Toyota Cynos

Generations: Coupe first, Cabrio second — what actually changed

What generation two bought you, in arithmetic: body becomes Cabrio; a 1.3 appears that 1 generation never had; peak Cabrio power is 110 hp versus the Coupe’s 115 hp (5 hp less); Cabrio 1.5 torque is 136 Nm versus Coupe 115 hp at 135 Nm (+1 Nm) and versus Coupe 100 hp at 125 Nm (+11 Nm).

1 generation is only Coupe and only 1.5 litres. The six versions are three power steps on the same 1496 cm³ Gasoline Inline 4 (74 × 87, fuel 92): 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT at 100 hp (74 kW) at 6200 rpm and 125 Nm at 3000 rpm, compression 9.4; 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT at 105 hp (85 kW) at 6400 rpm and 126 Nm at 3200 rpm, still 9.4; 1.5 MT / 1.5 AT at 115 hp (85 kW) at 6600 rpm and 135 Nm at 4000 rpm, compression 9.8. Manuals are 5-speed; automatics are 4-speed. Rear suspension is Independent, spring on all six. Kerb weight is 870 kg on both 100 hp and 105 hp 1.5 MT, 890 kg on 115 hp 1.5 MT, 910 kg on both 100 hp and 105 hp 1.5 AT, 930 kg on 115 hp 1.5 AT. Gross weight is not measured. Production ends 1995-08-31.

2 generation is only Cabrio and adds 1.3 engines. Twelve versions run 1995-09-01–1999-12-31; six of them start later, on 1996-09-01. The 1.3 band is 85 hp (63 kW) at 5500 rpm / 117 Nm at 4400 rpm on 1331 cm³, compression 9.6, fuel 92, bore 74 × 77.4; or 88 hp (65 kW) at 6000 rpm / 123 Nm at 4400 rpm, compression 10.5, fuel 95, on either 1299 cm³ (75 × 73.5) or 1331 cm³ (75 × 73.5). The 1.5 Cabrio is 110 hp (81 kW) at 6400 rpm and 136 Nm at 4000 rpm, compression 9.8, 74 × 87 — 1.5 AT on 1496 cm³ fuel 92, 1.5 MT on 1496 cm³ fuel 92 (1995-09 start) or 1497 cm³ fuel 95 (1996-09 start). Automatics on 1.3 are 3-speed; 1.5 AT is 4-speed; manuals stay 5-speed. Rear axle is either Independent, spring or the catalogue string Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem — that split is a real spec difference, not a restyle year.

What generation two bought you, in arithmetic: body becomes Cabrio; a 1.3 appears that 1 generation never had; peak Cabrio power is 110 hp versus the Coupe’s 115 hp (5 hp less); Cabrio 1.5 torque is 136 Nm versus Coupe 115 hp at 135 Nm (+1 Nm) and versus Coupe 100 hp at 125 Nm (+11 Nm). Peak Coupe specific output is 115 / 1.496 = 76.9 hp per litre; peak Cabrio 1.5 is 110 / 1.496 = 73.5 hp per litre. The lightest cars in both generations sit at 870 kg.

Engines and specs

Two 1.3 AT 88 hp rows differ by displacement: 1299 cm³ (start 1996-09-01) versus 1331 cm³ (start 1995-09-01). Two 1.5 MT 110 hp rows differ by 1497 cm³ / fuel 95 versus 1496 cm³ / fuel 92. Two 1.3 MT 85 hp rows differ by kerb 950 kg (1996-09-01) versus 910 kg (1995-09-01). Two 1.3 AT 85 hp rows differ by 980 kg versus 940 kg. Two 1.5 AT 110 hp rows differ by 1040 kg versus 960 kg.

Performance and economy (mpg)

0–100 km/h is not measured on all 18 versions. Top speed is not measured. City, highway and mixed consumption are not measured. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured. A review that quotes a Cynos 0–100 or an mpg figure is using a number this catalogue does not have.

What can be ranked without those figures:

• Specific power: 1 generation 1.5 MT 115 hp = 76.9 hp/L; 1.5 MT 105 hp = 70.2 hp/L; 1.5 MT 100 hp = 66.8 hp/L. 2 generation 1.5 MT 110 hp = 73.5 hp/L (1496 or 1497 cm³). 1.3 MT 88 hp on 1299 cm³ = 67.7 hp/L; 1.3 MT 88 hp on 1331 cm³ = 66.1 hp/L; 1.3 MT 85 hp on 1331 cm³ = 63.9 hp/L — the weakest specific output in the model.
• Torque peak rpm: Coupe 100 hp pulls 125 Nm at 3000 rpm; Coupe 105 hp pulls 126 Nm at 3200 rpm; every 110/115 hp 1.5 and the 88 hp 1.3 wait until 4000–4400 rpm. The 100 hp Coupe is the earliest torque peak in the data.
• Gearbox cost in ratios, not in money: a 1.3 Automatic is 3-speed; a 1.5 Automatic is 4-speed in both generations. Stepping from 1.3 AT to 1.5 AT buys one extra ratio plus 22–25 hp, not only displacement.
• Fuel grade: 95 appears only on selected 2 generation 88 hp 1.3 cars and on the 1497 cm³ 1.5 MT; every 1 generation 1.5 and the 85 hp / most 110 hp Cabrio cars use 92.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is 140 mm on every version. Tank is 45 L on every version. Wheel sizes are not measured.

Kerb and kg per hp (where kerb is measured):

2 generation Cabrio

• 1.3 MT 88 hp, 1299 cm³, 870 kg, gross 1090 kg → 9.89 kg/hp (start 1996-09-01)
• 1.3 AT 88 hp, 1299 cm³, kerb not measured, gross 1090 kg
• 1.3 AT 85 hp, 1331 cm³, 980 kg, gross not measured → 11.53 kg/hp (1996-09-01)
• 1.3 MT 85 hp, 1331 cm³, 950 kg, gross not measured → 11.18 kg/hp (1996-09-01)
• 1.5 AT 110 hp, 1496 cm³, 1040 kg, gross not measured → 9.45 kg/hp (1996-09-01)
• 1.5 MT 110 hp, 1497 cm³, 920 kg, gross 1140 kg → 8.36 kg/hp (1996-09-01)
• 1.3 MT 85 hp, 1331 cm³, 910 kg, gross not measured → 10.71 kg/hp (1995-09-01)
• 1.3 AT 85 hp, 1331 cm³, 940 kg, gross not measured → 11.06 kg/hp (1995-09-01)
• 1.3 AT 88 hp, 1331 cm³, kerb not measured, gross 1090 kg (1995-09-01)
• 1.3 MT 88 hp, 1331 cm³, 870 kg, gross 1090 kg → 9.89 kg/hp (1995-09-01)
• 1.5 AT 110 hp, 1496 cm³, 960 kg, gross not measured → 8.73 kg/hp (1995-09-01)
• 1.5 MT 110 hp, 1496 cm³, 920 kg, gross not measured → 8.36 kg/hp (1995-09-01)

1 generation Coupe

• 1.5 MT 100 hp, 870 kg → 8.70 kg/hp
• 1.5 AT 100 hp, 910 kg → 9.10 kg/hp
• 1.5 MT 105 hp, 870 kg → 8.29 kg/hp
• 1.5 AT 105 hp, 910 kg → 8.67 kg/hp
• 1.5 AT 115 hp, 930 kg → 8.09 kg/hp
• 1.5 MT 115 hp, 890 kg → 7.74 kg/hp

Gross weight is measured only on some Cabrio rows: 1090 kg on the 88 hp 1.3 cars that list it, 1140 kg on the 1497 cm³ 1.5 MT. Payload on the 870 kg / 1090 kg 1.3 MT 88 hp is 220 kg; on the 920 kg / 1140 kg 1.5 MT 110 hp it is 220 kg as well. Heaviest measured kerb is the 1996-09 1.5 AT 110 hp at 1040 kg — 170 kg above the lightest Cabrio.

Which version to choose

Want a convertible (Cabrio). Stay in 2 generation. The 110 hp 1.5 MT is the Cabrio to buy if power and mass both matter: 110 hp, 136 Nm, 920 kg, 8.36 kg/hp. Versus the 85 hp 1.3 MT that is 950 kg (1996-09), that is +25 hp (+29%) and −30 kg. Versus the 85 hp 1.3 MT at 910 kg (1995-09), it is still +25 hp and only +10 kg. Versus the 88 hp 1.3 MT at 870 kg, you pay 50 kg for 22 hp (110 − 88) and 13 Nm (136 − 123). The 1996-09 1.5 MT uses 1497 cm³ and fuel 95; the 1995-09 1.5 MT uses 1496 cm³ and fuel 92 at the same 110 hp / 920 kg — same weight-to-power, different fuel grade and 1 cm³.

If the Cabrio must be Automatic, do not buy a 3-speed 1.3 AT unless 85–88 hp is enough. 1.5 AT 110 hp is the only Cabrio Automatic with 4 speeds. Prefer the 1995-09 1.5 AT at 960 kg (8.73 kg/hp) over the 1996-09 1.5 AT at 1040 kg (9.45 kg/hp): same 110 hp, 136 Nm, 1496 cm³, fuel 92, but 80 kg less. That 80 kg is 8.3% of 960 kg and is the largest same-name weight gap in the Cabrio 1.5 Automatic pair.

Want the lightest Cabrio. 1.3 MT 88 hp at 870 kg (both the 1299 cm³ 1996-09 car and the 1331 cm³ 1995-09 car). That is 9.89 kg/hp — lighter than every 85 hp 1.3, and 50 kg under the 110 hp 1.5 MT. The 88 hp engine’s extra 3 hp and 6 Nm over the 85 hp 1.3 come with compression 10.5 versus 9.6 and fuel 95 versus 92. Do not pick 1.3 AT 88 hp for a weight argument: kerb is not measured on either 88 hp Automatic.

Avoid if the goal is power per kilogram. The 1996-09 1.3 AT 85 hp at 980 kg is 11.53 kg/hp, worst measured ratio in the model. The matching 1.3 MT at 950 kg is 11.18 kg/hp. The 1995-09 85 hp pair (910 / 940 kg) is better, still far behind any 1.5.

Want a Coupe, not a Cabrio. Only 1 generation. Buy 1.5 MT 115 hp: 115 hp, 135 Nm, 890 kg, 7.74 kg/hp, compression 9.8, peak at 6600 rpm. That is the best kg/hp in the entire Cynos list. It is 5 hp above the Cabrio 1.5 (115 vs 110) and 25 hp above the Cabrio 85 hp 1.3. Versus the same-generation 1.5 MT 100 hp at the same 870 kg, you accept 20 kg extra (890 vs 870) for 15 hp and 10 Nm (135 vs 125) and a later torque peak (4000 vs 3000 rpm). Versus 1.5 MT 105 hp at 870 kg, you accept 20 kg for 10 hp and 9 Nm (135 vs 126).

If the Coupe must be Automatic, 1.5 AT 115 hp at 930 kg (8.09 kg/hp) beats 1.5 AT 105 hp and 1.5 AT 100 hp, both 910 kg: +20 kg buys +10 or +15 hp. All three Coupe Automatics are 4-speed.

1.5 MT 105 hp versus 100 hp (Coupe). Same 870 kg Manual, same 1496 cm³, same 9.4 compression, same fuel 92. The step is +5 hp, +1 Nm, peak power 6400 instead of 6200, torque 3200 instead of 3000. Specific output moves from 66.8 to 70.2 hp/L. If those 5 hp are not worth hunting a separate 1.5 MT row, the 100 hp car is the simpler 1.5. The Automatic pair is identical in weight (910 kg) with the same +5 hp gap.

Cabrio 1.5 versus Coupe 1.5. Body is the real split. On paper the Coupe 115 hp 1.5 MT (890 kg) still beats the Cabrio 110 hp 1.5 MT (920 kg) by 5 hp and 30 kg. The Cabrio 110 hp 1.5 AT at 960 kg is 70 kg heavier than the Coupe 115 hp 1.5 AT at 930 kg. Choose generation by Coupe vs Cabrio first, then pick the highest hp Manual in that body.

Toyota Cynos 1996 / 1997 specs. Calendar 1996 covers late 2 generation cars already on sale from 1995-09-01 plus the 1996-09-01 batch. A 1996 Cabrio can be any of the twelve 2 generation names; confirm hp (85 / 88 / 110), gearbox (Manual 5 vs Automatic 3 or 4), and whether kerb is 870, 910, 920, 940, 950, 960, 980 or 1040 kg. Year alone does not pick a version.

Reliability and problems. No failure rates, recall counts or service intervals are in this dataset; they are not measured here. Chassis layout is consistent (Independent, spring front; Ventilated disc / Drum; FWD). The only hardware fork to inspect on a Cabrio is rear suspension: Independent, spring versus Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem — the 88 hp 1.3 cars and the 1497 cm³ 1.5 MT use the latter string; several 85 hp 1.3 and 110 hp 1.5 cars use Independent, spring at the rear.

Short list

1. Cabrio, most power, Manual: 2 generation 1.5 MT 110 hp, 920 kg. 2. Cabrio, Automatic: 2 generation 1.5 AT 110 hp at 960 kg (not the 1040 kg row). 3. Cabrio, lightest: 2 generation 1.3 MT 88 hp, 870 kg. 4. Coupe, most power per kilogram: 1 generation 1.5 MT 115 hp, 890 kg. 5. Coupe, Automatic: 1 generation 1.5 AT 115 hp, 930 kg. 6. Skip if you can: 2 generation 1.3 AT 85 hp at 980 kg — same 3-speed Automatic as the 88 hp 1.3 AT, 3 hp less, heaviest 1.3.

Prices and “for sale” listings are not in this catalogue; the extra you “pay” between versions is hp, Nm, ratios and kilograms, which are the only currencies the data gives.