Microcar M.Go

Microcar M.Go: which 0.5 CVT to buy

The Microcar M.Go has one generation (from 2009) and six catalogue versions, all named 0.5 CVT, all Mini 3-doors, all FWD, all with a Variable gearbox and 120 mm ground clearance. The buying choice is not “which generation” and not “which body.” It is which of the six 0.5 CVT rows matches how you drive: Diesel 6 hp limited to 45 km/h where measured, or Gasoline 21 hp limited to 90 km/h.

The Microcar M.Go has one generation (from 2009) and six catalogue versions, all named 0.5 CVT, all Mini 3-doors, all FWD, all with a Variable gearbox and 120 mm ground clearance. The buying choice is not “which generation” and not “which body.” It is which of the six 0.5 CVT rows matches how you drive: Diesel 6 hp limited to 45 km/h where measured, or Gasoline 21 hp limited to 90 km/h. Kerb weight, gross weight, tank size, wheel sizes, 0–100, and fuel consumption are not measured on every row, so this comparison uses power, torque, displacement, fuel, and top speed only.

Specs that actually split the six 0.5 CVT versions

Every version is labelled 0.5 CVT. Distinguish them by output, fuel, and displacement.

Shared on all six: Independent, spring front and rear; Ventilated disc front; Disc ventilated rear; boost No; drive FWD; gearbox Variable. Engine position, valves per cylinder, compression, bore/stroke, and fuel grade are not measured.

Generations: one generation, so the choice is inside it

1 generation (from 2009, end date not measured) is the whole catalogue: Mini 3-doors, 6 versions. There is no second generation to “wait for” and no restyling listed as a separate generation. Chassis numbers that are measured do not move: 120 mm clearance on every 0.5 CVT. What changes between rows is the engine row, not the body or the generation name.

Engine: Diesel 6 hp versus Gasoline 21 hp

Power spread. The weakest measured peak is 6 hp (4 kW or 5 kW). The strongest is 21 hp (15 kW). That is +15 hp, or 3.5 times the 6 hp figure (21 ÷ 6 = 3.5). In kilowatts: 15 kW versus 4 kW is +11 kW (3.75 times); versus 5 kW is +10 kW (3 times).

Specific output (hp per litre), using catalogue displacement.

• 0.5 CVT Gasoline 21 hp / 505 → 21 ÷ 0.505 ≈ 41.6 hp/L.
• 0.5 CVT Diesel 6 hp / 480 → 6 ÷ 0.480 = 12.5 hp/L.
• 0.5 CVT Diesel 6 hp / 505 → 6 ÷ 0.505 ≈ 11.9 hp/L.

The Gasoline 0.5 CVT makes about 3.3 times the specific output of the 480 Diesel (41.6 ÷ 12.5 ≈ 3.3) and about 3.5 times that of the 505 Diesel (41.6 ÷ 11.9 ≈ 3.5). Both Gasoline rows share 505, Direct injection (direct), 5100 rpm, No boost, 2 Inline. Diesel rows have injection not measured.

Where the 6 hp diesels differ from each other.

1. Displacement: 480 versus 505 (+25, about +5.2% on 480). 2. Peak rpm: 3400 on both 480 diesels; 3000 on both 505 diesels (−400 rpm). 3. Kilowatts at the same 6 hp: 4 kW on the two rows that also list torque; 5 kW on the two rows that do not. 5 − 4 = 1 kW at the same 6 hp. 4. Torque (only two diesels measure it): 26 Nm on 0.5 CVT 480 Diesel versus 17 Nm on 0.5 CVT 505 Diesel. 26 − 17 = 9 Nm; 26 ÷ 17 ≈ 1.53, so the smaller 480 lists 53% more torque at the same 6 hp / 4 kW.

If you must pick a Diesel 0.5 CVT and torque is the criterion, the measured ranking is 26 Nm (480) over 17 Nm (505). The two 6 hp / 5 kW diesels cannot enter that ranking: torque is not measured.

Gasoline pair. Both Gasoline 0.5 CVT rows are 21 hp / 15 kW @ 5100, 505, Gasoline, 2 Inline, No boost, Direct injection (direct), top speed 90. One lists 34 Nm; the other lists torque not measured. They are not two power levels. The extra number you get on one row is 34 Nm, not extra horsepower.

Torque versus the 21 hp Gasoline. 34 Nm versus Diesel 26 Nm is +8 Nm (+31%). Versus Diesel 17 Nm is +17 Nm (exactly double). Per litre: Gasoline 34 ÷ 0.505 ≈ 67.3 Nm/L; 480 Diesel 26 ÷ 0.480 ≈ 54.2 Nm/L; 505 Diesel 17 ÷ 0.505 ≈ 33.7 Nm/L.

Performance and economy: what is measured, what is not

0–100: not measured on all six 0.5 CVT rows. Do not infer a sprint time from 6 hp or 21 hp.

Top speed. Measured on four rows: 45 on both 6 hp / 4 kW diesels; 90 on both 21 hp Gasoline 0.5 CVT rows. 90 − 45 = 45; the Gasoline figure is exactly twice the Diesel figure. On the two 6 hp / 5 kW diesels, top speed is not measured — do not assume 45.

Fuel consumption (city / highway / mixed) and CO2 / eco class: not measured on every version. There is no mpg ranking in this catalogue. Fuel type is the only consumption-related fact: Diesel on four 0.5 CVT rows, Gasoline on two.

Weight-to-power. Kerb and gross mass are not measured, so kg per horsepower cannot be calculated. The arithmetic that is allowed is power and speed only.

Dimensions and weight: same measured chassis, empty mass fields

• Ground clearance: 120 mm on all six 0.5 CVT versions. No generation and no engine row raises or lowers it in the data.
• Kerb weight: not measured.
• Gross weight: not measured.
• Tank: not measured.
• Wheels: not measured.

You cannot choose a “lighter” 0.5 CVT from these numbers. Clearance does not break the tie.

Reliability and problems: what the numbers do and do not say

This catalogue does not list failure rates, recalls, or service intervals. What it does list, for every 0.5 CVT: No boost (no turbo row to choose), Variable gearbox (no manual alternative), FWD only, Independent, spring at both ends, Ventilated disc front and Disc ventilated rear. “Problems” in the sense of missing data: torque not measured on three of six rows; top speed not measured on two Diesel rows; economy, mass, tank, and 0–100 not measured everywhere. A version with more empty cells is not proven more reliable; it is less specified.

Which version to choose

If the job is the highest measured speed and power: take a Gasoline 0.5 CVT at 21 hp / 15 kW @ 5100, 505, Direct injection (direct), top speed 90. Prefer the row that also lists 34 Nm if you want every measured engine figure filled. The second Gasoline 0.5 CVT is the same power and the same 90; only torque is not measured.

If the job is Diesel and a stated 45 km/h cap: the two 0.5 CVT rows at 6 hp / 4 kW both list top speed 45. Between them, 480 / 26 Nm @ 3400 beats 505 / 17 Nm @ 3000 on torque (+9 Nm) while matching power. Specific power slightly favours 480 (12.5 hp/L vs 11.9 hp/L).

If you only need Diesel 6 hp and accept empty performance cells: the 0.5 CVT 6 hp / 5 kW @ 3400, 480, and the 0.5 CVT 6 hp / 5 kW @ 3000, 505, match the other diesels on 6 hp, FWD, Variable, and 120 mm, but torque and top speed are not measured. They are not a documented upgrade over the 4 kW pair except for +1 kW at the same 6 hp.

What extra output buys in this table (not price — prices are not in the data). Going from a 6 hp Diesel 0.5 CVT to a 21 hp Gasoline 0.5 CVT buys +15 hp, +10 or +11 kW, and, where both speeds are measured, +45 on top speed (45 → 90). It also switches fuel from Diesel to Gasoline and adds Direct injection (direct). It does not change generation, doors, drive, gearbox type, boost, clearance, or the Mini 3-doors body.

What does not buy a different car. All six names are 0.5 CVT. There is no second generation, no other gearbox label, no other drive, and no measured weight or mpg gap. If two listings both say 0.5 CVT, match them on hp, kW, rpm, displacement, fuel, and whether Nm and top speed are filled — that is the only way the six rows stay distinct.

Short ranking by measured capability (not by price).

1. 0.5 CVT 21 hp / 15 kW, 505 Gasoline, 34 Nm, top speed 90 — most complete high-output row. 2. 0.5 CVT 21 hp / 15 kW, 505 Gasoline, torque not measured, top speed 90 — same power and speed, one engine figure missing. 3. 0.5 CVT 6 hp / 4 kW, 480 Diesel, 26 Nm, top speed 45 — strongest measured Diesel torque. 4. 0.5 CVT 6 hp / 4 kW, 505 Diesel, 17 Nm, top speed 45 — same 6 hp and 45, 9 Nm less. 5–6. Both 0.5 CVT 6 hp / 5 kW diesels (480 @ 3400 and 505 @ 3000) — +1 kW versus the 4 kW diesels, but top speed and torque not measured.

Economy (mpg), 0–100, kerb weight, and tank size cannot break this order: they are not measured on the Microcar M.Go in this dataset.