Mitsubishi Cordia

The article below is built only from the supplied specification set: one generation, ten named versions, and arithmetic on those figures. Missing fields are stated as not measured.

The Mitsubishi Cordia was sold in a single generation from 1982-09-01 to 1990-06-30 as a Hatchback 3-door, with ten versions in the catalogue. There is no second generation to compare, so the buying choice is entirely inside that 1982–1990 run: five engine outputs (75, 90, 114, 116, 136 hp) paired with either Manual 5 or Automatic 4, all FWD, all Gasoline, all with 155 mm ground clearance.

The article below is built only from the supplied specification set: one generation, ten named versions, and arithmetic on those figures. Missing fields are stated as not measured.

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# Mitsubishi Cordia: which version to buy and why

The Mitsubishi Cordia was sold in a single generation from 1982-09-01 to 1990-06-30 as a Hatchback 3-door, with ten versions in the catalogue. There is no second generation to compare, so the buying choice is entirely inside that 1982–1990 run: five engine outputs (75, 90, 114, 116, 136 hp) paired with either Manual 5 or Automatic 4, all FWD, all Gasoline, all with 155 mm ground clearance. Kerb weight, gross weight, tank size, wheels, 0–100, and fuel consumption are not measured on every version, so power, displacement, boost, top speed where given, and gearbox are the only numbers that actually separate the cars.

Generations: one body, ten versions, no later rewrite

The 1 generation (1982-09-01 to 1990-06-30) is the whole model. Body: Hatchback 3-door. Count: 10 versions. There is no restyle listed as a separate generation, so a later “better chassis” or “lighter kerb” argument cannot be made from these data. Independent, spring front and Independent, torsion rear, Disc front brakes and Drum rear brakes, Front, transverse engines, and FWD are the same on all ten. If two Cordias differ, they differ in the engine–gearbox pair, not in generation.

Engines and specs: the ten versions as named

Use the catalogue names exactly. Two pairs share the label 1.6 MT, two share 1.6 AT, two share 1.8 MT, two share 1.8 AT — distinguish them by horsepower.

All listed engines are Gasoline, Front, transverse. Turbo versions use Distributed injection (multi-point) and 4 valves per cylinder. The 1.8 90 hp pair uses Distributed injection (multi-point), 2 valves per cylinder, compression 9, bore × stroke 80.6 × 86. The 1.8 136 hp pair uses Distributed injection (multi-point) and 4 valves per cylinder. The 75 hp 1.6 pair has valves per cylinder not measured and fuel system not measured.

Specific output (hp per litre, displacement/1000):

• 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT at 114 hp, 1590 cc: 71.7 hp/L
• 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT at 116 hp, 1590 cc: 73.0 hp/L
• 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT at 75 hp, 1597 cc: 47.0 hp/L
• 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT at 90 hp, 1755 cc: 51.3 hp/L
• 1.8 MT / 1.8 AT at 136 hp, 1798 cc: 75.6 hp/L

The 136 hp 1.8 is the densest engine in the set (75.6 hp/L) without Turbo. The 116 hp Turbo 1.6 is next (73.0 hp/L), then 114 hp Turbo (71.7 hp/L). The naturally aspirated 1.6 at 75 hp is the least dense (47.0 hp/L). The 90 hp 1.8 sits only 4.3 hp/L above the 75 hp 1.6 despite 158 cc more (1755 − 1597).

Performance and economy: what is measured, what is not

0–100 is not measured on any of the ten versions. Combined, city, and highway consumption are not measured on any version. CO2 and eco class are not measured. Torque (Nm) is not measured on any version, so weight-per-horsepower and torque-based ranking cannot be calculated.

Top speed is measured on three manuals only:

• 1.6 MT (114 hp): 190
• 1.6 MT (116 hp): 190
• 1.6 MT (75 hp): 165

The 116 hp Turbo 1.6 MT is 2 hp above the 114 hp Turbo 1.6 MT and does not raise the listed top speed: both 190. The 75 hp 1.6 MT is 25 lower (190 − 165), a 15.2% gap versus 190. Automatics — 1.6 AT (114 hp), 1.6 AT (116 hp), 1.6 AT (75 hp), 1.8 AT (90 hp), 1.8 AT (136 hp) — have top speed not measured. Both 1.8 MT versions (90 hp and 136 hp) also have top speed not measured, so the 136 hp car cannot be claimed faster than 190 from these data.

Fuel grade: 92 only on the 75 hp 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT. Every other version is 95. That is the one economy-adjacent fact that is actually listed: the lowest-power pair is the only pair specified for 92.

Dimensions and weight: same clearance, empty scales

Ground clearance is 155 mm on all ten versions. Kerb weight is not measured. Gross weight is not measured. Tank is not measured. Wheel sizes are not measured. Without kerb weight, hp per tonne cannot be computed; a 136 hp 1.8 MT cannot be ranked “lighter” or “heavier” than a 75 hp 1.6 MT from this catalogue. Chassis geometry in the table is identical: Independent, spring front; Independent, torsion rear; Disc front; Drum rear. Buying a different version does not buy a different listed clearance or brake type.

Which version to choose

If the goal is maximum listed power. Take 1.8 MT (136 hp) or 1.8 AT (136 hp): 136 hp, 100 kW, 1798 cc, Gasoline, 4 Inline, Boost No, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), 95, FWD. Versus the next Turbo 1.6 (116 hp) that is +20 hp (+17.2%). Versus the 90 hp 1.8 that is +46 hp (+51.1%) on only +43 cc (1798 − 1755). Versus the 75 hp 1.6 that is +61 hp (+81.3%). The 136 hp 1.8 is also the highest specific output (75.6 hp/L) and does it without Turbo. Top speed, 0–100, and consumption for this pair are not measured, so the case is power and displacement, not a proven speed or mpg advantage.

If the goal is Turbo on the smaller 1.6. The Turbo cluster is four cars on 1590 cc and 95: 1.6 MT (114 hp), 1.6 AT (114 hp), 1.6 MT (116 hp), 1.6 AT (116 hp). All 4 Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), Front, transverse, FWD. The 116 hp pair is +2 hp and +1 kW over the 114 hp pair (116 − 114; 85 − 84), +1.8% power, specific output 73.0 vs 71.7 hp/L. Manuals in this cluster both list 190 top speed, so the extra 2 hp does not buy a higher listed maximum. Choose 1.6 MT (116 hp) over 1.6 MT (114 hp) only if 2 hp matters; choose AT vs MT by gearbox (Automatic 4 vs Manual 5), not by speed, because AT top speed is not measured.

If the goal is the cheapest-feeling 1.6 without Turbo. 1.6 MT (75 hp) and 1.6 AT (75 hp): 75 hp, 55 kW, 1597 cc, Boost No, 92, FWD. That is 39 hp less than 114 (−34.2%) and 41 hp less than 116 (−35.3%) on almost the same displacement (1597 vs 1590, +7 cc). Specific output 47.0 hp/L is the lowest in the model. The 1.6 MT (75 hp) top speed 165 is 25 below the Turbo manuals’ 190. Fuel 92 is unique here. Valves per cylinder and fuel system are not measured. Take this pair only if 92 fuel and the lowest hp are the point; it is not close on output to any other Cordia in the table.

If the goal is a 1.8 without chasing 136 hp. 1.8 MT (90 hp) and 1.8 AT (90 hp): 90 hp, 66 kW, 1755 cc, Boost No, 2 valves per cylinder, compression 9, 80.6 × 86, Distributed injection (multi-point), 95. Versus 75 hp 1.6: +15 hp (+20.0%) and +158 cc. Versus 114 hp Turbo 1.6: −24 hp (−21.1%) despite +165 cc (1755 − 1590). Versus 136 hp 1.8: −46 hp on −43 cc. Specific output 51.3 hp/L is only a step above the 75 hp 1.6 and well below every Turbo 1.6 and the 136 hp 1.8. Top speed, 0–100, and consumption are not measured. This pair is the mid-displacement, mid-power naturally aspirated choice; it is not the power leader and not the 92-fuel 1.6.

Manual 5 versus Automatic 4. Every engine output appears twice: MT and AT. Gear counts are 5 vs 4. Drive stays FWD. On the Turbo 1.6, only the manuals have a listed top speed (190); the matching AT does not. On the 75 hp 1.6, only 1.6 MT (75 hp) has 165; 1.6 AT (75 hp) does not. For 90 hp and 136 hp 1.8, neither gearbox has a measured top speed. There is no measured 0–100 or consumption gap between MT and AT, so the gearbox choice is Manual 5 vs Automatic 4 as labelled, not a proven economy or sprint difference.

What extra displacement buys. Moving from 1590–1597 cc to 1755 cc without Turbo (75 hp → 90 hp) buys +15 hp. Moving from 1755 cc / 90 hp to 1798 cc / 136 hp buys +46 hp on +43 cc — the largest jump in the catalogue, and it coincides with 2 valves vs 4 valves per cylinder on those two 1.8 families. Moving from 1597 cc / 75 hp to 1590 cc Turbo / 114–116 hp buys +39 to +41 hp on −7 cc, i.e. Turbo is doing the work, not litres. The 136 hp 1.8 still beats the Turbo 1.6 by +20 to +22 hp (136 − 116; 136 − 114) without boost.

What you cannot choose on. Reliability, mpg, problems, prices, and kerb weight are not in the data. Ground clearance will not decide the car: 155 mm across the board. Body is Hatchback 3-door for every version. Generation will not decide the car: there is only 1 generation.

Short ranking by the numbers that exist. Peak power and peak hp/L: 1.8 MT (136 hp) / 1.8 AT (136 hp). Peak listed top speed (190) among cars that have a figure: 1.6 MT (114 hp) and 1.6 MT (116 hp) — a tie. Lowest power and the only 92 fuel: 1.6 MT (75 hp) / 1.6 AT (75 hp). Middle naturally aspirated 1.8: 1.8 MT (90 hp) / 1.8 AT (90 hp). Turbo 1.6 in between the 90 hp 1.8 and the 136 hp 1.8 on power, with 190 on the two manuals. Pick AT only if Automatic 4 is required; the data do not show it faster or more economical than the matching Manual 5.