Generations: Sedan versus Estate 5-door
The overlap year is 1998: a 1998 Kia Clarus can be either Sedan 1 generation or Estate 5-door 2 generation. A 1996–1997 car is only 1 generation. A 1999–2001 Kia Clarus wagon is only 2 generation.
1 generation ran 1996-01-01 to 1998-12-31 as Sedan. Ground clearance is 165 mm on every version. Front brakes are Ventilated disc and rear brakes are Disc. Fuel grade is 92. Engine location is not measured. Fuel consumption is measured on all four versions.
2 generation ran 1997-12-01 to 2001-12-31 as Estate 5-door. Ground clearance is 160 mm — 5 mm less than 1 generation. Front brakes are Disc. Rear brakes split: Drum on every 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT, Disc on every 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT. Most Estate 5-door versions use fuel 95 and Front, transverse engines; one 1.8 AT uses 92 and has engine location not measured.
The overlap year is 1998: a 1998 Kia Clarus can be either Sedan 1 generation or Estate 5-door 2 generation. A 1996–1997 car is only 1 generation. A 1999–2001 Kia Clarus wagon is only 2 generation.
Engine specs: 1.8 versus 2.0
Both engines are Gasoline, 4 Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Distributed injection (multi-point), FWD. The 1.8 is 1793 cm³, 116 hp (85 kW) at 5750 rpm, 152 Nm at 4500 rpm, compression 9.5, bore × stroke 81 × 87. The 2.0 is 1998 cm³, 133 hp (98 kW), 171 Nm, compression 9.2, bore × stroke 86 × 86.
Arithmetic on those figures: the 2.0 adds 205 cm³, 17 hp and 19 Nm. Specific output is 64.7 hp per litre on the 1.8 (116 / 1.793) versus 66.6 hp per litre on the 2.0 (133 / 1.998). Peak power of the 2.0 is at 6000 rpm on 1 generation and at 5900 rpm on 2 generation; peak torque is at 4000 rpm on 1 generation and at 4100 rpm on 2 generation. That 100 rpm shift is the only engine-speed change between generations. Manual is 5 gears; Automatic is 4 gears.
| Generation | Version (how to tell duplicates) | hp | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 1.8 MT 1275 kg | 116 | 152 | 1793 | 95 | 4 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 1.8 AT 1275 kg | 116 | 152 | 1793 | 95 | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 2.0 MT 1300 kg | 133 | 171 | 1998 | 95 | 4 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 2.0 AT 1300 kg | 133 | 171 | 1998 | 95 | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 1.8 MT 1220 kg | 116 | 152 | 1793 | 95 | 4 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 1.8 AT 1233 kg | 116 | 152 | 1793 | 92 | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 2.0 MT 1235 kg | 133 | 171 | 1998 | 95 | 4 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 2 generation Estate 5-door | 2.0 AT 1260 kg | 133 | 171 | 1998 | 95 | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 1 generation Sedan | 1.8 MT | 116 | 152 | 1793 | 92 | 4 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1 generation Sedan | 1.8 AT | 116 | 152 | 1793 | 92 | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 1 generation Sedan | 2.0 MT | 133 | 171 | 1998 | 92 | 4 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1 generation Sedan | 2.0 AT | 133 | 171 | 1998 | 92 | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
Performance and mpg: what the extra 17 hp actually buys
Manual, 0–100 km/h. 1.8 MT is 10.7 s on both generations (both kerb weights in 2 generation). 2.0 MT is 10.9 s on both generations (both kerb weights in 2 generation). The larger engine is 0.2 s slower to 100 km/h, not faster. What the 2.0 buys on a Manual is top speed: 195 km/h versus 185 km/h on 1.8 MT — 10 km/h.
Automatic, 0–100 km/h — two different gaps. On the heavier 2 generation pair (1275 kg 1.8 AT, 1300 kg 2.0 AT) the Automatic costs 0.5 s versus 1.8 MT (11.2 versus 10.7) and 0.4 s versus 2.0 MT (11.3 versus 10.9). Top speed drops 5 km/h (180 versus 185 on 1.8; 190 versus 195 on 2.0). On the lighter 2 generation pair the Automatic costs much more: 1.8 AT 1233 kg is 13.9 s versus 10.7 s on 1.8 MT 1220 kg (+3.2 s); 2.0 AT 1260 kg is 13.9 s versus 10.9 s on 2.0 MT 1235 kg (+3.0 s). Top speed on that 2.0 AT is 178 km/h — 17 km/h below 2.0 MT 195 km/h, and 2 km/h below the heavier 2 generation 1.8 AT at 180 km/h.
1 generation Automatic. 1.8 AT is 13.9 s and 178 km/h versus 1.8 MT 10.7 s and 185 km/h (+3.2 s, −7 km/h). 2.0 AT is 13.8 s and 180 km/h versus 2.0 MT 10.9 s and 195 km/h (+2.9 s, −15 km/h). Among Automatics, 1 generation 2.0 AT at 13.8 s is 0.1 s quicker than 1 generation 1.8 AT at 13.9 s.
Fuel (mpg in L/100 km). Measured only where listed:
- 1 generation 1.8 MT: city 12.1, highway 7.8, mixed 9.3
- 1 generation 1.8 AT: city 15, highway 8.7, mixed 10.9
- 1 generation 2.0 MT: city 12.8, highway 8, mixed 9.9
- 1 generation 2.0 AT: city 15.4, highway 10.2, mixed 12
- 2 generation 1.8 AT 1233 kg: city 15, highway 8.7, mixed 10.9 (same three figures as 1 generation 1.8 AT)
- All other 2 generation versions: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured
- CO2 not measured and eco class not measured on every version
On 1 generation, Automatic versus Manual on the 1.8 adds 2.9 L/100 km city, 0.9 highway, 1.6 mixed. On the 2.0 it adds 2.6 city, 2.2 highway, 2.1 mixed. The 2.0 versus 1.8 on Manual adds 0.7 city, 0.2 highway, 0.6 mixed. On Automatic it adds 0.4 city, 1.5 highway, 1.1 mixed. 1 generation 2.0 AT is the thirstiest measured car (mixed 12 L/100 km). 1 generation 1.8 MT is the leanest measured car (mixed 9.3). A 60 L tank at mixed 9.3 L/100 km is 645 km of mixed range on that 1.8 MT; at mixed 12 L/100 km on 1 generation 2.0 AT the same tank is 500 km — 145 km less.
Dimensions and weight: kg per horsepower
Wheel size is not measured on any version. Tank is 60 L on all 12. Clearance is 165 mm on 1 generation, 160 mm on 2 generation.
Kerb / gross / payload / kg per hp:
- 2 generation 1.8 MT 1275 / 1840 kg, payload 565 kg, 11.0 kg/hp
- 2 generation 1.8 AT 1275 / 1840 kg, payload 565 kg, 11.0 kg/hp
- 2 generation 2.0 MT 1300 / 1865 kg, payload 565 kg, 9.8 kg/hp
- 2 generation 2.0 AT 1300 / 1865 kg, payload 565 kg, 9.8 kg/hp
- 2 generation 1.8 MT 1220 / 1750 kg, payload 530 kg, 10.5 kg/hp
- 2 generation 1.8 AT 1233 / 1750 kg, payload 517 kg, 10.6 kg/hp
- 2 generation 2.0 MT 1235 / 1770 kg, payload 535 kg, 9.3 kg/hp
- 2 generation 2.0 AT 1260 / 1795 kg, payload 535 kg, 9.5 kg/hp
- 1 generation 1.8 MT 1220 / 1750 kg, payload 530 kg, 10.5 kg/hp
- 1 generation 1.8 AT 1233 / 1750 kg, payload 517 kg, 10.6 kg/hp
- 1 generation 2.0 MT 1234 / 1770 kg, payload 536 kg, 9.3 kg/hp
- 1 generation 2.0 AT 1247 / 1770 kg, payload 523 kg, 9.4 kg/hp
The heaviest cars are the 1300 kg 2 generation 2.0 pair; the lightest are the 1220 kg 1.8 MT cars in both generations. The 2.0 always carries fewer kilograms per horsepower than the 1.8 in the same generation. The largest payload is 565 kg on the four heavier Estate 5-door versions. Independent, spring suspension is front and rear on every version.
Which version to choose
Need a wagon (Kia Clarus wagon, 1998–2001). Only 2 generation Estate 5-door. If you want the shortest 0–100 time in that body, take 1.8 MT (10.7 s) at either 1220 kg or 1275 kg — both quote the same 10.7 s and 185 km/h. The 1220 kg 1.8 MT is 55 kg lighter and 90 kg lower on gross weight (1750 versus 1840), so payload is 35 kg lower (530 versus 565). If you want the highest top speed in the wagon, take 2.0 MT (195 km/h) at 1235 kg or 1300 kg; 0–100 is 10.9 s on both. The 1235 kg 2.0 MT is the best kg/hp among wagons at 9.3. Rear brakes on every 2.0 Estate 5-door are Disc; on every 1.8 they are Drum.
Need a Sedan (1996–1998). Only 1 generation. Same 10.7 s / 185 km/h on 1.8 MT and 10.9 s / 195 km/h on 2.0 MT. You also get measured mpg, Ventilated disc front brakes, Disc rear brakes, 165 mm clearance, and fuel 92. 1.8 MT is the economy pick (mixed 9.3). 2.0 MT is the speed pick (195 km/h) at mixed 9.9 — 0.6 L/100 km more.
Need Automatic. Do not treat every 1.8 AT and 2.0 AT as equal. The heavier 2 generation 1.8 AT 1275 kg (11.2 s, 180 km/h, fuel 95) and 2.0 AT 1300 kg (11.3 s, 190 km/h, fuel 95) stay within 0.5 s of their Manual twins. The lighter 2 generation 1.8 AT 1233 kg (13.9 s, 180 km/h, fuel 92, mixed 10.9) and 2.0 AT 1260 kg (13.9 s, 178 km/h, fuel 95, mpg not measured) lose about 3 s to 100 km/h. 1 generation 1.8 AT matches that slow 13.9 s / 178 km/h with mixed 10.9. 1 generation 2.0 AT is 13.8 s / 180 km/h with mixed 12.0 — the highest measured consumption. If the Automatic must also be a wagon and still close to Manual times, the 1275 kg 1.8 AT and 1300 kg 2.0 AT are the pair that do that.
1.8 or 2.0 when times are close. On Manual the 2.0 does not win 0–100 (it loses 0.2 s) but it wins top speed by 10 km/h, torque by 19 Nm, and kg/hp (9.3–9.8 versus 10.5–11.0). On 1 generation it also costs 0.6 L/100 km mixed versus 1.8 MT. On 2 generation that fuel cost is not measured except on the 1233 kg 1.8 AT.
1998 / 1999 / 2000 / 1997 model years. 1997 is 1 generation Sedan only (plus the 2 generation 2.0 AT 1260 kg, which starts 1997-12-01). 1999 and 2000 are 2 generation Estate 5-door only. 1998 is both: confirm Sedan versus Estate 5-door, then confirm kerb weight on the Estate so you do not mix the 10.7–11.3 s Automatics with the 13.9 s Automatics that share the names 1.8 AT and 2.0 AT.
Problems and reliability figures are not in this dataset; this comparison uses only the measured specs above. Interior dimensions and wheel sizes are not measured.