Which Land Rover Series III Version Should You Buy?
The Land Rover Series III range in this catalogue contains three versions, all named 2.3 MT: two Gasoline models producing 69 hp and 73 hp, plus a Diesel model producing 63 hp. All belong to the same generation, built from 1971 to 1985 as an SUV 5-doors, so there is no meaningful generation-to-generation choice.
The Land Rover Series III range in this catalogue contains three versions, all named 2.3 MT: two Gasoline models producing 69 hp and 73 hp, plus a Diesel model producing 63 hp. All belong to the same generation, built from 1971 to 1985 as an SUV 5-doors, so there is no meaningful generation-to-generation choice. The decision instead comes down to engine type, output, measured performance, and the completeness of the available economy and weight data. On those figures, the 73 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT is the strongest choice for performance, while the 63 hp Diesel 2.3 MT is the alternative for buyers who specifically prefer Diesel.
Land Rover Series III generations compared
The Land Rover Series III has one generation in the supplied catalogue data. It ran from 1971 to 1985, used the SUV 5-doors body style, and included three versions. Because every listed version shares the same generation and production period, the data shows no later generation that changed the body, drivetrain, clearance, suspension, or braking specification. Choosing a Series III therefore means comparing its three powertrains rather than deciding between generations.
Land Rover Series III engine and specs
The two Gasoline versions use a 2,250 cc, 4-cylinder Inline engine with No boost and a Carburetor fuel system. Their only recorded engine-output difference is power: one produces 69 hp (51 kW) and the other 73 hp (54 kW).
The Diesel version is also called 2.3 MT, but it has a 2,300 cc, 4-cylinder Inline engine producing 63 hp (46 kW) with No boost. Its fuel-system specification is not measured.
All three versions have a 5-speed Manual gearbox and AWD.
| Exact version name | Identifying output | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 MT | 69 hp / 51 kW | 2,250 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | AWD | not measured |
| 2.3 MT | 73 hp / 54 kW | 2,250 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | AWD | not measured |
| 2.3 MT | 63 hp / 46 kW | 2,300 cc | Diesel | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | AWD | not measured |
Measured by output per litre, the 73 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT develops approximately 32.4 hp per litre. The 69 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT produces approximately 30.7 hp per litre, while the 63 hp Diesel 2.3 MT produces approximately 27.4 hp per litre. The higher-output Gasoline version consequently leads the lower-output Gasoline model by 4 hp and the Diesel by 10 hp.
The Diesel has 50 cc more displacement than either Gasoline version, but produces 6 hp less than the 69 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT and 10 hp less than the 73 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT. Torque is not measured for every version, so the data cannot support a torque-based recommendation.
Performance, top speed, and fuel economy
Acceleration from 0–100 km/h is not measured for any of the three versions.
Both Gasoline versions have a measured top speed of 145 km/h. The Diesel version’s top speed is not measured. This means the available figures do not establish a performance difference between the 69 hp and 73 hp Gasoline models in maximum speed, despite their 4 hp output gap.
| Exact version name | Identifying output | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 MT | 69 hp | not measured | 145 km/h | 12.1 L/100 km | 9 L/100 km | 10.1 L/100 km |
| 2.3 MT | 73 hp | not measured | 145 km/h | 12.1 L/100 km | 9 L/100 km | 10.1 L/100 km |
| 2.3 MT | 63 hp | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
The two Gasoline versions have identical measured consumption: 12.1 L/100 km in the city, 9 L/100 km on the highway, and 10.1 L/100 km combined. Their city figure is 3.1 L/100 km higher than their highway figure, while combined consumption sits 1.1 L/100 km above the highway result and 2 L/100 km below the city result.
Fuel consumption for the Diesel is not measured. It would therefore be unsafe to claim that the Diesel is more economical than either Gasoline version. Based strictly on measured figures, neither Gasoline model has a consumption advantage, and the Diesel cannot be ranked for economy.
Weight, ground clearance, fuel tank, and wheel sizes
The 69 hp and 73 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT versions each have a kerb weight of 1,797 kg and a gross weight of 2,550 kg. The difference between those two figures is 753 kg. Kerb and gross weights for the 63 hp Diesel 2.3 MT are not measured.
| Exact version name | Identifying output | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 MT | 69 hp | 1,797 kg | 2,550 kg | 203 mm | 60 L | not measured |
| 2.3 MT | 73 hp | 1,797 kg | 2,550 kg | 203 mm | 60 L | not measured |
| 2.3 MT | 63 hp | not measured | not measured | 203 mm | 60 L | not measured |
Using measured kerb weight and output, the 69 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT carries approximately 26.0 kg per hp. The 73 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT improves that ratio to approximately 24.6 kg per hp, or about 1.4 kg per hp less. Because the Diesel’s kerb weight is not measured, its weight-per-horsepower ratio cannot be calculated from the supplied data.
All three versions provide 203 mm of ground clearance and a 60 L fuel tank. Wheel sizes are not measured for any version. The shared clearance and tank capacity give no version an advantage in these areas.
Each version also uses Dependent, leaf spring front suspension and Dependent, leaf spring rear suspension. Front and rear brakes are listed as Disc across the range, so the supplied chassis data does not distinguish one version from another.
Which Land Rover Series III 2.3 MT should you buy?
The 73 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT is the most convincing all-round choice from the available numbers. It supplies 4 hp more than the other Gasoline version with the same 2,250 cc displacement, 1,797 kg kerb weight, 2,550 kg gross weight, 145 km/h top speed, and measured fuel-consumption figures. Its approximately 32.4 hp per litre and 24.6 kg per hp are also the best calculable ratios in the range. No purchase-price data is supplied, however, so the extra cost—if any—is not measured.
The 69 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT makes sense only if factors absent from the data, such as an individual vehicle’s condition, favour it. On the catalogue figures alone, it offers 4 hp less than the 73 hp version without gaining better fuel consumption, lower measured weight, a higher top speed, more clearance, or a larger tank.
Choose the 63 hp Diesel 2.3 MT when Diesel is itself the priority. It combines a 2,300 cc, 4-cylinder Inline engine with a 5-speed Manual gearbox, AWD, 203 mm of clearance, and a 60 L tank. Nevertheless, its consumption, top speed, acceleration, kerb weight, gross weight, and torque are all not measured. The data therefore cannot demonstrate an economy, performance, or load-related advantage over the Gasoline models.
In short, the 73 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT wins the numerical comparison, the 69 hp Gasoline 2.3 MT has no measured specification advantage, and the 63 hp Diesel 2.3 MT is a fuel-type choice whose usual practical comparisons cannot be completed because several key figures are not measured.