Nissan 180SX

Nissan 180SX

Same name, different power: three 1.8 MT, three 1.8 AT, three 2.0 MT, three 2.0 AT. Distinguish them by hp.

1 generation (1989-03-01–1998-12-31) is the whole model: body Coupe, 12 versions. Restyling is not listed as a separate generation. Drive is RWD on every row. Fuel type is Gasoline. Cylinders are 4, layout Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, injection Distributed injection (multi-point). Front brakes Ventilated disc, rear Disc, suspension Independent, spring front and rear. Ground clearance 135 mm, tank 60 l. Wheel size not measured. Gross weight not measured. CO2 not measured. Eco class not measured. Reliability and typical faults are not measured in this file — there is no problem list to rank versions by.

Engines and specs

Same name, different power: three 1.8 MT, three 1.8 AT, three 2.0 MT, three 2.0 AT. Distinguish them by hp.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 1.8 169 hp = 93.4 hp/l; 1.8 175 hp = 96.7 hp/l; 1.8 201 hp = 111.1 hp/l; 2.0 140 hp = 70.1 hp/l; 2.0 200 hp = 100.1 hp/l; 2.0 205 hp = 102.6 hp/l. The 1809 cm³ Turbo peak (201 hp) beats the 1998 cm³ Turbo peak (205 hp) on specific output by 8.5 hp/l even though it is 4 hp down in absolute power (205 − 201). The naturally aspirated 2.0 140 hp is the lowest specific output: 41.0 hp/l behind the 201 hp 1.8.

Stroke/bore in the file: 1.8 169 hp is 83 × 83.6; 1.8 175 hp and 1.8 201 hp are 83 × 83; all 2.0 rows are 86 × 86. Compression: 1.8 169 hp is 8.5; 1.8 175/201 hp is 9; 2.0 140 hp and 2.0 205 hp are 9; 2.0 200 hp is 11 — the only 11:1 and the only 98 fuel.

Performance and economy (0–100, top speed, mpg)

Only 1.8 MT 169 hp has a measured sprint: 6.9 s to 100 km/h, top speed 220 km/h. For every other version, 0–100 km/h is not measured and top speed is not measured.

Fuel use is also measured only on 1.8 MT 169 hp: city 14, highway 8.5, mixed 11 (same units as in the source). City, highway and mixed for 1.8 AT 169 hp, both 175 hp cars, both 201 hp cars, and all six 2.0 versions are not measured. There is no mpg conversion in the data; do not invent one. CO2 is not measured on all 12.

Torque ranking where Nm exists: 2.0 205 hp 275 Nm vs 1.8 175 hp 226 Nm is +49 Nm; vs 1.8 169 hp 224 Nm is +51 Nm; vs 2.0 140 hp 178 Nm is +97 Nm. 2.0 200 hp and 1.8 201 hp: torque not measured — you cannot pick them on Nm.

Peak power rpm: 6400 on 169, 175 and 140 hp; 6000 on 205 hp; not measured on 201 hp and 200 hp.

Dimensions and weight

Kerb weight: 1.8 MT 169 hp, 1.8 MT 175 hp and 1.8 MT 201 hp = 1170 kg. 2.0 MT 140 hp and 2.0 MT 205 hp = 1220 kg (+50 kg vs those 1.8 MT rows). Kerb weight is not measured for all six Automatic cars and for 2.0 MT 200 hp. Gross weight not measured. Ground clearance 135 mm on all 12. Tank 60 l on all 12. Wheel sizes not measured.

kg per hp where both numbers exist: 1.8 MT 201 hp = 1170 ÷ 201 = 5.82 kg/hp; 2.0 MT 205 hp = 1220 ÷ 205 = 5.95 kg/hp; 1.8 MT 175 hp = 6.69 kg/hp; 1.8 MT 169 hp = 6.92 kg/hp; 2.0 MT 140 hp = 8.71 kg/hp. The 201 hp 1.8 is the densest measured power-to-weight; the 140 hp 2.0 MT is 2.89 kg/hp heavier per horsepower than that 201 hp MT.

Which version to choose

There is one generation, so “which generation” is not a fork. The forks are displacement (1809 vs 1998), boost (Turbo vs No), gearbox (Manual 5 vs Automatic 4), and the three power steps inside each badge.

If you want the only timed car. 1.8 MT 169 hp is the sole version with 6.9 s, 220 km/h, and mixed 11. It is Turbo, 224 Nm, compression 8.5, 1170 kg, 6.92 kg/hp, 93.4 hp/l. Twin 1.8 AT 169 hp shares 169 hp / 224 Nm / 8.5 / 83 × 83.6 but 0–100, top speed, consumption and kerb weight are not measured.

If you want the lightest kerb with more than 169 hp. Stay on 1.8 MT. 1.8 MT 175 hp is the same 1170 kg, +6 hp and +2 Nm vs 169 hp, compression 9 instead of 8.5, bore/stroke 83 × 83 instead of 83 × 83.6. Sprint and mpg: not measured. 1.8 MT 201 hp is still 1170 kg, +32 hp vs 169 hp (+26 hp vs 175 hp), 5.82 kg/hp, 111.1 hp/l — best measured mass-to-power and best specific output in the catalogue. Torque, power rpm, 0–100, top speed and mpg: not measured.

If you want peak horsepower and peak torque. 2.0 MT 205 hp (and 2.0 AT 205 hp on the Automatic side): 205 hp at 6000, 275 Nm at 4000, Turbo, 95, compression 9, 86 × 86. That is +4 hp vs 1.8 201 hp, +65 hp vs 2.0 140 hp, +36 hp vs 1.8 169 hp. 2.0 MT 205 hp kerb 1220 kg is 50 kg above the 1.8 MT trio; 5.95 kg/hp is 0.13 kg/hp worse than 1.8 MT 201 hp. 0–100, top speed, mpg: not measured. 2.0 AT 205 hp kerb: not measured.

If you want naturally aspirated 2.0. Two power levels, boost No. 2.0 MT 140 hp / 2.0 AT 140 hp: 140 hp, 178 Nm at 4800, 95, compression 9 — lowest power and lowest torque in the file, 70.1 hp/l. 2.0 MT 140 hp is 1220 kg and 8.71 kg/hp, the worst measured kg/hp. 2.0 MT 200 hp / 2.0 AT 200 hp: 200 hp, compression 11, fuel 98, torque not measured, kerb not measured. Versus Turbo 2.0 205 hp you give up 5 hp and (where measured) 275 Nm of torque, and you take 98 instead of 95. Versus Turbo 1.8 201 hp you give up 1 hp and 11.0 hp/l of specific output.

Manual vs Automatic at the same power. On every power step the pair is Manual 5 vs Automatic 4. The only 0–100 in the table sits on Manual (1.8 MT 169 hp). Automatic kerb weight is not measured on any of the six AT rows, so you cannot score AT on kg/hp.

What “stepping up” buys in arithmetic, not in price (prices are not in the data). 169 → 175 hp: +6 hp, +2 Nm, compression 8.5 → 9. 175 → 201 hp: +26 hp; Nm not measured on 201. 140 → 200 hp (No boost, 2.0): +60 hp, 9 → 11 compression, 95 → 98; Nm on 200 not measured. 200 → 205 hp (2.0): +5 hp and Turbo vs No; 275 Nm vs not measured; 95 vs 98. 201 hp 1.8 Turbo vs 205 hp 2.0 Turbo: −4 hp, −50 kg on the MT rows that publish weight, +8.5 hp/l.

Buy map (from numbers only). Timed daily Turbo with published mpg: 1.8 MT 169 hp. Lightest kerb and highest hp/l: 1.8 MT 201 hp (AT twin 1.8 AT 201 hp if you need Automatic 4; weight not measured). Highest hp and Nm: 2.0 MT 205 hp. Naturally aspirated with 200 hp and 11 compression: 2.0 MT 200 hp (98 fuel). Least power: 2.0 MT 140 hp or 2.0 AT 140 hp. Problems and reliability: not measured — do not rank versions on faults this file does not list.