Suzuki Carry

Suzuki Carry: which version to buy, and why the numbers pick it

If you are choosing a Suzuki Carry rather than reading a history of it, the short answer from this catalogue is: take the 10 generation (1998–2005) 1.3 MT when you want the strongest engine and the lowest mass per horsepower in the file; take the 8 generation (1985–1991) 0.7 MT 42 hp RWD when you want the lightest 42 hp Carry (600 kg); take the 9 generation (1991–1998) 0.7 MT 5-speed AWD only if y…

If you are choosing a Suzuki Carry rather than reading a history of it, the short answer from this catalogue is: take the 10 generation (1998–2005) 1.3 MT when you want the strongest engine and the lowest mass per horsepower in the file; take the 8 generation (1985–1991) 0.7 MT 42 hp RWD when you want the lightest 42 hp Carry (600 kg); take the 9 generation (1991–1998) 0.7 MT 5-speed AWD only if you need AWD and a fifth gear together. Across all three generations the body is Microvan. There are 12 versions in the data. 0–100, city/highway/mixed consumption, CO2 and eco class are not measured on every version; top speed is measured only on the two 8 generation 1.0 MT lines (115 km/h). Prices are not in this file, so “what you pay extra for” is extra mass, extra gears, AWD, or a larger engine.

Generations: what actually changed when you move year to year

8 generation (1985–1991), Microvan, 7 versions. This is the only generation with both 657 cm³ and 970 cm³ engines, the only one with a measured top speed, and the only one where AWD adds 20 mm of ground clearance (170 mm vs 150 mm on RWD). Every version here uses Distributed injection (multi-point), Central engine placement, Manual 4-speed except the 1.0 AT (Automatic, 3 gears). Power is 38 hp or 42 hp on 0.7, and 45 hp on 1.0.

9 generation (1991–1998), Microvan, 3 versions. The 970 cm³ engine is gone. All three versions are 657 cm³, 42 hp / 31 kW at 5500 rpm, 57 Nm at 4500 rpm (torque peak is 500 rpm later than the 42 hp 8 generation engines, which peak at 4000 rpm). Injection switches to Central injection (single-point or single- point). Ground clearance is one figure for all three: 160 mm — 10 mm more than 8 generation RWD, 10 mm less than 8 generation AWD. The new choices are a 3-speed Automatic (0.7 AT) and a 5-speed Manual AWD (0.7 MT 700 kg).

10 generation (1998–2005), Microvan, 2 versions. Displacement jumps to 1298 cm³ and power to 79 hp / 58 kW at 5700 rpm, 104 Nm at 3000 rpm. Both 1.3 AT and 1.3 MT are RWD only; AWD is not in this generation’s list. Kerb weight is 940 kg on both — 240 kg more than the heaviest 9 generation Carry (700 kg) and 340 kg more than the lightest 8 generation 0.7 RWD (600 kg). Fuel tank is 40 L (was 36 L). Rear suspension label changes from Dependent, leaf spring to Dependent, spring. Front brakes become Ventilated disc. Boost and engine placement are not measured.

Engines and specs (every named version)

Same names are split by power, drive and gear count, because the database repeats 0.7 MT and 1.0 MT.

Specific output from the displacements in the table: 42 hp / 0.657 L = 63.9 hp/L; 38 hp / 0.657 L = 57.8 hp/L; 79 hp / 1.298 L = 60.9 hp/L; 45 hp / 0.970 L = 46.4 hp/L. The 9 generation 42 hp 0.7 MT and 0.7 AT are the densest engines in the file. The 8 generation 1.0 MT / 1.0 AT are the least dense: they add 313 cm³ versus 657 cm³ for only +3 hp versus the 42 hp 0.7 (45 − 42). Torque density: 57 Nm / 0.657 L = 86.8 Nm/L on every 42 hp 0.7; 52 Nm / 0.657 L = 79.1 Nm/L on the 38 hp 0.7; 104 Nm / 1.298 L = 80.1 Nm/L on the 10 generation 1.3.

Bore × stroke: 65 × 66 mm on all 657 cm³ engines; 65.5 × 72 mm on 970 cm³; 74 x 75.5 mm on 1298 cm³.

Performance and economy

0–100 is not measured on any of the 12 versions.

Top speed is 115 km/h on 8 generation 1.0 MT RWD and 1.0 MT AWD. Top speed is not measured on 8 generation 0.7 MT (all four), 1.0 AT, all three 9 generation versions, and both 10 generation 1.3 AT / 1.3 MT.

City, highway and mixed consumption are not measured on any version. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

What you can still compare: mass per horsepower, because kerb weight and hp are in the file for 11 of 12 versions (8 generation 1.0 MT AWD kerb is not measured).

• 8 generation 0.7 MT 42 hp RWD: 600 / 42 = 14.3 kg/hp (best 0.7).
• 8 generation 1.0 MT RWD and 1.0 AT: 650 / 45 = 14.4 kg/hp.
• 9 generation 0.7 MT 4-speed RWD: 650 / 42 = 15.5 kg/hp.
• 9 generation 0.7 AT: 670 / 42 = 16.0 kg/hp.
• 8 generation 0.7 MT 42 hp AWD: 680 / 42 = 16.2 kg/hp.
• 9 generation 0.7 MT 5-speed AWD: 700 / 42 = 16.7 kg/hp.
• 8 generation 0.7 MT 38 hp RWD: 600 / 38 = 15.8 kg/hp.
• 8 generation 0.7 MT 38 hp AWD: 680 / 38 = 17.9 kg/hp (worst measured).
• 10 generation 1.3 MT and 1.3 AT: 940 / 79 = 11.9 kg/hp (best in the whole model).

The 10 generation engine is 79 − 45 = 34 hp above the strongest 8 generation 1.0, and 79 − 42 = 37 hp above every 9 generation Carry. Torque on the 1.3 is 104 − 57 = 47 Nm above the 42 hp 0.7, and it arrives at 3000 rpm instead of 4000–4500 rpm.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.

Tank. 36 L on every 8 and 9 generation version. 40 L on both 10 generation versions (+4 L).

Ground clearance. 8 generation RWD (both 0.7 power levels, 1.0 MT RWD, 1.0 AT): 150 mm. 8 generation AWD (both 0.7 power levels and 1.0 MT AWD): 170 mm. 9 generation (all three): 160 mm. 10 generation (both): 155 mm. AWD versus RWD in 8 generation is +20 mm and +80 kg on the 0.7 lines (680 − 600). In 9 generation AWD does not raise clearance (all 160 mm) and costs 50 kg versus the 4-speed RWD 0.7 MT (700 − 650) or 30 kg versus 0.7 AT (700 − 670).

Kerb and gross. Gross weight is measured only on 8 generation 1.0 MT RWD (1150 kg), 1.0 AT (1150 kg), and both 10 generation versions (1450 kg). Payload from those pairs: 1150 − 650 = 500 kg on those two 1.0 RWD versions; 1450 − 940 = 510 kg on 1.3 AT and 1.3 MT. Gross is not measured on any 0.7, nor on 8 generation 1.0 MT AWD.

9 generation Automatic costs 20 kg versus the 4-speed RWD 0.7 MT (670 vs 650) for the same 42 hp. 8 generation 1.0 AT does not add kerb versus 1.0 MT RWD (both 650 kg).

Which version to choose

If you want the most engine for the mass: 10 generation 1.3 MT. Same 79 hp, 104 Nm, 1298 cm³, 940 kg, 40 L tank, 155 mm clearance and 510 kg payload window as 1.3 AT, but Manual / 5 versus Automatic / 4. That is the only 5-speed RWD Carry in the file besides the 9 generation AWD 0.7 MT. Mass per horsepower is 11.9 kg/hp on both 1.3 versions — 2.4 kg/hp better than the lightest 42 hp 0.7 (14.3). You give up AWD (not listed) and you accept 940 kg instead of 600–700 kg. Engine placement and boost are not measured; injection is Distributed injection (multi-point). Front brakes are Ventilated disc, rear Drum.

If you want Automatic in the later years: 10 generation 1.3 AT. Same numbers as 1.3 MT except Automatic / 4. Versus 9 generation 0.7 AT you gain 37 hp (79 − 42), 47 Nm (104 − 57), one extra Automatic gear (4 vs 3), +4 L tank, +270 kg kerb (940 − 670), and payload is measured (510 kg) where 9 generation gross is not measured. Versus 8 generation 1.0 AT you gain 34 hp (79 − 45); torque on 1.0 AT is not measured.

If you want the lightest 42 hp Carry: 8 generation 0.7 MT 42 hp RWD. 600 kg, 150 mm clearance, Manual / 4, RWD, 57 Nm at 4000 rpm, Distributed injection (multi-point), Central, No boost. It beats the 9 generation 4-speed 0.7 MT by 50 kg (650 − 600) at the same 42 hp. It is 80 kg lighter than the matching 42 hp AWD 0.7 MT in the same generation. 14.3 kg/hp is the best 0.7 figure. Top speed, 0–100 and consumption are not measured. Gross weight is not measured, so payload is not measured.

If you need AWD and 42 hp in 1985–1991: 8 generation 0.7 MT 42 hp AWD. Same engine as the 42 hp RWD sister (42 hp, 57 Nm, 657 cm³), 680 kg, 170 mm clearance — the highest clearance in the file, shared with the 38 hp AWD 0.7 MT and the 1.0 MT AWD. You pay 80 kg and keep 4 gears. Do not take the 38 hp AWD 0.7 MT unless you have no 42 hp example: it is the same 680 kg and 170 mm for 4 hp less, which is why it sits at 17.9 kg/hp.

If you need AWD after 1991: 9 generation 0.7 MT 5-speed AWD. It is the only AWD in 9 generation and the only 5-speed 0.7. 700 kg is the heaviest 9 generation Carry (+50 kg vs 4-speed RWD 0.7 MT, +100 kg vs 8 generation 42 hp RWD). Clearance does not rise with AWD here (160 mm). Injection is Central injection (single-point or single- point). Torque peak is 4500 rpm, 500 rpm later than the 8 generation 42 hp engines.

If you want Automatic without the 1.3: 9 generation 0.7 AT. 42 hp, 3 gears, 670 kg, 160 mm, RWD. Versus 8 generation 1.0 AT you lose 3 hp and 313 cm³, gain 20 kg, and you still have no measured top speed (the 1.0 Automatic also has top speed not measured). The 8 generation 1.0 AT is the Automatic to pick only if you want 970 cm³, 45 hp, 2 valves per cylinder, 150 mm clearance and a measured 500 kg payload (1150 − 650).

If you want the 1.0 litre Carry: 8 generation 1.0 MT RWD, unless you need AWD. 45 hp, 970 cm³, 4 Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, 650 kg, 150 mm, top speed 115 km/h, gross 1150 kg. Specific output is the weakest (46.4 hp/L). 1.0 MT AWD keeps 45 hp and 115 km/h and raises clearance to 170 mm, but kerb, gross and torque are not measured — you cannot compute kg/hp or payload for that line from this file. 1.0 AT matches the RWD MT on kerb (650 kg) and gross (1150 kg) but drops to Automatic / 3 and loses the 115 km/h figure (not measured).

If you only have a 38 hp 0.7: prefer RWD over AWD. 8 generation 0.7 MT 38 hp RWD is 600 kg / 38 hp = 15.8 kg/hp with 150 mm. The 38 hp AWD twin is 80 kg heavier for the same 38 hp / 52 Nm. The 42 hp RWD 0.7 MT in the same generation is the same 600 kg with +4 hp and +5 Nm, so it dominates the 38 hp RWD on arithmetic.

Parts and “truck vs van” from the search list. This catalogue lists Microvan only; it does not split truck and van bodies, does not list lift kits, and does not list engine-swap kits. Engine placement is Central on every 8 and 9 generation version and not measured on 10 generation. Horsepower in the file is 38, 42, 45 or 79 — not a range beyond those four. Reliability, common failures and asking prices are not measured here.

Decision line. Need 79 hp and a measured ~510 kg payload window: 1.3 MT (or 1.3 AT if you want Automatic). Need AWD and 170 mm: 8 generation 42 hp 0.7 MT AWD (or 1.0 MT AWD if you accept unmeasured kerb). Need least mass at 42 hp: 8 generation 42 hp 0.7 MT RWD at 600 kg. Need 5 gears with AWD: 9 generation 0.7 MT AWD at 700 kg. Need 5 gears without AWD: 10 generation 1.3 MT. Every other line is a compromise you can read as kilograms, millimetres and horsepower in the table above.