Vauxhall Tigra

Which Vauxhall Tigra to buy: Mk1 Coupe vs Mk2 TwinTop, engine by engine

If the question is which Vauxhall Tigra to buy, the data splits the choice in two: the 1 generation Coupe (1994–2001, three versions) or the 2 generation Roadster (2004–2009, four versions). Same name, different body, different mass, and a different fastest car in each generation.

If the question is which Vauxhall Tigra to buy, the data splits the choice in two: the 1 generation Coupe (1994–2001, three versions) or the 2 generation Roadster (2004–2009, four versions). Same name, different body, different mass, and a different fastest car in each generation. The rest of this page is the arithmetic on those seven versions — 1.4 AT, 1.4 MT, 1.6 MT in generation 1; 1.3 MT, 1.4 AT, 1.4 MT, 1.8 MT in generation 2 — using only the measured figures.

Mk1 vs Mk2: what actually changed between generations

1 generation is a Coupe. 2 generation is a Roadster (the convertible TwinTop people search for). Production is not continuous: 1994–2001, then 2004–2009.

Where kerb weight is measured, the Roadster is heavier. 1.4 MT in generation 1 is 980 kg; the same-named 1.4 MT in generation 2 is 1165 kg — 185 kg more. 1.6 MT (generation 1) is 1000 kg; 1.8 MT (generation 2) is 1165 kg — 165 kg more. Ground clearance rises from 130 mm to 140 mm. The fuel tank shrinks from 46 L to 45 L. Gross weight rises from 1330 kg (1.4 AT / 1.4 MT) or 1350 kg (1.6 MT) to 1450 kg (1.3 MT, 1.4 AT, 1.4 MT) or 1480 kg (1.8 MT).

Chassis layout also changes at the rear. Generation 1 uses Independent, spring suspension at both ends. Generation 2 keeps Independent, spring at the front and switches the rear to Semi-independent, spring. Front brakes go from Disc (generation 1; the English label in the data is Disc) to Ventilated disc (generation 2). Rear brakes stay Drum in every version.

So the extra mass of the Roadster is not free: same 90 hp on 1.4 MT is slower in generation 2 (12.4 s to 100 km/h versus 11 s; 180 km/h versus 190 km/h). If you want the Coupe shape and the lightest measured Tigra, generation 1 is the only place it exists.

Engines and specs: every version, named as in the catalogue

All seven engines are 4-cylinder Inline, Front, transverse, FWD. Gasoline versions use Distributed injection (multi-point) and 95. The diesel is Turbo. Gearboxes are Manual or Automatic as named.

Two versions share the name 1.4 AT and two share 1.4 MT. They are not the same engine: generation 1 is 1389 cc, peak power at 6000 rpm, compression 10, bore × stroke 77 × 73.4; generation 2 is 1364 cc, peak power at 5600 rpm, compression 10.5, bore × stroke 73.4 × 80.6. Both make 90 hp and 125 Nm. Distinguish them by generation and by displacement, not by the name string.

Specific output (hp per litre of displacement):

• 1.3 MT (2 generation): 70 / 1.248 ≈ 56.1 hp/L
• 1.4 AT / 1.4 MT (1 generation): 90 / 1.389 ≈ 64.8 hp/L
• 1.4 AT / 1.4 MT (2 generation): 90 / 1.364 ≈ 66.0 hp/L
• 1.6 MT (1 generation): 106 / 1.598 ≈ 66.3 hp/L
• 1.8 MT (2 generation): 125 / 1.796 ≈ 69.6 hp/L

The diesel is the least power-dense; 1.8 MT is the most. Torque tells a different story: 1.3 MT makes 170 Nm at 1750 rpm — 5 Nm more than 1.8 MT (165 Nm at 4000) and 22 Nm more than 1.6 MT (148 Nm at 4000), at less than half the engine speed.

Performance, mpg, and 0–100: what the extra displacement buys

Fuel figures are L/100 km. Generation 1 mpg is not measured on all three versions — there is no catalogue consumption number to compare Mk1 with Mk2 on economy.

Inside generation 1, stepping from 1.4 MT to 1.6 MT is +16 hp, +23 Nm, +209 cc, 1 s quicker to 100 km/h (11 → 10), and +13 km/h top speed (190 → 203). Automatic 1.4 AT versus manual 1.4 MT on the same 90 hp engine: +3 s to 100 (14 vs 11) and −8 km/h top speed (182 vs 190). That is the cost of the 4-speed Automatic on the Coupe.

Inside generation 2, 1.4 MT versus 1.4 AT (both 90 hp, both 5-speed): the Automatic is 1.0 s slower to 100 (13.4 vs 12.4) and 2 km/h slower on top (178 vs 180). Mixed consumption is the same 6 L/100 km; city is 8 vs 8.1; highway is 4.9 vs 5. The automatic here is not a large economy penalty on the measured mixed figure.

1.8 MT versus 1.4 MT (generation 2): +35 hp, +40 Nm, +432 cc, 3.0 s quicker (9.4 vs 12.4), +24 km/h top speed (204 vs 180). Mixed consumption rises from 6.0 to 7.7 — +1.7 L/100 km. City rises 8.1 → 10.9 (+2.8); highway 5.0 → 5.8 (+0.8). You pay most of the extra fuel in town.

1.3 MT versus 1.4 MT (generation 2): −20 hp, but +45 Nm and peak torque 2250 rpm earlier. It is the slowest Tigra in the table: 15.5 s and 167 km/h. Mixed 4.6 versus 6.0 is 1.4 L/100 km less; city 5.8 versus 8.1 is 2.3 L/100 km less; highway 3.9 versus 5.0 is 1.1 L/100 km less. On a 45 L tank that is the only diesel, mixed range arithmetic is 45 / 4.6 ≈ 978 km versus 45 / 6.0 = 750 km for either 1.4 gasoline Roadster — about 228 km more per tank on the mixed figure.

1.8 MT (generation 2) versus 1.6 MT (generation 1): the Roadster’s fastest petrol is 19 hp up on the Coupe’s fastest, 0.6 s quicker (9.4 vs 10), and 1 km/h faster (204 vs 203) despite 165 kg more kerb weight. Specific output is higher (69.6 vs 66.3 hp/L). If the decision is “fastest Tigra in the catalogue,” it is 1.8 MT in generation 2, not 1.6 MT.

Weight, kg per hp, tank, clearance (dimensions people search)

Wheel sizes are not measured on every version.

Lightest measured Tigra: 1.4 MT generation 1 at 980 kg. Heaviest measured kerb is a three-way tie at 1165 kg (1.3 MT, 1.4 MT, 1.8 MT generation 2). Best measured power-to-weight is 1.8 MT at 9.32 kg/hp, then 1.6 MT at 9.43 kg/hp — almost the same ratio, 165 kg apart. Worst is the diesel: 16.64 kg/hp, which matches the 15.5 s sprint.

Gross weight of 1.8 MT is 1480 kg, 30 kg above the other generation 2 versions (1450 kg). Payload from measured kerb: 1.4 MT gen 1 = 1330 − 980 = 350 kg; 1.6 MT = 1350 − 1000 = 350 kg; 1.3 MT / 1.4 MT gen 2 = 1450 − 1165 = 285 kg; 1.8 MT = 1480 − 1165 = 315 kg. The Coupe carries more spare mass on the figures we have.

Which version to choose

Want a Coupe (Mk1), not a convertible. Only generation 1. Then:

• 1.4 MT if mass is the criterion: 980 kg, 90 hp, 11 s, 190 km/h. Lightest Tigra measured.
• 1.6 MT if the Coupe should be as quick as this generation gets: 106 hp, 10 s, 203 km/h, 9.43 kg/hp. Versus 1.4 MT that is +16 hp for +20 kg and 1 s / 13 km/h.
• 1.4 AT only if you need Automatic: same 90 hp as 1.4 MT, 4-speed instead of 5, 14 s and 182 km/h. Kerb weight not measured; consumption not measured.

Want a Roadster / TwinTop convertible (Mk2), including a 2009 car. Only generation 2 (2004–2009). Then:

• 1.8 MT if the point is speed: 125 hp, 9.4 s, 204 km/h, 9.32 kg/hp. Fastest 0–100 and highest top speed in the whole Tigra table. Mixed 7.7 L/100 km is the highest measured consumption.
• 1.4 MT if you want the default gasoline Roadster: 90 hp, 12.4 s, 180 km/h, mixed 6.0. Same kerb as 1.8 MT (1165 kg), so the 1.8’s advantage is purely the engine.
• 1.4 AT if the Roadster must be Automatic: 5-speed Automatic, 13.4 s, 178 km/h, mixed still 6.0. Kerb not measured. Versus generation 1’s 1.4 AT, this automatic is 0.6 s quicker and 4 km/h slower, on a 5-speed instead of 4, and 25 cc smaller.
• 1.3 MT if mixed mpg is the criterion: 4.6 L/100 km, 170 Nm at 1750 rpm, 70 hp. Slowest car here (15.5 s, 167 km/h) and worst kg/hp (16.64). It is the only Diesel and the only Turbo.

Want the best kg/hp in the catalogue. 1.8 MT (9.32) narrowly beats 1.6 MT (9.43). Both beat 1.4 MT generation 1 (10.89). The Roadster diesel is not in that conversation.

Want torque without chasing peak hp. 1.3 MT (170 Nm @ 1750) then 1.8 MT (165 Nm @ 4000) then 1.6 MT (148 Nm @ 4000). The 90 hp 1.4s are all 125 Nm @ 4000.

Reliability, roof problems, oil type, fault codes, engine swap. Not measured in this dataset. No reliability score, no oil spec, no roof or boot fault rate. Those searches are real; these tables do not answer them.

Short rule from the numbers: Mk1 1.4 MT for the light Coupe; Mk1 1.6 MT for the quick Coupe; Mk2 1.8 MT for the quick Roadster; Mk2 1.4 MT for the middle Roadster; Mk2 1.3 MT for the diesel mpg Roadster; either generation’s 1.4 AT only when Automatic is the requirement, and generation 2’s automatic is the one with a measured 6.0 L/100 km mixed figure.