Oldsmobile Alero

Which Alero version to buy: specs compared

There is 1 generation. Years, Coupe body, and the eight names do not change. What changes is power, gearbox, mass, 0–100, top speed, and the few fuel figures that were measured. Every version is Gasoline, FWD, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), boost No, tank 53 L, front brakes Disc, rear brakes Disc.

There is 1 generation. Years, Coupe body, and the eight names do not change. What changes is power, gearbox, mass, 0–100, top speed, and the few fuel figures that were measured. Every version is Gasoline, FWD, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), boost No, tank 53 L, front brakes Disc, rear brakes Disc.

Generations: what actually changes between versions

1 generation (1999–2004), Coupe, 8 versions. No second generation exists in the data, so “which generation” is the wrong question. The useful split is engine family and gearbox.

• Four-cylinder 2.2 L (2 198 cm³): 2.2 MT 141 hp, 2.2 AT 141 hp, 2.2 AT 142 hp, 2.2 MT 142 hp. Same 203 Nm at 4 000 rpm, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, compression 10, bore × stroke 86 × 94.6. The 141 hp and 142 hp pairs differ by 1 hp (about 0.7%).
• Four-cylinder 2.4 L (2 392 cm³): two 2.4 AT, both 152 hp / 112 kW at 5 600 rpm, 203 Nm at 4 400 rpm, 4 Inline, 4 valves, compression 9.5, 90 × 94. Same peak torque as the 2.2, later in the rev range (+400 rpm).
• Six-cylinder 3.4 L (3 350 cm³): two 3.4 AT, both 172 hp / 126 kW at 4 800 rpm, 271 Nm at 4 000 rpm, 6 V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder, compression 9.5, 92 × 84.

Gearboxes: Manual 5 on both 2.2 MT; Automatic 4 on every other version. Drive is FWD on all eight.

Engine specs table (all eight versions)

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT 141 hp → 64.1 hp/L; 2.2 AT / 2.2 MT 142 hp → 64.6 hp/L; both 2.4 AT → 63.5 hp/L; both 3.4 AT → 51.3 hp/L. The 2.2 is the densest engine; the 3.4 buys torque (271 vs 203 Nm, +68 Nm / +33%) and 172 vs 141–152 hp, not specific output.

The 2.4’s extra 194 cm³ versus the 2.2 yields +11 hp versus 141 hp and +10 hp versus 142 hp, with identical 203 Nm. The 3.4’s extra 1 152 cm³ versus the 2.2 yields +31 hp versus 141 hp and +30 hp versus 142 hp.

Performance, mpg, and 0–100: measured vs not measured

0–100 km/h (s)

• 3.4 AT 172 hp, 9.8 s, 206 km/h: 9.8 — shortest measured.
• 2.2 AT 142 hp: 10.6.
• 2.4 AT 152 hp, 10.8 s, 1 340 kg: 10.8.
• 2.2 MT 142 hp: 10.8.
• 2.4 AT 152 hp, 11 s, 1 370 kg: 11.
• 2.2 MT 141 hp: not measured.
• 2.2 AT 141 hp: not measured.
• 3.4 AT 172 hp, 180 km/h, 1 410 kg: not measured.

The measured V6 is 0.8 s quicker than the 2.2 AT 142 hp and 1.2 s quicker than the slower 2.4 AT. The two 2.4 AT that share 152 hp are 0.2 s apart (10.8 vs 11). The 2.2 MT 142 hp matches the quicker 2.4 AT at 10.8 s despite 10 fewer hp.

Top speed (km/h)

• 3.4 AT 172 hp, 9.8 s, 206 km/h: 206.
• 2.2 MT 142 hp: 200 (−6 vs that V6).
• 2.2 AT 142 hp: 193 (−13 vs that V6; −7 vs the 142 hp Manual).
• 2.4 AT both: 180.
• 3.4 AT 172 hp, 180 km/h, 1 410 kg: 180 — same ceiling as both 2.4 cars, 26 km/h below the other 3.4 AT.
• 2.2 MT 141 hp: 175.
• 2.2 AT 141 hp: not measured.

The 142 hp four-cylinders outrun the 152 hp 2.4 AT on top speed where both are measured (193–200 vs 180). Choosing 2.4 AT for “more hp than 2.2” does not buy a higher measured ceiling.

Fuel consumption (L/100 km)

• 2.2 MT 142 hp: city 9.4, highway 7.1, mixed 8.4 — lowest measured on all three cycles.
• 2.2 AT 141 hp: city 9.8, highway 7.4, mixed 8.7.
• 2.2 AT 142 hp: city 9.8, highway 7.3, mixed 8.7.
• 3.4 AT 172 hp, 9.8 s, 206 km/h: city 11.8, highway 8.4, mixed 10.2.
• 2.2 MT 141 hp, both 2.4 AT, 3.4 AT 1 410 kg: city / highway / mixed not measured.

Automatic 2.2 vs Manual 2.2 (142 hp): mixed +0.3 L/100 km (8.7 vs 8.4), city +0.4, highway +0.2. The two 2.2 AT share mixed 8.7; highway is 7.4 vs 7.3. V6 vs the thriftiest 2.2: mixed +1.8 L/100 km (10.2 vs 8.4), about 21% more on the mixed figure. Tank is 53 L on every version; mixed range from arithmetic on measured cars is about 53/8.4 ≈ 630 km for 2.2 MT 142 hp versus 53/10.2 ≈ 520 km for the measured 3.4 AT.

Dimensions, weight, ground clearance

Gross weight: not measured on all eight. Wheel sizes: not measured on all eight.

Kerb weight (kg)

• 2.4 AT 152 hp, 10.8 s: 1 340 — lightest.
• 2.2 AT 142 hp: 1 368.
• 2.2 MT 142 hp and 2.4 AT 152 hp, 11 s: 1 370.
• 2.2 MT 141 hp: 1 375.
• 3.4 AT 172 hp, 9.8 s, 206 km/h: 1 396.
• 3.4 AT 172 hp, 180 km/h: 1 410 — heaviest.
• 2.2 AT 141 hp: not measured.

kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp, where kerb exists): 3.4 AT 1 396 kg → 8.12; 3.4 AT 1 410 kg → 8.20; 2.4 AT 1 340 kg → 8.82; 2.4 AT 1 370 kg → 9.01; 2.2 AT 142 hp → 9.63; 2.2 MT 142 hp → 9.65; 2.2 MT 141 hp → 9.75. The V6 is the least mass per horsepower; the light 2.4 AT is the best four-cylinder on this ratio; the 2.2 cars sit near 9.6–9.8 kg/hp.

Ground clearance (mm)

• 2.2 AT 141 hp and 2.2 MT 142 hp: 125.
• both 2.4 AT: 120 (−5 mm).
• 2.2 MT 141 hp, 2.2 AT 142 hp, both 3.4 AT: not measured.

Front suspension Independent, spring on all eight. Rear Independent, spring on six versions; not measured on 2.2 MT 141 hp and 3.4 AT 1 410 kg.

Which version to choose

Want the strongest measured pull and the shortest 0–100. Take 3.4 AT 172 hp with 9.8 s and 206 km/h (1 396 kg, mixed 10.2, fuel 92). Versus 2.2 AT 142 hp that is +30 hp, +68 Nm, −0.8 s to 100, +13 km/h, +28 kg, +1.5 L/100 km mixed. Versus the other 3.4 AT (same 172 hp / 271 Nm): that car’s 0–100 is not measured, top speed is 180 km/h (−26), kerb is 1 410 kg (+14), fuel and consumption not measured. If you need a named 3.4 with the full performance set, it is the 9.8 s / 206 km/h car, not the 1 410 kg car.

Want the lowest measured fuel use and a Manual 5. Take 2.2 MT 142 hp: mixed 8.4, city 9.4, highway 7.1, 10.8 s, 200 km/h, 1 370 kg, clearance 125 mm, fuel 92. Versus 2.2 MT 141 hp: +1 hp, fuel/0–100/consumption measured here and not on the 141; the 141’s top speed is 175 km/h (−25), kerb 1 375 kg (+5), clearance not measured. The 142 hp Manual is the 2.2 to buy when both names appear.

Want a 2.2 Automatic. 2.2 AT 142 hp has 10.6 s, 193 km/h, mixed 8.7, highway 7.3, 1 368 kg. 2.2 AT 141 hp has the same mixed 8.7, highway 7.4 (+0.1), city 9.8 (same), clearance 125 mm, but 0–100, top speed, and kerb not measured. The 142 hp automatic is the one with a complete performance line; the 141 hp automatic is the one with a measured 125 mm clearance.

Want the 2.4. Both 2.4 AT are 152 hp, 203 Nm, Automatic 4, FWD, 180 km/h, fuel 92, clearance 120 mm. Choose the 2.4 AT at 10.8 s / 1 340 kg if you want the lightest Alero in the data (−30 kg vs the 11 s car, 8.82 vs 9.01 kg/hp). Choose the 2.4 AT at 11 s / 1 370 kg only if that listing is the one in front of you — on arithmetic it is 0.2 s slower and 30 kg heavier, with consumption still not measured on either. Neither 2.4 beats the 2.2 AT 142 hp on measured 0–100 (10.8–11 vs 10.6) or top speed (180 vs 193). The 2.4’s case is displacement and the 1 340 kg kerb, not a faster sprint.

Manual vs Automatic on the 2.2. 2.2 MT 142 hp vs 2.2 AT 142 hp: same 142 hp and 203 Nm; Manual is +7 km/h (200 vs 193), +0.2 s to 100 (10.8 vs 10.6 — the automatic is slightly quicker off the line), −0.3 mixed L/100 km, +2 kg (1 370 vs 1 368). If you want economy and the 200 km/h figure, Manual; if you want the shortest four-cylinder 0–100 we have (10.6 s), Automatic.

What extra displacement buys. 2.2 → 2.4: +194 cm³, +10 or +11 hp, same 203 Nm, often more kerb except the 1 340 kg car, 180 km/h instead of 193–200 on the 142 hp 2.2s, 5 mm less clearance where both are measured (120 vs 125). 2.2 → 3.4: +1 152 cm³, +30–31 hp, +68 Nm, 2 valves per cylinder instead of 4, V-shaped 6 instead of Inline 4. 2.4 → 3.4: +958 cm³, +20 hp, +68 Nm.

Reliability / problems. The data set has no failure rates, recalls, or repair costs. What can be said without inventing numbers: every version is naturally aspirated (boost No), the same 53 L tank, the same FWD layout, and the same Disc / Disc brakes. Differences you can verify are the table above, not durability claims.

Short buy list from the arithmetic. Fastest measured: 3.4 AT 172 hp, 9.8 s, 206 km/h. Lightest: 2.4 AT 152 hp, 10.8 s, 1 340 kg. Least mixed fuel: 2.2 MT 142 hp at 8.4 L/100 km. Fastest four-cylinder top speed: that same 2.2 MT 142 hp at 200 km/h. Quickest four-cylinder 0–100: 2.2 AT 142 hp at 10.6 s. Avoid treating the two 2.2 MT, two 2.2 AT, two 2.4 AT, and two 3.4 AT as duplicates — the 141 vs 142 hp split and the 1 340 vs 1 370 kg / 10.8 vs 11 s split and the 180 vs 206 km/h V6 split are the whole choice.