Mercury Topaz

Which Mercury Topaz Version Should You Buy?

The choice among the listed Mercury Topaz versions comes down to engine output, transmission, and drive system. The 2.3 MT and 2.3 AT use a 2307 cc Gasoline engine producing 97 hp and 174 Nm, while the second-generation 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT raise output to 137 hp and 204 Nm. That gives the 3.0 versions an advantage of 40 hp and 30 Nm.

The choice among the listed Mercury Topaz versions comes down to engine output, transmission, and drive system. The 2.3 MT and 2.3 AT use a 2307 cc Gasoline engine producing 97 hp and 174 Nm, while the second-generation 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT raise output to 137 hp and 204 Nm. That gives the 3.0 versions an advantage of 40 hp and 30 Nm. The first generation, produced from 1983 through 1987, is listed only with the 2.3 engine and FWD. The second generation, produced from 1987 through 1994, adds 3.0 versions and offers both FWD and AWD among the 2.3 versions. Every listed Mercury Topaz has a Coupe body.

Mercury Topaz Generations: What Changed?

The first-generation Mercury Topaz covers 1983–1987 and contains 3 listed versions, all with a Coupe body. Its engine choice is the 2307 cc 2.3 rated at 97 hp and 174 Nm. Buyers can choose the 2.3 MT with a 5-speed Manual gearbox or the 2.3 AT with a 3-speed Automatic gearbox, but every first-generation entry uses FWD.

The second-generation Mercury Topaz covers 1987–1994 and contains 10 listed versions, again with a Coupe body. It retains the 97 hp 2.3 MT and 2.3 AT but expands the choice to include AWD as well as FWD. It also adds the 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT, both rated at 137 hp and 204 Nm and listed with FWD. In practical specification terms, the newer generation offers more combinations rather than a different body style.

Mercury Topaz Engine and Specs

Repeated database entries are grouped below only when their listed engine, transmission, and drive specifications are identical. Exact version names are retained.

The data contains two different specifications under the exact name 3.0 MT. One lists 6 cylinders in a V-shaped layout with a Front, transverse engine position; the other lists 4 cylinders in an Inline layout with a Front, longitudinal position. Both produce 137 hp and 204 Nm. This catalogue distinction should be checked carefully when identifying a particular car.

The 2.3 engine produces approximately 42.0 hp per litre, while the 3.0 produces approximately 45.9 hp per litre. The larger engine therefore delivers about 3.8 additional hp per litre as well as 40 hp more overall. The 2.3 reaches 97 hp at 4400 rpm and 174 Nm at 2600 rpm. The 3.0 MT reaches 137 hp at 4800 rpm and 204 Nm at 4250 rpm, while the 3.0 AT reaches 137 hp at 5500 rpm and 204 Nm at 2600 rpm.

All listed engines have 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, a compression ratio of 9, and Distributed injection (multi-point). The 2.3 uses 92 fuel and has a 93.5 × 84 bore-and-stroke figure. The 3.0 specifications use 95 fuel; listed bore-and-stroke figures are 89 × 80 or 93.5 × 80, depending on the entry.

Mercury Topaz Performance and MPG

For the first-generation 2.3 MT, acceleration from 0–100 km/h is not measured, top speed is 155 km/h, and city, highway, and combined consumption are not measured. For the first-generation 2.3 AT, 0–100 km/h acceleration, top speed, and all three consumption figures are not measured.

For the second-generation 2.3 MT, 0–100 km/h acceleration is not measured and the listed top speed is 155 km/h. One AWD 2.3 MT entry records consumption of 12 L/100 km in the city, 7 L/100 km on the highway, and 9 L/100 km combined. Consumption for the remaining 2.3 MT entries is not measured.

For the second-generation 2.3 AT, 0–100 km/h acceleration is not measured. Some entries have no measured top speed, while one AWD entry lists 155 km/h. That AWD 2.3 AT records 12 L/100 km in the city, 7 L/100 km on the highway, and 9 L/100 km combined. Consumption for the other 2.3 AT entries is not measured.

Both second-generation 3.0 MT specifications have no measured 0–100 km/h time, a top speed of 170 km/h, and no measured city, highway, or combined consumption. The 3.0 AT reaches 100 km/h in 10.6 seconds, has a top speed of 170 km/h, and records 11.8 L/100 km in the city, 9.8 L/100 km on the highway, and 10.7 L/100 km combined.

On measured top speed, either 3.0 version adds 15 km/h over a 2.3 version listed at 155 km/h. Economy cannot be compared completely across the range because most figures are not measured. Where measurements exist, the AWD 2.3 versions use 1.7 L/100 km less than the 3.0 AT on the combined cycle and 2.8 L/100 km less on the highway; the 3.0 AT uses 0.2 L/100 km less in the city.

Mercury Topaz Dimensions, Weight, and Practical Specs

Every listed version has 130 mm of ground clearance and a 60 L fuel tank. Wheel sizes are not measured, and gross weight is not measured for any version.

Listed kerb weights vary by entry. The 2.3 MT appears at 1150 kg and 1175 kg, while some second-generation entries have no measured kerb weight. At 1150 kg, the 97 hp 2.3 MT carries approximately 11.9 kg per hp; at 1175 kg, it carries approximately 12.1 kg per hp.

The 3.0 MT appears at 1185 kg in one specification and 1175 kg in another. These figures correspond to approximately 8.6 kg per hp and 8.7 kg per hp. The 3.0 AT weighs 1218 kg, or approximately 8.9 kg per hp. Even the heaviest measured 3.0 therefore has a substantially lower weight-per-horsepower figure than either measured 2.3.

All versions use Independent, spring front and rear suspension, Ventilated disc front brakes, and Drum rear brakes.

Which Mercury Topaz Version to Choose

Choose the first-generation 2.3 MT if you want the earliest listed generation with the 5-speed Manual gearbox and FWD. It has the same 97 hp and 174 Nm as the later 2.3 versions, reaches a listed 155 km/h, and has a measured kerb weight of either 1150 kg or 1175 kg depending on the entry. The first generation does not provide a 3.0 or AWD option in this data.

Choose a second-generation 2.3 MT if drivetrain choice matters more than additional power. It is available with FWD or AWD while retaining the 97 hp engine and 5-speed Manual gearbox. The measured AWD entry also provides the clearest 2.3 economy record: 12 L/100 km city, 7 L/100 km highway, and 9 L/100 km combined.

Choose the second-generation 2.3 AT if a 3-speed Automatic is essential and 97 hp is sufficient. Both FWD and AWD are listed. The AWD specification is the more fully documented automatic 2.3 because it includes a 155 km/h top speed and measured consumption figures; several other performance values remain not measured.

Choose the second-generation 3.0 MT for the strongest measured power-to-weight result. It combines 137 hp and 204 Nm with a kerb weight of either 1175 kg or 1185 kg and a top speed of 170 km/h. Against the 2.3 MT, it provides 41.2% more power and 17.2% more torque. Buyers should verify which 3.0 MT specification they are considering because the database lists two different cylinder layouts and engine orientations under that exact version name.

Choose the second-generation 3.0 AT when measured performance matters more than the lowest measured combined consumption. It is the only listed version with a measured 0–100 km/h time, at 10.6 seconds, and it combines 137 hp with a 3-speed Automatic and FWD. Its 1218 kg kerb weight is 33 kg greater than the 1185 kg 3.0 MT and 43 kg greater than the 1175 kg 3.0 MT, giving it a slightly less favorable weight-per-horsepower figure.

Reliability, trim levels, prices, sale availability, and mechanical problem records are not measured in the supplied data, so they cannot support a version recommendation. Based strictly on the available numbers, the 3.0 MT is the performance-focused choice, the AWD 2.3 MT offers the strongest combination of drivetrain choice and measured fuel economy, and the 3.0 AT supplies the most complete set of measured acceleration, speed, consumption, and weight figures.