Toyota MasterAce Surf

Which MasterAce Surf version to buy

All eight catalogue names are 2.0 MT or 2.0 AT. Two Gasoline manuals share the name 2.0 MT at 79 hp; two Gasoline automatics share 2.0 AT at 97 hp; four Diesels share 2.0 AT (83 hp) or 2.0 MT (83 hp). Distinguish them by power, fuel, and drive — not by renaming them.

All eight catalogue names are 2.0 MT or 2.0 AT. Two Gasoline manuals share the name 2.0 MT at 79 hp; two Gasoline automatics share 2.0 AT at 97 hp; four Diesels share 2.0 AT (83 hp) or 2.0 MT (83 hp). Distinguish them by power, fuel, and drive — not by renaming them.

The three engines, ranked by numbers

Power per litre (arithmetic on the given displacements):

• 2.0 AT 97 hp Gasoline: 97 / 1.998 = 48.5 hp per litre — the densest of the three.
• 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 83 hp Diesel: 83 / 1.975 = 42.0 hp per litre.
• 2.0 MT 79 hp Gasoline: 79 / 1.974 = 40.0 hp per litre — the thinnest.

The 97 hp 2.0 AT makes 18 hp more than the 79 hp 2.0 MT (+22.8%) on only 24 cc more displacement (1998 vs 1974). Versus the Diesel it is 14 hp more (+16.9%) on 23 cc more (1998 vs 1975).

The Diesel’s advantage is torque and where it arrives: 174 Nm at 2000 rpm versus 160 Nm at 3800 rpm on the 97 hp Gasoline 2.0 AT. That is +14 Nm (+8.8%) at 1800 rpm lower. Torque on the 79 hp 2.0 MT is not measured, so it cannot be ranked against the other two on that axis.

The Diesel is the only boosted unit (Turbo). Both Gasoline engines list boost as No. Compression is 9 on the 97 hp Gasoline 2.0 AT and 23 on the 83 hp Diesel; it is not measured on the 79 hp 2.0 MT. Bore × stroke is 86 × 86 on the 97 hp Gasoline and 86 × 85 on the Diesel; not measured on the 79 hp Gasoline. Valves per cylinder: 4 on the 97 hp Gasoline and on the Diesel; not measured on the 79 hp Gasoline. Engine position is given only for the Diesel: Front, transverse. Gasoline position is not measured. Fuel: Gasoline versions use 92; Diesels use Diesel. Injection is Distributed injection (multi-point) on both Gasoline engines; Diesel injection is not measured.

Manual vs Automatic — what the extra ratio count buys

There is no 97 hp Manual in this data. The peak-power Gasoline is only 2.0 AT (Automatic, 4). If peak horsepower is the priority, the gearbox is already chosen.

The 79 hp Gasoline exists only as 2.0 MT (Manual, 5). There is no 79 hp Automatic.

The Diesel exists both ways: 2.0 MT (Manual, 5) and 2.0 AT (Automatic, 4), same 83 hp and 174 Nm. The Manual has one extra ratio (5 vs 4). Power, torque, displacement, boost, and clearance do not change with the gearbox.

RWD vs AWD — same engine, same clearance

Every engine is offered in RWD and AWD. Ground clearance is 180 mm on all eight versions. Front suspension is Independent, spring on all eight. Front brakes are Disc on all eight. Rear suspension, rear brakes, kerb weight, gross weight, tank, and wheels are not measured on every version, so AWD cannot be scored as “heavier” from this catalogue. The drive letter is the only measured difference between paired twins.

Choose AWD when the use case needs all-wheel drive; choose RWD when it does not. The data do not assign a weight or economy penalty to either.

Performance, mpg, dimensions — what is not measured

0–100, top speed, city / highway / combined consumption, CO2, eco class: not measured on all eight versions. No version can be picked as “faster to 100” or “better mpg” from these figures.

Kerb weight, gross weight, tank, wheel sizes: not measured on all eight. Weight per horsepower cannot be calculated. Ground clearance is the only dimension that is measured: 180 mm across the board, so no version is the “high-clearance” special.

Which version to choose — decision order

1. Need the most horsepower in this catalogue. Take 2.0 AT at 97 hp / 71 kW (Gasoline, 1998 cc, 160 Nm at 3800 rpm, Automatic 4). Then pick AWD or RWD. This is the only 97 hp pair. It is also the only Gasoline with measured torque, compression 9, 4 valves per cylinder, and 86 × 86 bore × stroke.

2. Need the most torque, and torque at low rpm. Take the 83 hp Diesel: 174 Nm at 2000 rpm, Turbo, 1975 cc, compression 23. Then choose 2.0 MT (Manual, 5) if you want five gears, or 2.0 AT (Automatic, 4) if you want four. Then AWD or RWD. Power is 14 hp below the 97 hp Gasoline and 4 hp above the 79 hp Gasoline.

3. Need a Gasoline Manual. The only option is 2.0 MT at 79 hp / 58 kW, 1974 cc, boost No, Manual 5. Torque, rpm, valves, compression, and bore × stroke are not measured. Then AWD or RWD. This is the lowest power in the set (18 hp below the 97 hp 2.0 AT, 4 hp below the Diesel).

4. Do not choose by generation, restyle, 0–100, mpg, or weight. There is 1 generation (1982–1991), Minivan, 8 versions, no second generation to compare, and no restyling split in the data. Acceleration, consumption, and mass are not measured.

Short pairing:

• Highway / peak power → 2.0 AT 97 hp Gasoline, RWD or AWD.
• Load / low-rpm pull → Diesel 2.0 MT or 2.0 AT 83 hp, RWD or AWD.
• Gasoline and a clutch → 2.0 MT 79 hp, RWD or AWD.

No prices are in the data, so “what the extra money buys” can only mean what the extra horsepower, newton-metres, gears, or drive buy: +18 hp from 79 hp 2.0 MT to 97 hp 2.0 AT; +14 Nm and Turbo from the 97 hp Gasoline to the 83 hp Diesel; +1 gear from any Automatic 4 to the matching Manual 5 (Diesel and 79 hp Gasoline only).