Which Subaru Domingo version to buy, and why
If you are choosing a Subaru Domingo rather than learning what the model is, the split is simple: first generation (1983-09-01 to 1991-12-31 as a generation window; both listed versions run through 1994-05-31) is the lighter, higher-clearance carbureted pair; second generation (1994-06-01 to 1998-12-31) is the 61 hp injected 1.2-litre family with four drivetrain combinations.
Which Subaru Domingo version to buy, and why
If you are choosing a Subaru Domingo rather than learning what the model is, the split is simple: first generation (1983-09-01 to 1991-12-31 as a generation window; both listed versions run through 1994-05-31) is the lighter, higher-clearance carbureted pair; second generation (1994-06-01 to 1998-12-31) is the 61 hp injected 1.2-litre family with four drivetrain combinations. All six catalogue versions are Microvan. 0–100 km/h, top speed, city/highway/combined mpg, CO2, eco class, gross weight, and wheel sizes are not measured on every version, so those searches cannot be answered with a number from this dataset.
Subaru Domingo specs that actually change between versions
Same-name versions must be kept as in the catalogue. Generation 2 has two 1.2 MT (both 61 hp) and two 1.2 CVT (both 61 hp). Separate them by drive and kerb weight, not by renaming.
| Version | Generation | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive | Kerb kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 MT | 1 | 48 (35 @ 5000) | 80 @ 3200 | 997 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Manual 5 | RWD | 870 |
| 1.2 MT | 1 | 52 (38 @ 4800) | 95 @ 3200 | 1189 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Manual 5 | AWD | 940 |
| 1.2 MT RWD | 2 | 61 (45 @ 5600) | 96 @ 3600 | 1189 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Manual 5 | RWD | 950 |
| 1.2 CVT RWD | 2 | 61 (45 @ 5600) | 96 @ 3600 | 1189 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Variable | RWD | 1000 |
| 1.2 MT AWD | 2 | 61 (45 @ 5600) | 96 @ 3600 | 1189 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Manual 5 | AWD | 1070 |
| 1.2 CVT AWD | 2 | 61 (45 @ 5600) | 96 @ 3600 | 1189 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Variable | AWD | 1090 |
Every engine is Rear-mounted, 4 valves per cylinder, 92 fuel, 40 L tank. Front brakes Ventilated disc, rear Drum. Suspension Independent, spring front and rear. Generation 1 uses Carburetor; generation 2 uses Distributed injection (multi-point). Compression is 9.5 on 1.0 MT and 9.1 on every 1189 cc version. Bore × stroke is 78 × 69.6 on 1.0 MT and 78 × 83 on every 1.2.
Subaru Domingo engine: power per litre and what the 1.2 actually buys
Specific output (hp per litre of displacement):
- Generation 2 1.2 MT / 1.2 CVT (all four): 61 / 1.189 ≈ 51.3 hp/L
- Generation 1 1.0 MT: 48 / 0.997 ≈ 48.1 hp/L
- Generation 1 1.2 MT: 52 / 1.189 ≈ 43.7 hp/L
The later 1189 cc engine is not just larger; it is the densest of the three. Versus generation 1 1.2 MT, generation 2’s 1.2 adds 9 hp (+17.3%) and 1 Nm (96 vs 95). Peak torque arrives later (3600 vs 3200 rpm) and peak power later (5600 vs 4800). Versus 1.0 MT, generation 2 adds 13 hp (+27.1%) and 16 Nm (+20.0%) on 192 extra cc.
If the search is “Subaru Domingo horsepower” or “1997 Subaru Domingo engine”: every 1994-06-01–1998-12-31 version is the same 61 hp / 45 kW / 96 Nm 1189 cc Gasoline Inline-3, No boost. The 1997/1998 calendar years sit inside generation 2 only. Generation 1’s 1.2 MT is a different 52 hp carbureted 1189 cc unit, not a weaker tune of the later engine in this table.
Subaru Domingo weight: kg per horsepower, AWD penalty, CVT penalty
Kerb mass per horsepower (lower is less mass per unit of peak power):
- Generation 2 1.2 MT RWD, 950 kg: 950 / 61 ≈ 15.6 kg/hp (best in the catalogue)
- Generation 2 1.2 CVT RWD, 1000 kg: ≈ 16.4 kg/hp
- Generation 2 1.2 MT AWD, 1070 kg: ≈ 17.5 kg/hp
- Generation 2 1.2 CVT AWD, 1090 kg: ≈ 17.9 kg/hp
- Generation 1 1.2 MT AWD, 940 kg: 940 / 52 ≈ 18.1 kg/hp
- Generation 1 1.0 MT RWD, 870 kg: 870 / 48 ≈ 18.1 kg/hp
What each extra system costs in mass on generation 2 (same 61 hp engine):
- AWD vs RWD on 1.2 MT: 1070 − 950 = +120 kg (+12.6%)
- AWD vs RWD on 1.2 CVT: 1090 − 1000 = +90 kg (+9.0%)
- Variable vs Manual 5 on RWD: 1000 − 950 = +50 kg
- Variable vs Manual 5 on AWD: 1090 − 1070 = +20 kg
- Heaviest vs lightest generation 2: 1090 − 950 = +140 kg (+14.7%)
Generation 1 1.0 MT is the lightest Domingo here at 870 kg, 80 kg under generation 2’s lightest 1.2 MT RWD. Generation 1 1.2 MT AWD at 940 kg is 10 kg lighter than generation 2 1.2 MT RWD and 130 kg lighter than generation 2 1.2 MT AWD — AWD in generation 2 is the heavy combination, not AWD as such.
Gross vehicle weight is not measured on all six versions.
Ground clearance, tank, wheels, dimensions
Ground clearance: 205 mm on both generation 1 versions, 195 mm on all four generation 2 versions (−10 mm). Fuel tank is 40 L on every version. Wheel sizes are not measured. Exterior length/width/height are not measured, so “Subaru Domingo dimensions / size” cannot be filled from this dataset beyond body type Microvan, 195 or 205 mm clearance, and the kerb weights above.
Subaru Domingo mpg and top speed
City, highway, and combined consumption, 0–100, top speed, and CO2 are not measured for 1.0 MT, generation 1 1.2 MT, and all four generation 2 1.2 MT / 1.2 CVT versions. Queries such as 1997/1998 Subaru Domingo mpg or top speed have no figure here. Fuel type is 92 Gasoline throughout; that is the only economy-adjacent fact that is measured.
Subaru Domingo vs itself: generation 1 or generation 2
Choose generation 1 if you want the highest listed clearance (205 mm) and the lowest kerb weights (870 kg 1.0 MT, 940 kg 1.2 MT). Both versions are Manual 5, Carburetor, Rear engine. You give up 9–13 hp versus generation 2’s 61 hp 1.2. Specific output is worse on generation 1 1.2 MT (43.7 hp/L) than on 1.0 MT (48.1 hp/L): the extra 192 cc only adds 4 hp and 15 Nm, so the 1.2 in generation 1 is the torque/displacement choice, not the efficient-power choice.
Choose generation 2 if you want Distributed injection (multi-point), 61 hp / 96 Nm, and a choice of Variable or Manual 5 plus RWD or AWD. Clearance drops 10 mm. The lightest generation 2 van (1.2 MT RWD, 950 kg) still undercuts generation 1 on kg/hp (15.6 vs 18.1). Production of generation 2 is 1994-06-01 to 1998-12-31; generation 1’s listed versions continue to 1994-05-31, so a mid-1994 Domingo in this catalogue is still generation 1 until that stop date.
There is no restyling listed as a separate generation. Generation 1 has 2 versions; generation 2 has 4.
Which version to choose (buy decision from the numbers)
Lightest / best kg per hp: generation 2 `1.2 MT` RWD (950 kg, 61 hp). Manual 5, same engine as the other three generation 2 vans, 140 kg under the `1.2 CVT` AWD. If the van is a city Microvan and AWD is not required, this is the arithmetically strongest pairing of power and mass.
AWD with a manual, later engine: generation 2 `1.2 MT` AWD (1070 kg, 61 hp). You pay 120 kg versus the RWD `1.2 MT` for AWD at the same 61 hp / 96 Nm. Versus generation 1 `1.2 MT` AWD you gain 9 hp and 1 Nm and lose 130 kg of lightness and 10 mm of clearance (1070 vs 940 kg; 195 vs 205 mm).
AWD with Variable: generation 2 `1.2 CVT` AWD (1090 kg). Heaviest Domingo in the table. Versus the AWD `1.2 MT` the Variable gearbox is only +20 kg; versus the RWD `1.2 CVT` it is +90 kg. Same 61 hp engine. Choose this only if you need both AWD and Variable together.
Variable without AWD: generation 2 `1.2 CVT` RWD (1000 kg). +50 kg versus RWD `1.2 MT`, −90 kg versus AWD `1.2 CVT`. Same 61 hp. The mass cost of Variable on RWD is larger than the mass cost of Variable on AWD (50 vs 20 kg).
Smallest engine, highest clearance, lightest overall: generation 1 `1.0 MT` (870 kg, 48 hp, 205 mm, RWD, Manual 5, Carburetor, 997 cc). Worst kg/hp among the six is tied with generation 1 `1.2 MT` at about 18.1 kg/hp, but absolute mass is the catalogue minimum. Bore is the same 78 mm as the 1.2; stroke is shorter (69.6 vs 83).
Generation 1 AWD: `1.2 MT` (940 kg, 52 hp, 205 mm). Only AWD in generation 1. Lighter than every generation 2 AWD by 130–150 kg. Weaker than every generation 2 1.2 by 9 hp. Carburetor, not injection.
Reliability, service, camper, Aladdin, GV, Sambar, Libero
Reliability, service-manual coverage, camper conversions, Aladdin / GV trims, and comparisons to Sambar or Libero are not measured in this dataset. Drive, gearbox, injection vs carburetor, 10 mm of clearance, and 80–220 kg of kerb-weight spread (870 vs 1090) are the differences that are actually listed.
Short rule: same 61 hp 1.2 in all four generation 2 names — buy `1.2 MT` RWD unless you need AWD or Variable; buy generation 1 `1.0 MT` if mass and 205 mm clearance beat 13 extra horsepower; buy generation 1 `1.2 MT` only if you need AWD on the earlier, lighter, carbureted van.