Morgan 4 Seater Review: Generations, Specs and Which One to Buy
Overview of the Morgan 4 Seater cabrio (2004–2016): its single generation, the 144–280 hp engine range, and which manual RWD version makes the best buy.
The Morgan 4 Seater is a four-seat cabrio built from 2004 to 2016, offered in a single generation with outputs from 144 to 280 hp, always with a manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. It suits drivers who want open-top motoring with room for passengers and a purely analog driving experience — every version requires shifting for yourself.
Morgan 4 Seater generations
1 generation (2004–2016)
The first and only generation of the Morgan 4 Seater ran from 2004 to 2016 exclusively as a cabrio. All versions pair a manual gearbox with rear-wheel drive, and the range counts 2 modifications spanning 144 to 280 hp. The entry point is the Morgan 4 Seater 2.0 MT with a 1991 cc engine producing 144 hp, good for 0–100 km/h in 8.0 seconds at 7.0 l/100 km. At the top sits the Morgan 4 Seater 3.7 MT: a 3721 cc engine with 280 hp, a 6.0-second sprint to 100 km/h, and fuel consumption of 9.8 l/100 km.
The gap between the two versions is substantial. The 3.7 MT nearly doubles the power of the 2.0 MT (280 hp against 144 hp) and cuts two full seconds from the acceleration time, while asking 2.8 l/100 km more at the pump. There is no automatic option anywhere in the lineup — the choice is only about engine size.
Which Morgan 4 Seater to buy
- 3.7 MT (1 generation): the most popular version, with 280 hp from its 3721 cc engine and 0–100 km/h in 6.0 seconds — the quickest 4 Seater by a two-second margin.
- 2.0 MT (1 generation): the economical choice at 7.0 l/100 km, which is 2.8 l/100 km less than the 3.7 MT, while still reaching 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds.
Buying used is simplified by the model's structure: one generation, one body style, one gearbox type and one drive layout across the entire 2004–2016 run, so the only real decision is between the two engines. Later cars within the same 12-year window differ by production year rather than by generation changes, so condition and specification matter more than model year.
Summary
The Morgan 4 Seater (2004–2016) keeps the choice simple: a 144 hp 2.0 MT for lower fuel consumption or a 280 hp 3.7 MT for performance, both cabrio, manual and rear-wheel drive. Neither version dominates the other on every number — the 3.7 MT wins on power and acceleration, the 2.0 MT on consumption — so there is no version to avoid, only a trade-off to pick.