Mitsuoka Le-Seyde: which version to buy
The Mitsuoka Le-Seyde choice is between two Cabrio versions of the same 1 generation (1990-01-01 to 2001-12-31): 1.8 AT (125 hp, 157 Nm, 1838 cm³, 12 s to 100 km/h, kerb 1350 kg) and 2.0 AT (160 hp, 188 Nm, 1998 cm³, 0–100 not measured, kerb 1352 kg). Both are Gasoline, Inline 4, boost No, Automatic 4, RWD.
The Mitsuoka Le-Seyde choice is between two Cabrio versions of the same 1 generation (1990-01-01 to 2001-12-31): 1.8 AT (125 hp, 157 Nm, 1838 cm³, 12 s to 100 km/h, kerb 1350 kg) and 2.0 AT (160 hp, 188 Nm, 1998 cm³, 0–100 not measured, kerb 1352 kg). Both are Gasoline, Inline 4, boost No, Automatic 4, RWD. The extra 160 cm³ buys 35 hp and 31 Nm for 2 kg of kerb weight; there is no second generation to pick instead.
Which Le-Seyde version: 1.8 AT vs 2.0 AT
1.8 AT is the measured-performance pick. 2.0 AT is the higher-output pick. Same body (Cabrio), same years, same gearbox and drive. What changes is engine size, power, torque, and how completely the catalogue filled the row.
| Version | hp | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 AT | 125 | 157 | 1838 | 92 | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic | RWD |
| 2.0 AT | 160 | 188 | 1998 | not measured | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic | RWD |
Both use Distributed injection (multi-point). Compression ratio is 10 on 2.0 AT and not measured on 1.8 AT. Peak torque is at 4800 rpm on both. Peak power is at 6000 rpm on 1.8 AT and 6400 rpm on 2.0 AT.
Specs that actually differ
Displacement: 2.0 AT is 160 cm³ larger than 1.8 AT (1998 − 1838).
Power: 2.0 AT has 35 hp more (160 − 125) and 26 kW more (118 − 92). That is 28% more horsepower on 8.7% more displacement.
Torque: 2.0 AT has 31 Nm more (188 − 157), about 20% more.
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 1.8 AT 125 ÷ 1.838 ≈ 68.0 hp/l; 2.0 AT 160 ÷ 1.998 ≈ 80.1 hp/l. The larger engine is also the more specific-output engine, not a lazy long-stroke add-on.
Torque per litre: 1.8 AT 157 ÷ 1.838 ≈ 85.4 Nm/l; 2.0 AT 188 ÷ 1.998 ≈ 94.1 Nm/l.
Kerb weight: 2.0 AT is 2 kg heavier (1352 − 1350). Weight per horsepower: 1.8 AT 1350 ÷ 125 = 10.80 kg/hp; 2.0 AT 1352 ÷ 160 = 8.45 kg/hp. The extra power is almost free in mass.
Ground clearance is 120 mm on both. Front suspension is Independent, spring on both. Front brakes are Ventilated disc on both. Rear suspension, rear brakes, and wheel sizes are not measured on both.
Performance and economy: what is measured
0–100 km/h is 12 s on 1.8 AT and not measured on 2.0 AT. Do not treat the missing 2.0 figure as “faster”; it is not measured.
Top speed is not measured on 1.8 AT and not measured on 2.0 AT.
City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on 1.8 AT and not measured on 2.0 AT. Tank size is not measured on both. CO2 and eco class are not measured on both. There is no mpg comparison to make from this dataset.
Fuel grade is 92 on 1.8 AT and not measured on 2.0 AT.
Dimensions and weight: payload and clearance
Kerb weight: 1350 kg (1.8 AT), 1352 kg (2.0 AT).
Gross weight: 1650 kg on 1.8 AT, not measured on 2.0 AT. Payload on 1.8 AT is 300 kg (1650 − 1350). Payload on 2.0 AT is not measured because gross weight is not measured.
Ground clearance: 120 mm on both. Tank: not measured on both. Wheel sizes: not measured on both.
If you need a published gross weight and payload, only 1.8 AT has those numbers.
Generations: there is only one to choose
Le-Seyde has 1 generation, 1990-01-01 to 2001-12-31, Cabrio, 2 versions. There is no restyling listed as a separate generation and no later generation that changed drive, gearbox count, or body. A “which generation” question collapses to “which of the two Automatic RWD Cabrio rows.”
What did not change between versions: body Cabrio; Automatic with 4 gears; RWD; Gasoline; 4 cylinders; Inline; boost No; Distributed injection (multi-point); front Independent, spring; front Ventilated disc; clearance 120 mm; production window 1990-01-01 to 2001-12-31.
What the extra displacement buys
On this data, moving from 1.8 AT to 2.0 AT buys:
- +160 cm³
- +35 hp / +26 kW
- +31 Nm
- +400 rpm on the power peak (6400 vs 6000)
- a published compression ratio of 10 (not measured on 1.8 AT)
- +2 kg kerb
- −2.35 kg/hp (8.45 vs 10.80)
It does not buy a different gearbox, a different drive, a different body, or a measured 0–100, top speed, or consumption figure. It also drops two numbers that 1.8 AT has: 0–100 of 12 s, fuel 92, and gross weight 1650 kg.
Which version to choose
Choose 1.8 AT if you want the only version with a measured sprint (12 s to 100 km/h), a named fuel (92), and a full weight pair (1350 kg kerb, 1650 kg gross, 300 kg payload). Power is 125 hp (92 kW) at 6000 rpm and 157 Nm at 4800 rpm from 1838 cm³. It is the lighter of the two by 2 kg and the weaker by 35 hp.
Choose 2.0 AT if the decision is output per kilo. 160 hp (118 kW) at 6400 rpm and 188 Nm at 4800 rpm from 1998 cm³, compression 10, kerb 1352 kg. Specific output is about 80.1 hp/l versus 68.0 hp/l on 1.8 AT, and mass per horsepower is 8.45 kg/hp versus 10.80 kg/hp. 0–100, top speed, fuel grade, consumption, tank, and gross weight are not measured on this version.
There is no third Le-Seyde version and no other generation. Both are Cabrio, Automatic 4, RWD, Gasoline Inline 4, boost No. The buy question is 125 hp with a complete performance-and-weight card versus 160 hp with a thinner card and 2 kg more kerb.