Skoda 100 Series

Skoda 100 Series: which version to buy and why

If you are choosing a Skoda 100 Series rather than reading a model overview, the catalogue split is simple. 1 generation (1969–1984) is a Coupe with five versions, a 178 mm ground clearance, and the only Automatic in the line. 2 generation (1976–1991) is a Sedan with twelve versions, 170 mm clearance, and every measured performance figure in the data.

If you are choosing a Skoda 100 Series rather than reading a model overview, the catalogue split is simple. 1 generation (1969–1984) is a Coupe with five versions, a 178 mm ground clearance, and the only Automatic in the line. 2 generation (1976–1991) is a Sedan with twelve versions, 170 mm clearance, and every measured performance figure in the data. Peak power in the catalogue is 62 hp on 2 generation 1.3 MT; the weakest is 39 hp on 1 generation 1.0 MT. All versions are Gasoline, boost No, drive RWD. There are no prices in this dataset, so “which to buy” is which numbers you actually get.

Generations: what actually changes when you pick 1 generation or 2 generation

1 generation (1969–1984), Coupe, 5 versions. Power runs 39–52 hp. Displacements are 988, 998, 1068, 1100 and 1174 cc. Gearboxes are Manual 3, Manual 4, or Automatic 4. Ground clearance is 178 mm on every version — 8 mm more than 2 generation. Fuel type, torque, 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, kerb weight, wheel size, rear suspension, rear brakes, valves per cylinder, compression, bore × stroke and engine location are not measured on all five. You buy this generation for the Coupe body, the extra 8 mm of clearance, the 3-speed 1.0 MT pair, or the unique 1.1 AT. You do not buy it for a measured sprint or a measured tank.

2 generation (1976–1991), Sedan, 12 versions. Power runs 45–62 hp. Displacements are 1005, 1174, 1198 and 1289 cc. Gearboxes are Manual 4 or Manual 5. Ground clearance is 170 mm on every version. This generation is the only place with measured 0–100, top speed, mpg-style consumption, kerb/gross weight and a 37 L tank. It is also the only generation with Distributed injection (multi-point), a 3-cylinder 1.2 MT, a Rear engine layout, a Front, transverse layout, and a 1.3 MT. Overlap with 1 generation is 1969–1984 vs 1976–1991: eight calendar years of both bodies in production. Body type is the first filter; engine and gearbox are the second.

Engines and specs: same name, different cars

Version names in the database are 1.0 MT, 1.1 AT, 1.1 MT, 1.2 MT and 1.3 MT. Identical names must be split by horsepower (and, where that is still not unique, by displacement, gears, layout and injection). Boost is No on every row. Drive is RWD on every row. Fuel type is Gasoline on every row.

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres of displacement) is the cleanest ranking when names collide:

• 2 generation 1.2 MT 60 hp / 1.198 L = 50.1 hp/L — highest specific output in the catalogue. It is also the only 3-cylinder row.
• 2 generation 1.2 MT 58 hp / 1.174 L = 49.4 hp/L.
• 2 generation 1.3 MT 62 hp / 1.289 L = 48.1 hp/L — most horsepower, not the densest engine.
• 2 generation 1.2 MT 54 hp / 1.198 L = 45.1 hp/L.
• 2 generation 1.3 MT 58 hp / 1.289 L = 45.0 hp/L.
• 2 generation 1.0 MT 45 hp / 1.005 L = 44.8 hp/L.
• 1 generation 1.2 MT 52 hp / 1.174 L = 44.3 hp/L.
• 1 generation 1.1 MT 48 hp / 1.100 L = 43.6 hp/L.
• 1 generation 1.1 AT 45 hp / 1.068 L and 1.0 MT 42 hp / 0.998 L both sit at 42.1 hp/L.
• 2 generation 1.2 MT 49 hp / 1.174 L = 41.7 hp/L.
• 1 generation 1.0 MT 39 hp / 0.988 L = 39.5 hp/L — lowest specific output.

The 60 hp 1.2 MT therefore extracts 10.6 hp/L more than the 39 hp 1.0 MT. The 62 hp 1.3 MT is only 1.3 hp above the 60 hp 1.2 MT, but it uses 91 cc more displacement (1289 − 1198) and a 4-cylinder Inline instead of a 3-cylinder Inline.

Performance and economy: only two versions have a stopwatch

0–100, top speed and consumption are not measured on 15 of 17 versions. The two that are measured are both 2 generation 1.2 MT, and they are not the same car.

1.2 MT 58 hp (1174 cc, Carburetor, Rear engine, compression 9.5, bore × stroke 72 × 72, fuel 95, Manual 5): 0–100 in 17 s, top speed 150, city 8.8, highway 6.2, mixed 8.7. Kerb 1290 kg, gross 1690 kg. Weight per horsepower: 1290 ÷ 58 = 22.2 kg/hp. Payload: 1690 − 1290 = 400 kg.

1.2 MT 54 hp (1198 cc, Distributed injection (multi-point), Front, transverse, compression 10.3, 76.5 × 86.9, fuel 95, Manual 5, tank 37 L): 0–100 in 14 s, top speed 153, city 8.1, highway 5.5, mixed 7.4. Kerb 1240 kg, gross 1390 kg. Weight per horsepower: 1240 ÷ 54 = 23.0 kg/hp. Payload: 1390 − 1240 = 150 kg.

Arithmetic on those two rows: the 54 hp injection 1.2 MT is 3 s quicker to 100, 3 units faster on top speed, 0.7 lower in city, 0.7 lower on highway, 1.3 lower mixed, and 50 kg lighter on kerb. It is 4 hp down and 250 kg down on payload. If you buy on sprint and mixed consumption, the 54 hp 1198 cc 1.2 MT with the 14 s / 7.4 figures wins. If you buy on payload, the 58 hp 1174 cc 1.2 MT with 400 kg payload wins. The 58 hp car’s mixed 8.7 vs 7.4 is 1.3 more; on a 37 L tank that 54 hp row has and the 58 hp row does not list, 37 ÷ 7.4 ≈ 5.0 mixed units of range per tank on the injection car — tank on the 58 hp row is not measured, so do not invent a range for it.

The 58 hp 1.2 MT also exists as a Manual 4 with the same 1174 cc Carburetor Rear engine and 95 fuel, but 0–100, top speed and consumption there are not measured. Same power, one fewer gear, no stopwatch. Prefer the Manual 5 of that pair if you want the 17 s / 150 / 8.7 numbers attached.

Among the four 54 hp 1198 cc 1.2 MT rows (all 106 Nm at 3000, 4750 rpm, 2 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.3, 76.5 × 86.9, fuel 95, Manual 5), only one has the 14 s / 153 / 8.1 / 5.5 / 7.4 / 37 L / 1240 / 1390 set. The other three share the engine and gearbox; rear suspension Independent, spring and rear Drum are listed on some of them, not on the fully measured row. Chassis completeness and a full performance sheet are different shopping lists inside one name.

Dimensions and weight: clearance is the generation tell

Ground clearance: 178 mm on every 1 generation Coupe, 170 mm on every 2 generation Sedan. That 8 mm is the only dimension measured on all 17 versions. Wheel size is not measured on all 17.

Tank: 37 L on 2 generation 1.2 MT 54 hp (the 14 s row), 1.3 MT 58 hp and 1.3 MT 62 hp. Tank is not measured on the other 14 versions.

Kerb / gross: only two rows. 2 generation 1.2 MT 58 hp: 1290 / 1690. 2 generation 1.2 MT 54 hp (measured): 1240 / 1390. 50 kg lighter kerb on the 54 hp car; 300 kg lighter gross (1690 − 1390). Front brakes are Disc on every version. Rear brakes are Drum where measured (2 generation 1.2 MT 49 hp and some 54 hp rows); otherwise not measured. Front suspension Independent, spring on every version. Rear Independent, spring is listed on some 2 generation 1.0 MT, 1.2 MT 49 hp, some 54 hp 1.2 MT, and 1 generation is not measured at the rear on all five.

Which version to choose

Buy 2 generation Sedan if you want numbers you can check. Every 0–100, top speed, consumption, kerb and tank figure in this catalogue sits here. Clearance is 170 mm. There is no Automatic.

Buy 1 generation Coupe if the body and clearance matter more than a stopwatch. You get 178 mm, 1969–1984, and the only Automatic: 1.1 AT 45 hp, 1068 cc, Carburetor, fuel 80, Automatic 4, RWD. Power matches 2 generation 1.0 MT 45 hp, but 1 generation 1.1 AT uses 63 cc more (1068 vs 1005) and Automatic instead of Manual. 0–100 on 1.1 AT is not measured, so you cannot claim it is slower; you can only say it is the sole Automatic.

Lowest power / simplest gearbox: 1 generation 1.0 MT 39 hp, 988 cc, Manual 3. Next to it, 1 generation 1.0 MT 42 hp, 998 cc, Manual 3 — 3 hp and 10 cc more for the same 3-speed. Specific output 39.5 vs 42.1 hp/L. Fuel on both is not measured.

Entry 2 generation: 1.0 MT 45 hp, 1005 cc, Carburetor, fuel 80, Manual 4. Two rows share that name and 45 hp; one lists rear Independent, spring, the other has rear suspension not measured. Power is 6 hp above 1 generation’s 39 hp 1.0 MT and 3 hp above the 42 hp 1.0 MT, on 17 cc and 7 cc more than those two (1005 − 988 = 17; 1005 − 998 = 7). Fuel 80 is the same grade as 1 generation 1.1 AT.

If you want the highest horsepower: 2 generation 1.3 MT 62 hp, 1289 cc, Distributed injection (multi-point), Manual 5, tank 37 L. Peak rpm 4800. Torque not measured. Fuel not measured. 0–100 not measured. That is 4 hp more than 1.3 MT 58 hp (62 − 58) on the same 1289 cc and the same 37 L tank. The 58 hp 1.3 MT is Carburetor, Front, transverse, 2 valves per cylinder, compression 8.8, 75.5 × 72, fuel 92, 94 Nm at 3000, 5000 rpm. Injection vs carburetor on the 1.3 pair: +4 hp, torque listed only on the carburetor 58 hp row (94 Nm). The 62 hp injection 1.3 MT is the power pick; the 58 hp carburetor 1.3 MT is the only 1.3 with a torque figure.

If you want the highest specific output and the only 3-cylinder: 2 generation 1.2 MT 60 hp, 1198 cc, 108 Nm at 3000, 5200 rpm, 3 Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), compression 10.5, 76.5 × 86.9, fuel 92, Manual 4. Versus the 54 hp 4-cylinder 1198 cc 1.2 MT: +6 hp, +2 Nm, compression 10.5 vs 10.3, fuel 92 vs 95, Manual 4 vs Manual 5, 3 cylinders vs 4. Versus the 62 hp 1.3 MT: −2 hp, 91 cc less, torque 108 Nm measured vs not measured on the 62 hp row. If you rank hp per litre, take the 60 hp 1.2 MT. If you rank peak hp, take the 62 hp 1.3 MT.

If you want a measured sprint and mixed consumption: 2 generation 1.2 MT 54 hp, 1198 cc, 14 s, 153, mixed 7.4, 1240 kg, tank 37 L. Not the most powerful 1.2 MT (that is 60 hp) and not the most powerful 1174 cc 1.2 MT (58 hp), but the only injection 1.2 with a full performance sheet.

If you want measured payload and a Rear engine: 2 generation 1.2 MT 58 hp, 1174 cc, Carburetor, Rear, 17 s, 150, mixed 8.7, 1290 / 1690 kg, fuel 95, Manual 5. Same 58 hp also exists as Manual 4 without the 17 s sheet — take the 5-speed if you want those figures. Compared with 1 generation 1.2 MT 52 hp on the same 1174 cc: +6 hp (58 − 52) and Manual 5 vs Manual 4, Coupe vs Sedan, 178 vs 170 mm. 1 generation’s 52 hp 1.2 MT has no 0–100.

If you want a 5-speed 1174 without the 58 hp claim: 2 generation 1.2 MT 49 hp at 4600, Carburetor, Manual 5, rear Independent, spring, rear Drum. That is 9 hp below the 58 hp 1174 1.2 MT (58 − 49) and 3 hp below 1 generation’s 52 hp 1.2 MT. Fuel not measured. It is the weakest 2 generation 1.2 MT.

1 generation 1.1 MT 48 hp, 1100 cc, 3900 rpm, Carburetor, Manual 4, sits 3 hp above 1.1 AT 45 hp on 32 cc more (1100 − 1068). Automatic vs Manual is the real fork at 1.1: same generation, Coupe, 178 mm, RWD, Carburetor, boost No. Peak rpm is listed only on 1.1 MT.

Reliability and problems are not measured in this dataset. What is measured and can fail differently: Carburetor vs Distributed injection (multi-point); 3 vs 4 gears vs Automatic; Rear vs Front, transverse; fuel 80 / 92 / 95 where listed. Do not treat an unmeasured 0–100 as a defect; it is a gap in the sheet.

Short map: Coupe and 178 mm → 1 generation. Only Automatic → 1.1 AT 45 hp. Least power → 1.0 MT 39 hp. Sedan with a stopwatch → 1.2 MT 54 hp (14 s) or 1.2 MT 58 hp (17 s). Most hp → 1.3 MT 62 hp. Most hp per litre and the 3-cylinder → 1.2 MT 60 hp. Rear engine and 400 kg payload → 1.2 MT 58 hp 1174 cc Manual 5. Same name is not the same version: always keep the horsepower next to 1.0 MT, 1.2 MT and 1.3 MT.