47 Nm more than the 61 hp 1.8 MT Diesel, but their performance figures are not measured. On the supplied numbers alone, the 67 hp second-generation 1.5 MT is the clearest Diesel comparison because weight and top speed are available for both alternatives.

Prices, current cars for sale, reliability records, engine-number location, oil capacity, and engine-swap compatibility are not included in the data, so they cannot be used to recommend one Gemini over another.