Talbot Solara (1980–1986) Review: Specs, Generations, Best Versions
Overview of the Talbot Solara, a 5-door hatchback built from 1980 to 1986 with 60–90 hp engines, covering its single generation and which versions to choose.
The Talbot Solara is a 5-door hatchback produced from 1980 to 1986, offered with engines spanning 60 to 90 hp, front-wheel drive and manual gearboxes only. It suits drivers looking for a simple, classic European family car from the early 1980s with straightforward mechanicals and modest power outputs.
Talbot Solara generations
1 generation (1980–1986)
The first and only generation of the Talbot Solara was built from 1980 to 1986 exclusively as a 5-door hatchback. Across its production run, the Talbot Solara 1 generation offered 5 modifications, all with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive, with power outputs ranging from 60 to 90 hp. The engine lineup centered on 1.6-litre units: the Talbot Solara 1.6 MT (63 hp) with a 1600 cc engine, the mainstream Talbot Solara 1.6 MT (73 hp) with a 1598 cc engine, and the range-topping Talbot Solara 1.6 MT (90 hp) with a 1587 cc engine. The 30 hp spread between the base and top versions came from different states of tune rather than large differences in displacement — all three notable versions sit within 1587–1600 cc.
Which Talbot Solara to buy
- 1.6 MT (73 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice of the lineup, its 73 hp from a 1598 cc engine places it in the middle of the 60–90 hp range — enough of a step over the base version for everyday driving.
- 1.6 MT (90 hp) (1 generation): the most powerful version, delivering 90 hp from a 1587 cc engine — the top of the entire Solara range and the pick if performance matters.
- 1.6 MT (63 hp) (1 generation): the entry point among the notable versions, with 63 hp from a 1600 cc engine — the simplest configuration in a lineup that is already simple by design.
When buying used, keep in mind that every Talbot Solara is now at least four decades old (production ended in 1986), so condition of the individual car matters far more than the version. The all-manual, front-wheel-drive lineup with a single body style keeps the search simple: the main variable between cars is engine tune, not equipment or drivetrain.
Which Talbot Solara to avoid
The Talbot Solara 1.6 MT (63 hp) is dominated on paper by the 1.6 MT (73 hp): the 73 hp version offers 10 hp more from a nearly identical engine (1598 cc versus 1600 cc), with the same manual gearbox, front-wheel drive and 1980–1986 production years. Unless a specific car's condition tips the balance, the 63 hp version gives less power for the same formula.