Lifan Smily: which version to buy — 1.3 MT vs 1.3 CVT, 2010–2014 vs restyling
If you are choosing a Lifan Smily, the decision is not between many engines. Every listed version uses the same 1342 cm³ Gasoline inline-4 with no boost, front transverse layout, multi-point injection, 92 fuel, FWD, a 37 l tank, and 14.5 s to 100 km/h. What changes is generation, gearbox, mass, ground clearance, and top speed. The first-generation 1.3 MT (89 hp) is the lightest and sits highest.
Lifan Smily: which version to buy — 1.3 MT vs 1.3 CVT, 2010–2014 vs restyling
If you are choosing a Lifan Smily, the decision is not between many engines. Every listed version uses the same 1342 cm³ Gasoline inline-4 with no boost, front transverse layout, multi-point injection, 92 fuel, FWD, a 37 l tank, and 14.5 s to 100 km/h. What changes is generation, gearbox, mass, ground clearance, and top speed. The first-generation 1.3 MT (89 hp) is the lightest and sits highest. The restyled 1.3 MT (88 hp) is the fastest on paper. The restyled 1.3 CVT (88 hp) is the only automatic-style choice and the slowest at the top end.
People searching Lifan Smily, Lifan Smily 320, Lifan Smily 2012, Lifan Smily 2013, Lifan Smily 2014, and Lifan Smily new are usually comparing these three rows, not a hidden fourth engine.
Generations: what changed between 1 generation and restyling
1 generation (2010-05-01 to 2014-08-31) is Mini 5-doors with one version: 1.3 MT. That 1.3 MT is rated 89 hp (65 kW) at 6000 rpm and 115 Nm at 3000–5000 rpm. Compression ratio is 9.3. Kerb weight is 900 kg, gross weight 1250 kg, ground clearance 170 mm, top speed 155 km/h. Fuel consumption is not measured. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured. Wheel sizes are not measured. The modification’s own dates run 2010-05-01 to 2016-03-31.
1 generation, restyling (2014-09-01 to 2017-07-31) stays Mini 5-doors and adds a second gearbox. Both restyle versions are 88 hp (64 kW) at 6000 rpm and 113 Nm at 5000 rpm. Compression ratio is not measured. Ground clearance drops to 135 mm on both. Fuel consumption is not measured. CO2 is not measured. Wheel sizes are not measured.
Arithmetic on those dates and numbers: restyling starts the day after the first generation’s listed stop. Power falls by 1 hp (89 → 88) and 1 kW (65 → 64). Peak torque falls by 2 Nm (115 → 113) and is quoted at a single 5000 rpm point instead of a 3000–5000 rpm band. Clearance falls by 35 mm (170 → 135). The restyled 1.3 MT kerb weight is 985 kg, 85 kg more than the first-generation 1.3 MT. The restyled 1.3 CVT is 990 kg, 90 kg more than the first-generation 1.3 MT and 5 kg more than the restyled 1.3 MT.
There are not two separate model lines. Restyling is the same 1 generation with a facelift window and a CVT option.
Specs table: every Lifan Smily version named as in the data
| Version | Years (mod) | hp / kW @ rpm | Nm @ rpm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 MT (1 generation) | 2010-05-01–2016-03-31 | 89 / 65 @ 6000 | 115 @ 3000–5000 | 1342 | Gasoline, 92 | 4, Inline, 4 valves/cyl, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point) | No | Manual, 5 | FWD |
| 1.3 MT (1 generation, restyling) | 2014-09-01–2017-07-31 | 88 / 64 @ 6000 | 113 @ 5000 | 1342 | Gasoline, 92 | 4, Inline, 4 valves/cyl, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point) | No | Manual, 5 | FWD |
| 1.3 CVT (1 generation, restyling) | 2014-09-01–2017-07-31 | 88 / 64 @ 6000 | 113 @ 5000 | 1342 | Gasoline, 92 | 4, Inline, 4 valves/cyl, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point) | No | Variable | FWD |
Two versions share the name 1.3 MT. Distinguish them by power: 89 hp on 1 generation, 88 hp on restyling. 1.3 CVT exists only on restyling.
Engine: same 1342 cm³, 1 hp and 2 Nm difference after restyling
Power per litre from the given figures:
- 1.3 MT (89 hp): 89 / 1.342 ≈ 66.3 hp per litre
- 1.3 MT (88 hp) and 1.3 CVT: 88 / 1.342 ≈ 65.6 hp per litre
That is about 0.7 hp per litre less after restyling. Torque per litre: 115 / 1.342 ≈ 85.7 Nm/l on the 89 hp 1.3 MT; 113 / 1.342 ≈ 84.2 Nm/l on both 88 hp versions.
The first-generation 1.3 MT is the only row with a measured compression ratio (9.3). On both restyle versions compression is not measured. All three: Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), 92 fuel.
If the question is “which engine,” the data does not offer a second displacement. The buy decision is gearbox plus the restyle’s extra mass and lower clearance.
Performance: 0–100 identical; top speed is the split
0–100 km/h is 14.5 s on 1.3 MT (89 hp), 1.3 MT (88 hp), and 1.3 CVT. The restyle did not change that figure even though it cut 1 hp and added 85–90 kg.
Top speed does change:
- Restyled 1.3 MT: 160 km/h (highest)
- First-generation 1.3 MT: 155 km/h (5 km/h below the restyled manual)
- Restyled 1.3 CVT: 150 km/h (10 km/h below the restyled 1.3 MT, 5 km/h below the first-generation 1.3 MT)
City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on any version. CO2 is not measured on any version. Eco class is Euro 4 only on the restyled 1.3 MT; on first-generation 1.3 MT and on 1.3 CVT eco class is not measured.
Weight per horsepower from kerb mass:
- 1.3 MT (89 hp, 900 kg): 900 / 89 ≈ 10.1 kg/hp
- 1.3 MT (88 hp, 985 kg): 985 / 88 ≈ 11.2 kg/hp
- 1.3 CVT (88 hp, 990 kg): 990 / 88 ≈ 11.3 kg/hp
The first-generation manual carries about 1.1 kg less per horsepower than the restyled manual. That extra mass did not show up in the listed 0–100 time (still 14.5 s) but it is the largest measured change besides clearance.
Dimensions, weight, mpg, clearance: what the restyle actually moved
Tank is 37 l on all three. Wheel sizes are not measured on all three. Front and rear suspension are Independent, spring on all three. Front brakes Disc, rear Drum on all three.
Kerb / gross / clearance:
- 1.3 MT (1 generation): 900 kg / 1250 kg / 170 mm. Payload from those two masses: 1250 − 900 = 350 kg.
- 1.3 MT (restyling): 985 kg / 1360 kg / 135 mm. Payload: 1360 − 985 = 375 kg (25 kg more payload than the first-generation 1.3 MT, with 85 kg more kerb and 110 kg more gross).
- 1.3 CVT: 990 kg kerb / gross not measured / 135 mm. Payload cannot be calculated because gross weight is not measured.
Ground clearance is the sharpest generation split: 170 mm on the 2010–2014 1.3 MT, 135 mm on both restyle versions — 35 mm lower. For broken surfaces that number matters more than the 1 hp gap.
Mpg in the search sense cannot be ranked: consumption is not measured for 1.3 MT, 1.3 MT restyle, or 1.3 CVT. Do not treat a missing figure as “this car has no fuel use”; it is simply not in the measured set.
Which version to choose
Choose first-generation 1.3 MT (89 hp) if mass and clearance decide the car. It is the only 89 hp row, the only 115 Nm row, the only 170 mm clearance, and the only 900 kg kerb. Versus restyled 1.3 MT you give up 5 km/h of top speed (155 vs 160) and 25 kg of calculated payload (350 vs 375), and you do not get a listed Euro 4 tag (not measured). Versus 1.3 CVT you keep a 5-speed Manual and a 5 km/h higher top speed (155 vs 150) at 90 kg less kerb weight. Searches for Lifan Smily 2012 and Lifan Smily 2013 land in this window (generation listed through 2014-08-31; this modification listed through 2016-03-31).
Choose restyled 1.3 MT (88 hp) if you want the later Mini 5-doors with a Manual and the highest listed top speed. 160 km/h is 5 km/h above the 89 hp 1.3 MT and 10 km/h above 1.3 CVT. You accept 88 hp instead of 89, 113 Nm instead of 115, 985 kg instead of 900, and 135 mm instead of 170. You are the only version with a measured Euro 4 class. Lifan Smily 2014 and Lifan Smily new in the restyle sense point here when the gearbox should stay Manual, 5.
Choose 1.3 CVT (88 hp) only if Variable is the requirement. It matches restyled 1.3 MT on 88 hp, 64 kW, 113 Nm, 1342 cm³, 14.5 s, 135 mm, 37 l, FWD, and Mini 5-doors. What Variable costs in these numbers: 5 kg extra kerb (990 vs 985), 10 km/h less top speed (150 vs 160 vs the restyled manual), 5 km/h less than the older 1.3 MT (150 vs 155). Gear count is not measured (peredach is empty). Gross weight is not measured. Eco class is not measured. 0–100 stays 14.5 s, so the CVT is not slower in the one acceleration figure we have; it is slower only at the listed maximum speed.
What extra “money” cannot be argued from this file. There are no prices. The restyle does not buy more displacement, more cylinders, boost, or another drive type. What it buys in the table is a Variable option, a 160 km/h Manual, Euro 4 on restyled 1.3 MT, 25 kg more payload on that Manual, and a later production window (to 2017-07-31). What it spends is 1 hp, 2 Nm, 85–90 kg, and 35 mm of clearance.
Reliability and problems are not in the measured fields. Do not invent failure rates. The comparable facts that do exist for a used-car shortlist: same 14.5 s on all three; consumption not measured on all three; wheels not measured on all three; the 89 hp 1.3 MT is uniquely light and high; the 88 hp 1.3 MT is uniquely 160 km/h and Euro 4; 1.3 CVT is uniquely Variable and 150 km/h.
Short pick: need 170 mm and the best kg/hp — first-generation 1.3 MT (89 hp). Need restyle years and a pedal gearbox — restyled 1.3 MT (88 hp). Need no clutch — 1.3 CVT, knowing top speed is the one performance number that gets worse.