The VAZ 2104 range is one generation with two named versions. This piece is a buyer’s comparison of 2104 1.3 MT and 21043 1.5 MT, using only the catalogue numbers.
If the choice is between the two catalogue versions of the VAZ 2104, the split is simple: 2104 1.3 MT is the lighter-feeling highway sipper on paper; 21043 1.5 MT is the stronger, quicker car with a larger engine and better city consumption.
The VAZ 2104 range is one generation with two named versions. This piece is a buyer’s comparison of 2104 1.3 MT and 21043 1.5 MT, using only the catalogue numbers.
Which VAZ 2104 version to buy
If the choice is between the two catalogue versions of the VAZ 2104, the split is simple: 2104 1.3 MT is the lighter-feeling highway sipper on paper; 21043 1.5 MT is the stronger, quicker car with a larger engine and better city consumption. There is only 1 generation (1984–2012), body Estate 5-door, so you are not choosing a later generation — you are choosing displacement, output, and the fuel-use pattern that follows.
2104 1.3 MT has 64 hp (47 kW) at 5600 rpm and 92 Nm at 3400 rpm from 1294 cm³. 21043 1.5 MT has 68 hp (50 kW) at 5600 rpm and 104 Nm at 3500 rpm from 1452 cm³. That is +4 hp and +12 Nm for +158 cm³. Both are Gasoline, 4 cylinders Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Carburetor, Front, longitudinal, compression 8.5, fuel 92, gearbox Manual with 4 gears, drive RWD. Kerb weight is 1020 kg and gross 1475 kg on both; ground clearance is 170 mm; tank is 45 L; wheels are 165/70 R13 and 175/70 R13. Front brakes are Disc, rear Drum; front suspension Independent, spring, rear Dependent, spring. CO2 and eco class are not measured on both.
Generations: what actually changed
The VAZ 2104 has 1 generation, key 8809, years 1984-01-01 to 2012-12-31, body Estate 5-door, 2 modifications. There is no second generation and no restyle listed as a separate generation. Production span and body type are the same for 2104 1.3 MT and 21043 1.5 MT. What changed between versions is the engine size and the performance/economy rows, not the generation, drivetrain layout, or weights.
Power per litre: 2104 1.3 MT makes 64 / 1.294 ≈ 49.5 hp/L. 21043 1.5 MT makes 68 / 1.452 ≈ 46.8 hp/L. The 1.3 is more highly loaded per litre; the 1.5 buys torque and a small power bump, not a denser engine. Torque per litre is close: 92 / 1.294 ≈ 71.1 Nm/L versus 104 / 1.452 ≈ 71.6 Nm/L. Weight per horsepower: 1020 / 64 = 16.0 kg/hp on 2104 1.3 MT versus 1020 / 68 = 15.0 kg/hp on 21043 1.5 MT. Peak power rpm is 5600 on both; peak torque rpm is 3400 versus 3500. Bore × stroke is 79 x 66 on the 1.3 and 76 x 80 on the 1.5.
Specs: engine, gearbox, drive
| Version | hp | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2104 1.3 MT | 64 | 92 | 1294 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Manual 4 | RWD |
| 21043 1.5 MT | 68 | 104 | 1452 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Manual 4 | RWD |
kW: 47 vs 50. Power rpm: 5600 both. Torque rpm: 3400 vs 3500. Valves per cylinder: 2 both. Induction: Carburetor both. Engine position: Front, longitudinal both. Compression: 8.5 both. Fuel grade: 92 both.
What extra displacement buys: 158 cm³, 4 hp (6.3% over 64), 12 Nm (13.0% over 92), 3 kW. It does not buy a different gearbox, extra gears, another driven axle, boost, or a different cylinder count.
Performance and mpg
0–100 km/h: 18.5 s on 2104 1.3 MT, 17 s on 21043 1.5 MT — 1.5 s quicker. Top speed: 137 km/h vs 143 km/h — +6 km/h.
Fuel consumption, L/100 km:
- City: 10.1 vs 8.9 — the 1.5 uses 1.2 less in the city.
- Highway: 5.8 vs 7.4 — the 1.3 uses 1.6 less on the highway.
- Mixed: 7.4 vs 8.5 — the 1.3 uses 1.1 less combined.
Tank 45 L both. Range from mixed figures (arithmetic on catalogue numbers): 45 / 7.4 × 100 ≈ 608 km mixed for 2104 1.3 MT; 45 / 8.5 × 100 ≈ 529 km mixed for 21043 1.5 MT. Highway: 45 / 5.8 × 100 ≈ 776 km vs 45 / 7.4 × 100 ≈ 608 km. City: 45 / 10.1 × 100 ≈ 446 km vs 45 / 8.9 × 100 ≈ 506 km.
CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured.
If most kilometres are open-road, 2104 1.3 MT has the highway and mixed advantage. If most kilometres are urban, 21043 1.5 MT has the city advantage and the stronger 0–100 and top speed.
Dimensions and weight
Kerb 1020 kg and gross 1475 kg on both versions — payload from those two figures is 1475 − 1020 = 455 kg either way. Ground clearance 170 mm both. Tank 45 L both. Wheels 165/70 R13 and 175/70 R13 both. Length, width, height, wheelbase, boot volume: not measured.
Because mass is identical, the 1.5’s extra 4 hp and 12 Nm go entirely into specific output, not into hauling a heavier kerb. That is why kg/hp improves from 16.0 to 15.0 without a weight change.
Which version to choose
Choose 2104 1.3 MT when highway L/100 km and mixed L/100 km matter more than 0–100. It is 64 hp, 92 Nm, 1294 cm³, 18.5 s to 100, 137 km/h, city 10.1, highway 5.8, mixed 7.4. It has the higher hp/L (≈49.5) and the lower highway and mixed use. Same 1020 kg, same RWD, same Manual 4, same Estate 5-door, same years.
Choose 21043 1.5 MT when you want the stronger catalogue engine and a quicker 0–100. It is 68 hp, 104 Nm, 1452 cm³, 17 s to 100, 143 km/h, city 8.9, highway 7.4, mixed 8.5. You pay 1.6 L/100 km more on the highway and 1.1 mixed for 4 hp, 12 Nm, 1.5 s off 0–100, and 6 km/h more top speed. City use is 1.2 L/100 km better than the 1.3. kg/hp is 15.0 vs 16.0.
There is no generation-to-generation upgrade path: both versions sit in generation 1 from 1984 through 2012. Reliability, known problems, prices, and equipment packs are not measured in this dataset — the buy decision here is the arithmetic on power, torque, times, speeds, and the three consumption rows.
Short rule: highway-heavy use → 2104 1.3 MT; city-heavy use plus the extra 12 Nm and 4 hp → 21043 1.5 MT. Names stay exactly 2104 1.3 MT and 21043 1.5 MT.