SEAT Arosa

Which SEAT Arosa version to buy

The SEAT Arosa to buy is the restyled 1.4 MT with 100 hp if you want the shortest 0–100 km/h time (9.8 s) and the highest top speed (188 km/h); the restyled 1.4 MT with 75 hp if you want the most torque (195 Nm) on Diesel; the 1.2 AT with 61 hp if you need Automatic and Diesel together; and the 1.0 MT with 50 hp only if you accept the slowest gasoline run (17.4–17.7 s to 100 km/h) in exchange for …

The SEAT Arosa to buy is the restyled 1.4 MT with 100 hp if you want the shortest 0–100 km/h time (9.8 s) and the highest top speed (188 km/h); the restyled 1.4 MT with 75 hp if you want the most torque (195 Nm) on Diesel; the 1.2 AT with 61 hp if you need Automatic and Diesel together; and the 1.0 MT with 50 hp only if you accept the slowest gasoline run (17.4–17.7 s to 100 km/h) in exchange for the lowest kerb weight in its fuel group. The catalogue lists two periods of one Mini 3-doors generation: 1 generation (1997–2000, 4 versions) and 1 generation, restyling (2000–2004, 7 versions). Every version is FWD. City, highway and combined mpg, CO2, eco class and wheel sizes are not measured on every row.

Which generation to buy: 1 generation vs 1 generation, restyling

Buy 1 generation, restyling (2000–2004) if you need engines that did not exist in 1997–2000: the gasoline 1.4 MT 100 hp, the Diesel 1.4 MT 75 hp, and the Diesel 1.2 AT 61 hp. Those three versions are the only Arosa rows with 0–100 km/h under 13 s except none of the 1997–2000 cars reach that: the fastest pre-restyle car is 1.4 MT 60 hp at 14.1 s.

Buy 1 generation (1997–2000) only if you want the lightest gasoline 1.0 MT (kerb 864 kg vs 880 kg after restyling, 16 kg less) or the lightest gasoline 1.4 MT 60 hp (895 kg vs 900 kg) or the lightest 1.4 AT (925 kg vs 930 kg). Gross weight also rose after restyling: 1.0 MT 1265 kg → 1360 kg (+95 kg), 1.4 MT 60 hp 1295 kg → 1400 kg (+105 kg), 1.4 AT 1325 kg → 1415 kg (+90 kg), 1.7 MT 1360 kg → 1440 kg (+80 kg). Payload (gross minus kerb) therefore grew: 1.0 MT 401 kg → 480 kg; 1.4 MT 60 hp 400 kg → 500 kg; 1.4 AT 400 kg → 485 kg; 1.7 MT 400 kg → 485 kg. If you haul close to the limit, the restyle’s extra payload is the measured change.

The 1.7 MT Diesel itself changed character. In 1 generation it is 60 hp, 115 Nm, 1716 cm³, Inline 4, boost No, 16.8 s to 100 km/h, 157 km/h, kerb 960 kg. In 1 generation, restyling the same name 1.7 MT is still 60 hp, 115 Nm, 1716 cm³, Inline 4, but boost is Turbo, 16.6 s to 100 km/h (−0.2 s), 157 km/h unchanged, kerb 955 kg (−5 kg). The restyle 1.7 MT is not a new power figure; it is a Turbo label on the same 60 hp / 115 Nm pair.

Ground clearance is not measured on any 1997–2000 version. On restyle it is 110 mm on 1.4 MT 100 hp, 1.2 AT 61 hp and 1.4 MT 75 hp, and not measured on the other four restyle versions. Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.

Specs table: every named version

Valves per cylinder: 2 on every version except restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp (4) and restyle 1.2 AT (not measured). Fuel system: Distributed injection (multi-point) on all Gasoline rows; not measured on all Diesel rows. Compression: 10.5 on restyle gasoline; 10.2 on 1997–2000 1.4 MT / 1.4 AT; 10.5 on both 1.0 MT rows; 19.5 on every Diesel. Engine position: Front, transverse on every version. Fuel grade: 95 on Gasoline, Diesel on Diesel. Tank: 34 l on every version. Front brakes: Disc on every version. Rear brakes: Drum except restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp (Disc). Suspension front and rear: Independent, spring on every version.

Horsepower, litres and kg per hp

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres) ranks the engines, not the badges:

• Restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp: 100 / 1.390 = 71.9 hp/l — highest.
• 1.0 MT (both periods): 50 / 0.999 = 50.1 hp/l.
• Restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp Diesel: 75 / 1.422 = 52.7 hp/l.
• Restyle 1.2 AT 61 hp Diesel: 61 / 1.191 = 51.2 hp/l.
• 1.4 MT / 1.4 AT 60 hp: 60 / 1.390 = 43.2 hp/l.
• 1.7 MT 60 hp: 60 / 1.716 = 35.0 hp/l — lowest.

Kerb kg per hp (lower is less mass per horsepower):

• Restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp: 946 / 100 = 9.5 kg/hp — lightest per hp.
• Restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp: 965 / 75 = 12.9 kg/hp.
• Restyle 1.2 AT: 860 / 61 = 14.1 kg/hp — lightest absolute kerb (860 kg) in the whole catalogue.
• 1 generation 1.4 MT 60 hp: 895 / 60 = 14.9 kg/hp.
• Restyle 1.4 MT 60 hp: 900 / 60 = 15.0 kg/hp.
• 1 generation 1.4 AT: 925 / 60 = 15.4 kg/hp.
• Restyle 1.4 AT: 930 / 60 = 15.5 kg/hp.
• Restyle 1.7 MT: 955 / 60 = 15.9 kg/hp.
• 1 generation 1.7 MT: 960 / 60 = 16.0 kg/hp.
• 1 generation 1.0 MT: 864 / 50 = 17.3 kg/hp.
• Restyle 1.0 MT: 880 / 50 = 17.6 kg/hp — heaviest per hp.

The 100 hp 1.4 MT is 40 hp above the 60 hp 1.4 MT on the same 1390 cm³ and the same Manual 5 / FWD layout. That is +67% power for +46 kg kerb on the restyle (900 → 946 kg) and +10 Nm (116 → 126). Peak torque moves from 3000 rpm to 4400 rpm. Valves per cylinder go from 2 to 4. Rear brakes go from Drum to Disc. If the question is “what does the stronger 1.4 buy versus the 60 hp 1.4 MT”, the measured answer is 4.4 s off 0–100 (14.2 → 9.8) and +28 km/h top speed (160 → 188).

Performance: 0–100, top speed, mpg

Mpg (city, highway, mixed) is not measured on any version. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest:

1. Restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp — 9.8 s, 188 km/h 2. Restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp Diesel — 12.2 s, 170 km/h 3. 1 generation 1.4 MT 60 hp — 14.1 s, 160 km/h 4. Restyle 1.4 MT 60 hp — 14.2 s, 160 km/h 5. Restyle 1.2 AT 61 hp — 14.7 s, 164 km/h 6. 1 generation 1.4 AT — 16.2 s, 155 km/h 7. Restyle 1.4 AT — 16.4 s, 156 km/h 8. Restyle 1.7 MT — 16.6 s, 157 km/h 9. 1 generation 1.7 MT — 16.8 s, 157 km/h 10. 1 generation 1.0 MT — 17.4 s, 151 km/h 11. Restyle 1.0 MT — 17.7 s, 151 km/h

Automatic versus Manual on the same 60 hp 1390 cm³ gasoline engine: restyle 1.4 AT is 2.2 s slower than restyle 1.4 MT 60 hp (16.4 vs 14.2) and 4 km/h slower (156 vs 160); 1 generation 1.4 AT is 2.1 s slower than 1 generation 1.4 MT (16.2 vs 14.1) and 5 km/h slower (155 vs 160). The Automatic costs 30 kg kerb in both periods (895 → 925; 900 → 930) and drops from 5 speeds to 4.

The restyle 1.2 AT is the only Automatic that is not the 60 hp gasoline 1.4 AT. It is 1.7 s quicker than restyle 1.4 AT (14.7 vs 16.4), 8 km/h faster (164 vs 156), 70 kg lighter (860 vs 930), and uses a 5-speed Automatic instead of 4. Torque arrives at 1800 rpm (140 Nm) versus 3000 rpm (116 Nm) on 1.4 AT. If the buying rule is “Automatic, but not the slow gasoline one”, 1.2 AT is the only other Automatic in the data.

The restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp Diesel versus restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp gasoline: the Diesel has 69 Nm more torque (195 vs 126) at 2200 rpm instead of 4400, but is 2.4 s slower to 100 km/h (12.2 vs 9.8) and 18 km/h slower on top (170 vs 188). Kerb is 19 kg higher (965 vs 946). Rear brakes stay Drum on the 75 hp Diesel; they are Disc on the 100 hp gasoline 1.4 MT.

The 50 hp 1.0 MT versus 60 hp 1.4 MT (restyle): +10 hp, +30 Nm, −3.5 s to 100 km/h (17.7 → 14.2), +9 km/h (151 → 160), +20 kg (880 → 900). Bore × stroke: 67.1 × 70.6 on 1.0 MT, 76.5 × 75.6 on the 60 hp and 100 hp 1.4 MT gasoline.

Dimensions, weight, tank, clearance

Body type is Mini 3-doors on both periods. Tank is 34 l on every version. Wheel sizes are not measured.

Kerb weight range: 860 kg (restyle 1.2 AT) to 965 kg (restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp) — a 105 kg spread. Gross weight range: 1200 kg (restyle 1.2 AT) to 1445 kg (restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp). The 1.2 AT is the lightest car and also the lowest gross: payload 1200 − 860 = 340 kg, the smallest payload in the catalogue. Do not buy 1.2 AT if payload is the constraint; buy restyle 1.4 MT 60 hp (500 kg payload) or restyle 1.0 MT / 1.4 MT 75 hp (480 kg).

Ground clearance 110 mm is measured only on restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp, restyle 1.2 AT and restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp. On 1.0 MT, 1.4 MT 60 hp, 1.4 AT and 1.7 MT in both periods it is not measured.

Which version to choose

Want the fastest Arosa in this catalogue. Restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp: 9.8 s, 188 km/h, 71.9 hp/l, 9.5 kg/hp, 4 valves per cylinder, Disc rear brakes, clearance 110 mm. No other row matches that set. Searches for “sport” and “FR” have no separate names in the data; this 100 hp 1.4 MT is the performance row by the numbers.

Want Diesel torque, Manual, and still sub-13 s. Restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp: 195 Nm at 2200 rpm, 12.2 s, 170 km/h, Turbo, Inline 3, 1422 cm³. It is 2.4 s slower than the 100 hp gasoline 1.4 MT and 19 kg heavier, but 69 Nm stronger. Mpg is not measured, so economy is not a reason you can claim from this table.

Want Automatic. Two cars only. Restyle 1.2 AT 61 hp Diesel: 14.7 s, 164 km/h, 140 Nm at 1800 rpm, 5-speed Automatic, kerb 860 kg, payload 340 kg. Gasoline 1.4 AT 60 hp: 16.2 s / 155 km/h in 1 generation, 16.4 s / 156 km/h in restyling, 4-speed Automatic, 925–930 kg. The 1.2 AT is the Automatic that does not give back 2 s and 4–5 km/h versus its Manual twin, because it has no Manual twin in the data.

Want the cheapest-feeling small gasoline city car by mass. 1 generation 1.0 MT: 864 kg, 50 hp, 17.4 s, 151 km/h, 86 Nm at 3000 rpm. Restyle 1.0 MT is the same 50 hp and 151 km/h but 880 kg and 17.7 s, with peak torque at 3300 rpm instead of 3000. Do not pick 1.0 MT if 0–100 under 15 s matters: it is 3.3–3.6 s behind the 60 hp 1.4 MT.

Want a simple 60 hp gasoline Manual. 1 generation 1.4 MT 60 hp is 0.1 s quicker than restyle (14.1 vs 14.2), 5 kg lighter (895 vs 900), torque peak 2800 rpm vs 3000, compression 10.2 vs 10.5, gross 1295 vs 1400. Performance is effectively the same; the restyle buys 105 kg more gross and 100 kg more payload.

Avoid the 60 hp Diesel if you wanted the 75 hp Diesel. 1.7 MT is 60 hp, 115 Nm, 16.6–16.8 s, 157 km/h, 1716 cm³, 35.0 hp/l. Versus restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp it is 15 hp down, 80 Nm down, 4.4–4.6 s slower to 100 km/h, and 13 km/h slower on top. The only reason to take 1.7 MT over 1.4 MT 75 hp is if you are shopping 1 generation (1997–2000), where the 75 hp 1.4 MT does not exist. In 1997–2000 the Diesel choice is only 1.7 MT with boost No.

Do not use mpg, CO2, eco class or wheel size as a buying filter. All four are not measured on every version. Reliability and problems are not in this dataset; the comparison above is only the measured specs.

Short map. Fastest: restyle 1.4 MT 100 hp. Strongest torque: restyle 1.4 MT 75 hp. Lightest: restyle 1.2 AT. Lightest gasoline: 1 generation 1.0 MT. Only Automatic gasoline: 1.4 AT (both periods). Only Automatic Diesel: restyle 1.2 AT. Pre-2000 Diesel: 1.7 MT boost No. Post-2000 Diesel Manual: prefer 1.4 MT 75 hp over 1.7 MT Turbo on every timed figure in the table.