Toyota Corsa

Toyota Corsa: generations compared: what actually changed

The data lists six generation records (the model field says six; nothing extra is invented). Dates, body and tank size are the clean generation-level differences.

The data lists six generation records (the model field says six; nothing extra is invented). Dates, body and tank size are the clean generation-level differences.

Arithmetic on those spans: 4 generation petrol peak (115 hp) is 21 hp above 5 generation / restyle peak (94 hp), and 35 hp above 1 generation (80 hp). 2 generation peak (86 hp) is 6 hp above 1 generation. Diesel stays 67 hp from 4 generation through restyle; only the peak-power rpm of that diesel changes (4500 in 4 generation, 4200 later).

Do not treat “5 generation” and “5 generation, restyling” as the same listing: restyle adds a 1331 cc 85 hp 1.3 (compression 9.6, 92 gasoline) that 5 generation does not list, and restyle AWD 1.5 AT kerb is 1080 kg versus 1040 kg on 5 generation 1.5 AT 91 hp AWD (+40 kg).

Specs: engines, gearbox, drive (every listed version)

All listed engines are 4 Inline, Front, transverse, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point) except where boost is Turbo on diesel. Distinguish same names by horsepower.

5 generation, restyling (Sedan)

The restyle 1.3 88 hp (1299 cc, compression 10.5, bore/stroke 75 × 73.5) is 3 hp and 6 Nm above the restyle 1.3 85 hp (1331 cc, compression 9.6, 74 × 77.4) despite 32 cc less displacement: 67.7 hp/L versus 63.9 hp/L. The 85 hp Automatic is the only restyle petrol with 3 gears. Two extra 1.3 AT / 1.3 MT 88 hp rows repeat the 1299 cc engine but with tank not measured.

5 generation (Sedan)

Inside 5 generation, 1.3 MT5 versus 1.3 MT4 is the same 88 hp and 1331 cc but +8 Nm (123 vs 115), 95 instead of 92, 5 gears instead of 4, and ground clearance 160 mm instead of 150 mm. 1.3 AT4 versus 1.3 AT3 is the same torque/fuel/clearance split with 4 gears versus 3.

4 generation (Sedan) — the high-output petrol cluster

1.5 MT 115 hp is 76.9 hp/L; restyle 1.5 MT 94 hp is 62.8 hp/L (−14.1 hp/L). Same-name 1.5 MT 100 hp must be split: AWD 1496 cc 126 Nm 92 versus FWD 1498 cc 130 Nm 95. 1.5 MT 115 hp makes 5 Nm more than 1.5 AT 115 hp (140 vs 135) and uses 95 versus 92.

2 generation, 1 generation, 3 generation

2 generation Sedan: 1.3 MT/1.3 AT 64 hp (1295 cc, 94 Nm); 1.3 MT/1.3 AT 75 hp (107 Nm); 1.5 MT/1.5 AT 70 hp FWD and 1.5 MT/1.5 AT 70 hp AWD (1452 cc, 107 Nm); 1.5 MT/1.5 AT 83 hp (118 Nm); 1.5 MT 86 hp (121 Nm); extra 1.3 MT 75 hp. Automatics here are 3-speed; AWD manuals are 5-speed, FWD 1.3 manuals 4-speed. Boost No, fuel 92, Gasoline.

1 generation Sedan 2-doors: only 1.5 MT and 1.5 AT, both 80 hp / 58 kW @ 5600, 118 Nm, 1452 cc, 92, FWD. 1.5 AT is Automatic 3; 1.5 MT is Manual 5. Same 830 kg.

3 generation Mini 5-doors: 1.3 AT and 1.3 MT, both 73 hp / 53 kW @ 6000, 101 Nm, 1296 cc, 92, FWD. 1.3 MT here is Manual 3 — the only 3-speed manual in the whole Corsa table.

Performance and mpg

0–100, top speed, city / highway / mixed consumption: not measured on all 52 listed versions. That is not an omission in the catalogue: the fields are empty.

What you can still rank without those figures is specific output and torque. Diesel 1.5 67 hp has the highest listed torque among late cars (137 Nm) but the lowest petrol-comparable specific output (46.1 hp/L). 4 generation 1.5 MT 115 hp has 140 Nm — 3 Nm above the diesel — at 76.9 hp/L. Restyle 1.5 MT 94 hp sits at 132 Nm. 2 generation 1.3 64 hp is the weakest petrol (94 Nm, 49.4 hp/L).

Dimensions and weight: kg per horsepower

Wheel size: not measured on all versions. Gross weight: not measured on all versions. Tank is 50 L on 1 generation and 2 generation, 45 L from 3 generation onward (and not measured on some 1.3 1299 cc rows in 5 generation and restyle). Ground clearance, where measured, is 150, 155, 160 or 165 mm; not measured on 3 generation and on several 2 generation rows.

Kerb weight vs power (only where kerb is measured):

AWD versus FWD on the same 1496 cc 91/94 hp family, restyle: 1.5 MT AWD 91 hp is 70 kg heavier than 1.5 MT FWD 94 hp and 3 hp down. Automatic versus manual, restyle 1.5 94 hp: +20 kg (960 vs 940). Automatic versus manual, restyle AWD 91 hp: +70 kg (1080 vs 1010). 5 generation AWD 1.5 AT 91 hp is 40 kg lighter than the restyle equivalent (1040 vs 1080). 2 generation 1.5 MT AWD 70 hp is 90 kg heavier than 2 generation 1.5 MT FWD 70 hp (950 vs 860).

Front brakes are Ventilated disc and rear Drum where listed. Front suspension is Independent, spring. Rear suspension is Independent, spring on many 5 generation / restyle 1.3 85 hp and 1.5 rows, and not measured on several 1.3 88 hp restyle rows.

Which version to choose

Want the most hp per kilo. 4 generation 1.5 MT 115 hp FWD: 840 kg, 140 Nm, 95 gasoline, 5-speed Manual, clearance 160 mm. That is 21 hp more than any 5 generation or restyle petrol, at the same 840 kg as restyle 1.3 MT 88 hp. If you need Automatic in that cluster, 1.5 AT 115 hp is 100 kg heavier (940 kg) and 5 Nm down, on 92 gasoline.

Want 4 generation without the 115 hp peak. 1.5 MT 105 hp matches the 840 kg / 160 mm / 95 / 5-speed pattern at 8.0 kg/hp. 1.3 MT 97 hp is the strongest 1.3 in the whole model (97 hp vs restyle 88 or 85): +9 hp versus restyle 1.3 MT 88 hp at identical 840 kg.

Want AWD. Only 1.5 engines. Strongest AWD petrol is 4 generation 1.5 MT 100 hp (950 kg, 126 Nm, 155 mm, 92). Late AWD is weaker and heavier: restyle 1.5 MT 91 hp is 60 kg heavier than that 4 generation AWD manual and 9 hp down. Avoid restyle 1.5 AT 91 hp AWD if weight is the constraint: 1080 kg is the highest kerb in the table.

Want a late (1997–1999) daily FWD petrol. Restyle 1.5 MT 94 hp: highest restyle petrol power, 940 kg, 150 mm, 92, 5-speed. Restyle 1.3 MT 88 hp (1299 cc, 95, 160 mm, 840 kg) is 100 kg lighter and 6 hp down — better kg/hp (9.5 vs 10.0) if 95 fuel is acceptable. Do not pick restyle 1.3 AT 85 hp for performance: 3-speed Automatic, 950 kg, 11.2 kg/hp, 150 mm.

Want diesel. Same 67 hp / 137 Nm / Turbo / 1453 cc from 4 generation through restyle. Choose Manual 5 over Automatic 4 on weight: restyle 1.5 MT 67 hp is 930 kg versus 970 kg for 1.5 AT 67 hp. 5 generation diesel manual is lighter still (880 kg). Peak rpm is 4500 in 4 generation and 4200 later — not a power change.

Want the two-door. Only 1 generation: 1.5 MT or 1.5 AT, identical 80 hp and 830 kg. The Manual 5 versus Automatic 3 is the whole choice; tank 50 L is 5 L larger than later generations.

Want five doors. Only 3 generation Mini 5-doors: 1.3 MT or 1.3 AT, both 73 hp / 850 kg / tank 45 L. The 1.3 MT 3-speed is not comparable to later 5-speed 1.3 manuals.

What “moving up” a size buys in numbers (restyle FWD). 1.3 MT 88 hp → 1.5 MT 94 hp: +6 hp, +9 Nm, +197 cc, +100 kg, clearance 160 → 150 mm, fuel 95 → 92. 1.5 MT 94 hp → 1.5 MT 91 hp AWD: −3 hp, −3 Nm, +70 kg, same 1496 cc. Automatic on that AWD then adds another 70 kg.

Reliability and used-market “problems” are not measured in this dataset; the comparison above is only the numbered spec differences.