Which Morgan Plus 4 Version Should You Buy?
The Morgan Plus 4 choice divides naturally between two generations. The first-generation Speedster, produced from 1950 to 2020, offers 14 versions, of which 12 have detailed specifications here. Its naturally aspirated Gasoline engines span 1796–2138 cc, 69–144 hp, and 151–187 Nm.
The Morgan Plus 4 choice divides naturally between two generations. The first-generation Speedster, produced from 1950 to 2020, offers 14 versions, of which 12 have detailed specifications here. Its naturally aspirated Gasoline engines span 1796–2138 cc, 69–144 hp, and 151–187 Nm. The second-generation Roadster, in production from 2020, has two 2.0-liter Turbo versions, both producing 258 hp and reaching 240 km/h. Buyers choosing between them are therefore deciding not only between engine outputs, but also between Speedster and Roadster bodies, naturally aspirated and Turbo power, four- to eight-speed gearboxes, and two very different performance ranges. Price and availability are not measured in the supplied data, so this comparison cannot determine what any version costs or whether it is for sale in the USA.
Morgan Plus 4 generations: what changed?
The 1950–2020 first generation is a Speedster with 14 listed modifications. The 12 detailed versions all use a front, longitudinal Inline 4 Gasoline engine, a Manual gearbox, and RWD. Outputs range from 69 hp in a 2.1 MT to 144 hp in a 2.0 MT. Depending on the version, the gearbox has four or five speeds. Kerb weight, where measured, ranges from 810 to 920 kg, while measured ground clearance is either 150 or 178 mm.
The second generation began in 2020 and changed the body designation to Roadster. It contains two versions: 2.0 AT and 2.0 MT. Both use a 1998 cc front, longitudinal Inline 4 Turbo Gasoline engine rated at 258 hp, and both retain RWD. The distinction is transmission and calibration: 2.0 AT has an eight-speed Automatic and 400 Nm, while 2.0 MT has a six-speed Manual and 350 Nm.
Morgan Plus 4 engine specs and version comparison
Because several first-generation cars share the exact name 2.0 MT, they are distinguished below by power and displacement.
| Generation and exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation, 1.8 MT | 130 hp | 162 Nm | 1796 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 91 hp | 91 hp | 158 Nm | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 96 hp | 96 hp | 158 Nm | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 101 hp | 101 hp | 165 Nm | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 106 hp | 106 hp | 175 Nm | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 117 hp | 117 hp | 180 Nm | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 144 hp | 144 hp | 187 Nm | 1991 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 135 hp | 135 hp | 184 Nm | 1994 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 122 hp | 122 hp | 172 Nm | 1995 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 140 hp | 140 hp | 178 Nm | 1996 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.1 MT, 69 hp | 69 hp | 151 Nm | 2088 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| First generation, 2.1 MT, 106 hp | 106 hp | 176 Nm | 2138 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | 4-speed Manual | RWD |
| Second generation, 2.0 AT | 258 hp | 400 Nm | 1998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 8-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Second generation, 2.0 MT | 258 hp | 350 Nm | 1998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | 6-speed Manual | RWD |
On calculated specific output, the second-generation 2.0 AT and 2.0 MT each produce approximately 129.1 hp per liter. The strongest first-generation 2.0 MT produces approximately 72.3 hp per liter from 1991 cc, while the 1.8 MT reaches approximately 72.4 hp per liter from 1796 cc. The second-generation engine therefore delivers about 56.7 more hp per liter than the 144 hp first-generation 2.0 MT.
Within the first generation, the six 1991 cc versions illustrate the widest like-for-like spread. Their outputs rise from 91 to 144 hp, a difference of 53 hp, while torque increases from 158 to 187 Nm, a difference of 29 Nm. The 144 hp version also uses a five-speed Manual rather than the four-speed Manual fitted to the 91, 96, 101, 106, and 117 hp versions.
Morgan Plus 4 performance figures and mpg
| Generation and exact version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation, 1.8 MT | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 91 hp | not measured | 155 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 96 hp | not measured | 155 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 101 hp | not measured | 165 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 106 hp | not measured | 170 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 117 hp | not measured | 185 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 144 hp | 7.5 s | 189 km/h | 9.9 l/100 km | 5.3 l/100 km | 7 l/100 km | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 135 hp | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 122 hp | 9.7 s | 180 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 140 hp | 7.5 s | 195 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.1 MT, 69 hp | not measured | 135 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.1 MT, 106 hp | not measured | 172 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation, 2.0 AT | 4.8 s | 240 km/h | not measured | not measured | 7 l/100 km | 159 g/km |
| Second generation, 2.0 MT | 5.2 s | 240 km/h | not measured | not measured | 7.3 l/100 km | 165 g/km |
For outright acceleration, 2.0 AT is the strongest measured choice. Its 4.8-second result is 0.4 seconds quicker than second-generation 2.0 MT and 2.7 seconds quicker than either first-generation 2.0 MT that records 7.5 seconds. Both second-generation versions reach 240 km/h, which is 45 km/h above the fastest measured first-generation maximum of 195 km/h.
The Automatic also has the better measured combined economy of the two current-generation choices: 7 l/100 km versus 7.3 l/100 km for the Manual, a difference of 0.3 l/100 km. Its CO₂ figure is 159 g/km rather than 165 g/km, a difference of 6 g/km. The first-generation 144 hp 2.0 MT also records 7 l/100 km combined, but its city and highway figures provide additional context at 9.9 and 5.3 l/100 km respectively. MPG is not supplied; converting these measurements into another unit would introduce numbers outside the data.
Morgan Plus 4 weight, ground clearance, tank and wheel sizes
| Generation and exact version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation, 1.8 MT | not measured | not measured | 150 mm | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 91 hp | 885 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 96 hp | 885 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 101 hp | 885 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 106 hp | 885 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 117 hp | 850 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 144 hp | 877 kg | not measured | 150 mm | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 135 hp | 920 kg | not measured | 150 mm | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 122 hp | 848 kg | not measured | 150 mm | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.0 MT, 140 hp | not measured | not measured | 150 mm | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.1 MT, 69 hp | 810 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| First generation, 2.1 MT, 106 hp | 885 kg | not measured | 178 mm | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation, 2.0 AT | 1009 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| Second generation, 2.0 MT | 1013 kg | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
The lightest measured first-generation car is the 69 hp 2.1 MT at 810 kg. For power-to-weight comparison, however, the 144 hp 2.0 MT is much stronger: its calculated weight is approximately 6.1 kg per hp, compared with approximately 11.7 kg per hp for the 69 hp 2.1 MT. Among the second-generation cars, 2.0 AT has the advantage at approximately 3.9 kg per hp and is 4 kg lighter than 2.0 MT.
External dimensions and size are not measured in the data. Gross weight, tank capacity, and wheel or tyre sizes are also not measured for any version. Ground clearance reaches its highest supplied value in the 106 hp 2.1 MT at 178 mm, which is 28 mm more than the 150 mm recorded for several first-generation versions.
Which Morgan Plus 4 version should you choose?
Choose the second-generation 2.0 AT if measured performance is the priority. It combines 258 hp, 400 Nm, a 4.8-second 0–100 km/h time, a 240 km/h top speed, 7 l/100 km combined consumption, and the lowest weight of the two second-generation cars at 1009 kg. Against 2.0 MT, it supplies 50 Nm more torque, accelerates 0.4 seconds faster, uses 0.3 l/100 km less on the combined measure, emits 6 g/km less CO₂, and weighs 4 kg less.
Choose the second-generation 2.0 MT if a Manual gearbox is the deciding requirement. It matches 2.0 AT with 258 hp and a 240 km/h maximum, but has 350 Nm, a 5.2-second acceleration time, 7.3 l/100 km combined consumption, and a 1013 kg kerb weight. The supplied figures do not show a numerical performance advantage over 2.0 AT, so its clear differentiator is the six-speed Manual rather than the eight-speed Automatic.
For a first-generation car with the best complete set of measured performance and economy figures, the 144 hp 2.0 MT is the most informative candidate. It has 187 Nm, a five-speed Manual, a 7.5-second 0–100 km/h time, a 189 km/h maximum, 7 l/100 km combined consumption, an 877 kg kerb weight, and 150 mm of ground clearance.
For the highest measured first-generation top speed, select the 140 hp 2.0 MT: it reaches 195 km/h and accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. Its kerb weight and consumption are not measured, however. The 122 hp 2.0 MT is lighter at 848 kg but takes 9.7 seconds to reach 100 km/h and tops out at 180 km/h. That makes the 140 hp version 2.2 seconds quicker and 15 km/h faster on the measured figures.
If clearance matters most, the 106 hp 2.1 MT provides the highest measured value at 178 mm, together with 176 Nm, a 172 km/h top speed, and an 885 kg kerb weight. If minimum measured weight is the goal, the 69 hp 2.1 MT is the lightest at 810 kg, but it also has the lowest output at 69 hp and the lowest measured maximum speed at 135 km/h.
No price, reliability, problem, engine-oil, engine-swap, sales, or market-availability data is supplied. Consequently, those factors cannot support a version recommendation here: the defensible choice must be based on the measured engine, performance, economy, weight, and clearance figures above.