Mitsubishi Toppo

Mitsubishi Toppo: generations: what actually changed for a buyer

A 2008–2013 car (searchers looking at “Mitsubishi Toppo 2010” / “2012”) can only be 3 generation. A Compact Van can only be 2 generation. A Mini 3-doors can only be 1 generation.

1 generation (1990–1998), Mini 3-doors, 8 versions. This is the only generation with a Carburetor 0.7 MT / 0.7 AT at 40 hp, a 32-litre tank, and the only 0–100 / mpg numbers in the whole model line. Kerb weight where measured is 670–790 kg. Ground clearance is 160 mm on every version. Four of the eight versions have kerb weight not measured (0.7 AT 40 hp FWD, 0.7 AT 40 hp AWD, 0.7 AT 55 hp AWD, 0.7 AT 64 hp FWD).

2 generation (1998–2004), Compact Van, 5 versions. Body type changes from Mini 3-doors to Compact Van. The 40 hp Carburetor engines disappear. The light naturally aspirated 0.7 AT 50 hp FWD is 790 kg — 120 kg more than the 40 hp 0.7 MT of 1 generation (670 kg). This is the only generation with 1.1 AT (78 hp, 1094 cm³, fuel 92) and the only one with gross weight measured (1010–1060 kg). Tank drops from 32 to 30 litres. Front brakes become Ventilated disc (they were Disc in 1 generation). Rear suspension stays Independent, spring.

3 generation (2008–2013), Mini 5-doors, 4 versions. Body type is Mini 5-doors. Every version is 0.7 AT; there is no 0.7 MT and no 1.1 AT. The naturally aspirated pair is 50 hp with a 3-speed Automatic and 140 mm clearance; the Turbo pair is 64 hp with a 4-speed Automatic and 160 mm clearance. AWD always adds 50 kg. Rear suspension is Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem (the English label in the data). Front brakes return to Disc. Compression ratio, bore × stroke, 0–100, top speed, mpg, CO2, eco class, gross weight, and wheel size are not measured on all four versions.

A 2008–2013 car (searchers looking at “Mitsubishi Toppo 2010” / “2012”) can only be 3 generation. A Compact Van can only be 2 generation. A Mini 3-doors can only be 1 generation.

Engines and specs (every catalogue name)

Use the English labels from the data. Identical names are split by power and drive.

Engine position: Front, transverse on all four 3 generation 0.7 AT versions and both 2 generation 1.1 AT versions. Not measured on every other version. Fuel system: Carburetor on the four 40 hp 1 generation versions; Distributed injection (multi-point) on the rest. Compression 10.2 and bore × stroke 65 × 66 on 2 generation 50 hp 0.7 AT / 0.7 MT; 8.5 and 60 × 58.3 on 2 generation 0.7 MT 64 hp and on 1 generation 55/64 hp 659 cm³ engines; 9.5 and 66 × 80 on both 1.1 AT; 9.8 and 65 × 66 on 1 generation 40 hp. Not measured on 3 generation.

Specific output from those figures: 40 hp / 0.657 L = 60.9 hp/L (1 generation Carburetor). 50 hp / 0.657 L = 76.1 hp/L. 55 hp / 0.659 L = 83.5 hp/L. 64 hp / 0.657 L = 97.4 hp/L (3 generation Turbo). 64 hp / 0.659 L = 97.1 hp/L (1 and 2 generation Turbo). 78 hp / 1.094 L = 71.3 hp/L (1.1 AT). The 657–659 Turbo engines make more power per litre than the 1094 cm³ 1.1 AT.

Performance and economy (mpg)

Measured 0–100, top speed, and fuel use exist only on two 1 generation 0.7 MT 40 hp versions. Every other Mitsubishi Toppo version: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, city / highway / mixed not measured, CO2 not measured, eco class not measured.

0.7 MT 40 hp FWD, 1 generation: 0–100 17 s, top speed 130, city 5.8, highway 3.7, mixed 4.7. 0.7 MT 40 hp AWD, 1 generation: 0–100 16.5 s, top speed 130, city 6, highway 3.8, mixed 4.9.

AWD here is 0.5 s quicker to 100 than FWD at the same 670 kg kerb weight, and uses 0.2 more city, 0.1 more highway, 0.2 more mixed. That is the only mpg comparison the data supports. Do not treat 4.7 mixed as the fuel average of a 2010–2012 0.7 AT: those figures are not measured.

Torque that arrives earlier: 2 generation 0.7 MT 64 hp Turbo peaks at 98 Nm at 3000 rpm; 3 generation 0.7 AT 64 hp Turbo peaks at 93 Nm at 3500 rpm (−5 Nm, +500 rpm). 1 generation Turbo is 97 Nm at 3500 rpm.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel size is not measured on any version.

Tank: 32 litres on all 8 versions of 1 generation; 30 litres on all 5 of 2 generation and all 4 of 3 generation (−2 litres).

Ground clearance: 160 mm on every 1 generation and 2 generation version. In 3 generation the 50 hp 0.7 AT pair sits at 140 mm (−20 mm); the 64 hp Turbo 0.7 AT pair returns to 160 mm. Buying Turbo in 3 generation is the only way in that generation to keep 160 mm.

Kerb weight and kg per hp (mass not measured where said):

Lightest measured car in the line: 1 generation 0.7 MT 40 hp at 670 kg. Heaviest: 3 generation 0.7 AT 64 hp AWD at 940 kg (+270 kg). Best measured power-to-weight: 2 generation 1.1 AT 78 hp FWD at 11.2 kg/hp. Worst among measured: 3 generation 0.7 AT 50 hp AWD at 17.6 kg/hp.

Gross weight is measured only on three 2 generation versions: 0.7 AT 50 hp FWD 1010 kg (payload 1010 − 790 = 220 kg); 0.7 MT 50 hp AWD 1050 kg (1050 − 830 = 220 kg); 0.7 MT 64 hp FWD 1060 kg (1060 − 840 = 220 kg). Gross weight not measured on both 1.1 AT versions, on all of 1 generation, and on all of 3 generation.

AWD mass penalty, where both drives exist at the same power: +50 kg in 3 generation (880 − 830 at 50 hp; 940 − 890 at 64 hp) and +50 kg on 2 generation 1.1 AT (920 − 870). 1 generation 40 hp 0.7 MT FWD and AWD share 670 kg (no penalty in the measured pair).

Which version to choose

If the car must be a 2008–2013 Mini 5-doors (3 generation). There is no manual and no 1.1. Choose 0.7 AT 64 hp FWD unless AWD is required. Versus 0.7 AT 50 hp FWD you gain 14 hp (+28%), 31 Nm (+50%), one extra Automatic ratio (4 versus 3), 20 mm more clearance (160 versus 140), and you pay 60 kg (890 versus 830). kg/hp improves from 16.6 to 13.9. The AWD twins add 50 kg each and no extra horsepower: 0.7 AT 50 hp AWD is the worst kg/hp in the whole model (17.6); 0.7 AT 64 hp AWD is 14.7 kg/hp at 940 kg. Engine layout is the same on all four: 657 cm³, 3 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves, Front, transverse, Gasoline 95, Distributed injection (multi-point). Turbo is the only engine difference that also lifts the car 20 mm.

If the car must be a Compact Van (2 generation, 1998–2004).

• Lowest kerb: 0.7 AT 50 hp FWD, 790 kg, 4-speed Automatic, 4 valves per cylinder (versus 2 valves on the 3 generation 50 hp 0.7 AT). Same 50 hp / 62 Nm as 3 generation, 40 kg lighter than 3 generation FWD 50 hp (830 kg), and 4 Automatic gears instead of 3.
• Lowest kg/hp and only 92 fuel: 1.1 AT 78 hp FWD, 870 kg, 11.2 kg/hp, 103 Nm, 1094 cm³, No boost. Versus 2 generation 0.7 MT 64 hp Turbo FWD: +14 hp, +5 Nm, +30 kg, Automatic 4 instead of Manual 5, fuel 92 instead of 95. Versus 2 generation 1.1 AT 78 hp AWD: same engine, −50 kg.
• Strongest 0.7 in this generation: 0.7 MT 64 hp FWD — 98 Nm at 3000 rpm (the earliest torque peak in the dataset), 5-speed Manual, 4 cylinders, 5 valves, Turbo, 840 kg, 13.1 kg/hp. That is 50 kg heavier than the 50 hp 0.7 AT FWD and 14 hp more.
• AWD without the 1.1: only 0.7 MT 50 hp AWD (830 kg, Manual 5). There is no AWD Turbo in 2 generation.

If the car must be Mini 3-doors (1 generation, 1990–1998). This is the only generation with measured performance.

• Documented economy: 0.7 MT 40 hp FWD (mixed 4.7, 17 s, 130, 670 kg) or 0.7 MT 40 hp AWD (mixed 4.9, 16.5 s, 130, 670 kg). Both Carburetor, 4-speed Manual, 32-litre tank. The matching 0.7 AT 40 hp FWD and AWD exist but kerb, 0–100, top speed, and mpg are not measured.
• Best measured kg/hp in 1 generation: 0.7 MT 64 hp FWD at 760 kg / 64 hp = 11.9 kg/hp — Turbo, 5 valves, 97 Nm, Manual 5. That is 90 kg heavier than the 40 hp 0.7 MT and 24 hp more (+60%). The 0.7 AT 64 hp FWD uses the same 64 hp / 97 Nm engine with Automatic 4; kerb not measured.
• Mid step: 0.7 MT 55 hp AWD at 790 kg (14.4 kg/hp), 4 cylinders, 4 valves, No boost, Manual 5. Versus 40 hp AWD: +15 hp, +9 Nm, +120 kg. The 0.7 AT 55 hp AWD has the same 55 hp engine and Automatic 4; kerb not measured.

Cross-generation 64 hp Turbo. Same catalogue idea, three different cars. 1 generation 0.7 MT 64 hp: 760 kg, 4 cylinders, 5 valves, 97 Nm at 3500, Manual 5, Mini 3-doors, 32-litre tank. 2 generation 0.7 MT 64 hp: 840 kg (+80 kg), 98 Nm at 3000, Manual 5, Compact Van, Ventilated disc front, 30-litre tank. 3 generation 0.7 AT 64 hp FWD: 890 kg (+130 kg versus 1 generation MT), 3 cylinders, 2 valves, 93 Nm at 3500, Automatic 4, Mini 5-doors, Disc front, 160 mm clearance. If the goal is the smallest kg/hp among 64 hp cars with a measured mass, 1 generation 0.7 MT 64 hp FWD (11.9) beats 2 generation (13.1) and 3 generation FWD (13.9).

Cross-generation 50 hp. 2 generation 0.7 AT 50 hp FWD is 790 kg with Automatic 4 and 4 valves. 3 generation 0.7 AT 50 hp FWD is 830 kg (+40 kg) with Automatic 3, 2 valves, and 140 mm clearance. Same 50 hp / 62 Nm / 657 cm³. The later 50 hp FWD is heavier, has fewer gears, fewer valves, and sits 20 mm lower.

Do not buy on a name alone. 0.7 AT appears as 40, 50, 55, and 64 hp; 0.7 MT as 40, 50, 55, and 64 hp; 1.1 AT only as 78 hp in 2 generation. Match generation, power, and FWD/AWD. Problems and reliability are not in this dataset; they are not measured here.