Opel Tigra: which version to buy
If the choice is a used Opel Tigra, the split is not trim fluff. Generation 1 (1994-09-01–2001-07-31) is a Coupe with four gasoline versions; generation 2 (2004-06-01–2009-05-31) is a Roadster with three gasoline versions and one Diesel. Same nameplate, different body, different mass, different 0–100 spread.
If the choice is a used Opel Tigra, the split is not trim fluff. Generation 1 (1994-09-01–2001-07-31) is a Coupe with four gasoline versions; generation 2 (2004-06-01–2009-05-31) is a Roadster with three gasoline versions and one Diesel. Same nameplate, different body, different mass, different 0–100 spread. Below, every comparison is arithmetic on the catalogue figures; a missing figure is written as not measured.
Opel Tigra generations: what actually changed
Generation 1 is the Coupe window. Its four versions are 1.4 AT, 1.4 MT, 1.6 AT, and 1.6 MT. Ground clearance is 130 mm on all four. Fuel tank is 46 L on all four. Rear suspension is Independent, spring; rear brakes are Drum; front brakes are Disc. Drive is FWD. Boost is No. Cylinders are 4, layout Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, engine position Front, transverse, feed Distributed injection (multi-point), fuel 95.
Generation 2 is the Roadster window (the body people search as convertible / cabrio / TwinTop in listings). Its four versions are 1.3 MT, 1.4 MT, 1.4 MTA, and 1.8 MT. Ground clearance is 140 mm — 10 mm more than generation 1. Tank is 45 L — 1 L less. Front brakes are Ventilated disc on all four. Drive stays FWD. The Roadster kerb weight, where measured, is 1165 kg versus 980 kg on generation 1 1.4 MT and 1000 kg on generation 1 1.6 MT / 1.6 AT: that is +185 kg versus the lightest Coupe and +165 kg versus the 1.6 Coupes.
So the generation step buys a Roadster body, +10 mm clearance, Ventilated disc at the front, and a Diesel option. It does not buy a lighter car.
Opel Tigra horsepower and engine: power per litre
Power per litre = hp ÷ (displacement in litres). Weight per horsepower uses kerb mass where it is measured.
Generation 2 Roadster
| Version | hp | Nm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive | hp/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 MT | 70 | 170 | 1248 | Diesel | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Manual, 5 | FWD | 56.1 |
| 1.4 MT | 90 | 125 | 1364 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5 | FWD | 66.0 |
| 1.4 MTA | 90 | 125 | 1364 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Robotic, 5 | FWD | 66.0 |
| 1.8 MT | 125 | 165 | 1796 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5 | FWD | 69.6 |
Generation 1 Coupe
| Version | hp | Nm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive | hp/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 AT | 90 | 125 | 1389 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic, 4 | FWD | 64.8 |
| 1.4 MT | 90 | 125 | 1389 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5 | FWD | 64.8 |
| 1.6 AT | 100 | 135 | 1598 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic, 4 | FWD | 62.6 |
| 1.6 MT | 106 | 148 | 1598 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual, 5 | FWD | 66.3 |
The densest gasoline engines in this catalogue are generation 2 1.8 MT at 69.6 hp/L and generation 2 1.4 MT / 1.4 MTA at 66.0 hp/L. Generation 1 1.6 MT is 66.3 hp/L — almost the same specific output as the later 1.4, from 234 cc more. Generation 2 1.3 MT is the weakest on specific output (56.1 hp/L) because it is the only Turbo Diesel: 70 hp from 1248 cc, but 170 Nm — the highest torque in the whole Tigra table, 5 Nm above 1.8 MT (165 Nm) and 45 Nm above either 1.4 gasoline (125 Nm).
Peak rpm from the data: Diesel 1.3 MT makes 70 hp at 4000 rpm and 170 Nm at 1750 rpm. Gasoline 1.4s in generation 2 peak at 5600 rpm / 4000 rpm; generation 1 1.4s at 6000 / 4000. 1.8 MT peaks at 6000 / 4000. 1.6 AT at 5800 / 3400; 1.6 MT at 6000 / 4000.
Compression: Diesel 1.3 MT 18; generation 2 gasoline 10.5; generation 1 gasoline 10. Bore × stroke: 1.3 MT 69.6 × 82; generation 2 1.4 73.4 × 80.6; 1.8 MT 80.5 × 88.2; generation 1 1.4 77 × 73.4; generation 1 1.6 79 × 81.5.
Performance: 0–100 and top speed, version by version
Fastest 0–100 in the file is generation 2 1.8 MT at 9.4 s, then generation 1 1.6 MT at 10 s — a 0.6 s gap despite 1.8 MT having 19 hp more (125 vs 106) because the Roadster is 165 kg heavier at kerb (1165 vs 1000). Top speeds: 1.8 MT 204 km/h vs 1.6 MT 203 km/h — 1 km/h.
Next: generation 1 1.4 MT 11 s and 190 km/h. Generation 2 1.4 MT 12.4 s and 180 km/h. Same 90 hp label, different cars: the Coupe 1.4 MT is 185 kg lighter (980 vs 1165 kg) and 1.4 s quicker to 100, 10 km/h faster on Vmax. Displacement is 1389 cc (Coupe) vs 1364 cc (Roadster).
Generation 2 1.4 MTA is the same 90 hp / 125 Nm / 1364 cc Gasoline engine as generation 2 1.4 MT, with Robotic 5 instead of Manual 5: 13.4 s and 178 km/h — 1.0 s and 2 km/h slower than the Manual sister.
Generation 1 1.4 AT (Automatic 4, same 90 hp as the Coupe Manual): 14 s and 182 km/h — 3 s slower than Coupe 1.4 MT, 8 km/h slower. Automatic costs 3.0 s versus Manual on that 1.4; Robotic costs 1.0 s versus Manual on the later 1.4.
Slowest measured sprint is generation 2 1.3 MT: 15.5 s and 167 km/h. Versus Roadster 1.4 MT that is +3.1 s and −13 km/h for 20 hp less, but 45 Nm more.
Not measured: 0–100 and top speed on generation 1 1.6 AT. Do not treat that blank as “this Automatic is as fast as 1.6 MT”; the file simply did not record it.
MPG / fuel use (L/100 km) — only generation 2 is measured
Generation 1 1.4 AT, 1.4 MT, 1.6 AT, 1.6 MT: city, highway, mixed all not measured.
Generation 2, mixed: 1.3 MT 4.6; 1.4 MT 6; 1.4 MTA 6; 1.8 MT 7.7. City: 5.8 / 8.1 / 8 / 10.9. Highway: 3.9 / 5 / 4.9 / 5.8.
1.3 MT uses 1.4 L/100 km less mixed than either 1.4 Roadster (4.6 vs 6), and 3.1 L/100 km less mixed than 1.8 MT (4.6 vs 7.7). City gap vs 1.8 MT is 5.1 L/100 km (5.8 vs 10.9). Highway: 1.9 L/100 km (3.9 vs 5.8).
1.4 MTA vs 1.4 MT: mixed identical at 6; city 8 vs 8.1 (−0.1); highway 4.9 vs 5 (−0.1). The Robotic does not buy a useful economy gain in this table; it buys 1.0 s slower 0–100.
Tank: 45 L (generation 2) vs 46 L (generation 1). Without generation 1 consumption, range cannot be compared.
CO2 and eco class: not measured on all eight versions.
Weight, size, dimensions: kerb, gross, clearance, wheels
Wheel sizes: not measured on all eight.
Kerb: generation 1 1.4 MT 980 kg; 1.6 AT 1000 kg; 1.6 MT 1000 kg; 1.4 AT not measured. Generation 2 1.3 MT, 1.4 MT, 1.8 MT 1165 kg; 1.4 MTA kerb not measured.
Gross: generation 1 1.4 AT and 1.4 MT 1330 kg; 1.6 MT 1350 kg; 1.6 AT not measured. Generation 2 1.3 MT, 1.4 MT, 1.4 MTA 1450 kg; 1.8 MT 1480 kg (+30 kg vs the other Roadsters).
Weight per hp (kerb ÷ hp), where both exist:
- Generation 1 1.4 MT: 980 / 90 = 10.9 kg/hp
- Generation 1 1.6 AT: 1000 / 100 = 10.0 kg/hp
- Generation 1 1.6 MT: 1000 / 106 = 9.4 kg/hp
- Generation 2 1.3 MT: 1165 / 70 = 16.6 kg/hp
- Generation 2 1.4 MT: 1165 / 90 = 12.9 kg/hp
- Generation 2 1.8 MT: 1165 / 125 = 9.3 kg/hp
- Generation 2 1.4 MTA: kerb not measured, so kg/hp not measured
1.8 MT and Coupe 1.6 MT land at 9.3 and 9.4 kg/hp — the two best mass-to-power ratios in the file. The Roadster Diesel is the worst at 16.6 kg/hp: same 1165 kg as the 125 hp car, 55 hp less.
Clearance 130 mm (Coupe) vs 140 mm (Roadster). Engine bay layout from the data is Front, transverse except generation 2 1.4 MTA, where engine position is not measured.
Chassis notes that actually differ inside generation 2: 1.4 MTA lists rear suspension Independent, spring and rear brakes Disc. The other three Roadsters list rear Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem and rear Drum. Front remains Independent, spring and Ventilated disc. Generation 1 is Independent, spring both ends, Disc front, Drum rear.
Which Opel Tigra version to choose
If the body must be a Roadster (generation 2, 2004–2009, including a 2005 / 2006 car in that window)
- Buy 1.8 MT when the point is pace. 125 hp, 165 Nm, 9.4 s, 204 km/h, 9.3 kg/hp. Versus Roadster 1.4 MT you gain 35 hp, 40 Nm, 3.0 s to 100, 24 km/h Vmax, at the same 1165 kg kerb. You pay 1.7 L/100 km mixed (7.7 vs 6) and 2.8 L/100 km in town (10.9 vs 8.1). Gross is 1480 vs 1450 kg. Same Manual 5, FWD, 95 fuel, No boost.
- Buy 1.4 MT when you want the Roadster without the 1.8’s thirst and without a robot. 90 hp, 12.4 s, 180 km/h, mixed 6. Versus 1.8 MT you give up 35 hp and 3.0 s; versus 1.3 MT you gain 20 hp and 3.1 s and spend 1.4 L/100 km more mixed.
- Buy 1.4 MTA only if you refuse a clutch. Same 90 hp engine as 1.4 MT, Robotic 5, 13.4 s, 178 km/h, mixed still 6. Economy gain is 0.1 L/100 km city/highway. Rear axle and rear brakes in the file are Independent, spring and Disc rather than the Semi-independent / Drum pair on the other Roadsters — that is a hardware difference, not a speed difference.
- Buy 1.3 MT when mixed 4.6 L/100 km and 170 Nm at 1750 rpm matter more than 15.5 s and 167 km/h. It is the only Diesel, only Turbo, only 70 hp car. Fuel is Diesel, not 95. Compression 18 vs 10.5. Same 1165 kg and 1450 kg gross as 1.4 MT.
If the body must be a Coupe (generation 1, 1994–2001, including a 1997 or 2000 car)
- Buy 1.6 MT for the Coupe’s best measured sprint and speed: 106 hp, 148 Nm, 10 s, 203 km/h, 1000 kg, 9.4 kg/hp, 1350 kg gross. Versus Coupe 1.4 MT that is +16 hp, +23 Nm, −1.0 s, +13 km/h, +20 kg kerb (1000 vs 980). Consumption not measured on either, so you cannot claim the 1.6 “costs more fuel” from this file.
- Buy 1.4 MT for the lightest measured Tigra: 980 kg, 90 hp, 11 s, 190 km/h, 10.9 kg/hp. Versus Roadster 1.4 MT (also 90 hp): 185 kg lighter, 1.4 s quicker, 10 km/h faster, 25 cc more (1389 vs 1364), clearance 10 mm lower, tank 1 L larger, front brakes Disc not Ventilated disc.
- Buy 1.4 AT if the Coupe must be Automatic 4: 90 hp, 14 s, 182 km/h. Versus Coupe 1.4 MT: +3.0 s, −8 km/h, same 90 hp / 125 Nm / 1389 cc. Kerb not measured; gross 1330 kg like the Manual 1.4.
- Buy 1.6 AT only if you need Automatic and the 1598 cc 100 hp / 135 Nm engine. 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, gross not measured. Kerb 1000 kg. Do not rank it against 1.6 MT on speed; the speed cells are empty.
Cross-generation, same role
- Lightest: generation 1 1.4 MT at 980 kg.
- Strongest: generation 2 1.8 MT at 125 hp.
- Highest torque: generation 2 1.3 MT at 170 Nm.
- Quickest 0–100: 1.8 MT 9.4 s.
- Lowest measured mixed use: 1.3 MT 4.6 L/100 km.
- Closest “fun per kilo” pair: 1.8 MT 9.3 kg/hp and generation 1 1.6 MT 9.4 kg/hp — one is a 1165 kg Roadster with 125 hp, the other a 1000 kg Coupe with 106 hp; 0–100 9.4 vs 10, Vmax 204 vs 203.
Reliability, roof, windows, service manuals, and asking prices are not in this dataset — treat those as not measured here. Engine swap talk is outside the catalogue: the engines that were actually sold are the eight rows above, named 1.3 MT, 1.4 MT, 1.4 MTA, 1.8 MT (Roadster) and 1.4 AT, 1.4 MT, 1.6 AT, 1.6 MT (Coupe).