Volkswagen Lupo

Volkswagen Lupo: which version to buy and why

The Volkswagen Lupo was built as 1 generation only, from 1998-05-01 to 2005-01-31, as a Mini 3-doors with 9 versions and no later generation to “step up” into.

The Volkswagen Lupo was built as 1 generation only, from 1998-05-01 to 2005-01-31, as a Mini 3-doors with 9 versions and no later generation to “step up” into. The buying question is therefore not which generation, but which of those nine: 1.0 MT (50 hp), 1.4 MT (60 hp), 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline), 1.4 AT (75 hp), 1.4 MT (100 hp), 1.4 AT (105 hp), 1.2 DSG (61 hp Diesel), 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel), and 1.7 MT (60 hp Diesel). All are FWD. Fuel tank is 34 L and ground clearance is 110 mm on every version; wheel sizes are not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured.

Generations: what one generation actually offers

1 generation (1998-05-01–2005-01-31), Mini 3-doors, 9 versions. There is no restyling generation and no second generation in these data, so a later body does not buy extra power, a larger tank, or more clearance.

What changes inside this one generation is the powertrain, not the calendar. Curb weight spans 855 kg (1.2 DSG) to 985 kg (1.4 MT 75 hp Diesel) — 130 kg. Gross weight spans 1210 kg (1.2 DSG) to 1700 kg (1.4 MT 100 hp) — 490 kg. Peak power spans 50 hp to 105 hp. Mixed consumption spans 3.0 L/100 km to 7.5 L/100 km. If the extra “generation money” is not available because there is only one generation, that spread is the whole catalogue.

Engines and specs: the nine versions side by side

Engine position is Front, transverse on seven versions; on 1.4 AT (75 hp) and 1.4 AT (105 hp) it is not measured. Injection is Distributed injection (multi-point) on the Gasoline manuals and on 1.4 AT (75 hp); Direct injection (direct) only on 1.4 AT (105 hp); Diesel injection systems are not measured.

Power per litre (hp per 1000 cc): 1.4 AT (105 hp) 75.5 hp/L; 1.4 MT (100 hp) 71.9; 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) and 1.4 AT (75 hp) 54.0; 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) 52.7; 1.2 DSG 51.2; 1.0 MT 50.1; 1.4 MT (60 hp) 43.2; 1.7 MT 35.0. The largest engine, 1.7 MT at 1716 cc, is the least specific; the 1390 cc 1.4 AT (105 hp) is the most specific.

Torque per litre: 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) 137 Nm/L; 1.2 DSG 118; 1.4 AT (105 hp) 93.5; the 1390 cc Gasoline 1.4 MT (75 hp), 1.4 AT (75 hp) and 1.4 MT (100 hp) all 90.6; 1.0 MT 86.1; 1.4 MT (60 hp) 83.5; 1.7 MT 67.0. Turbo on the two 3-cylinder Diesels is the torque story; 1.7 MT has No boost and the weakest specific torque despite 1716 cc.

Valves per cylinder: 2 on 1.0 MT, 1.4 MT (60 hp), and all three Diesels; 4 on the 75 / 100 / 105 hp Gasoline 1.4 versions. Compression: Gasoline 10.0–11.5; Diesels all 19.5. Fuel: Gasoline versions 95; Diesels Diesel.

Performance and economy: what each step actually buys

0–100 km/h (s): 1.4 MT (100 hp) 10; 1.4 AT (105 hp) 11.8; 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) 12; 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) 12.3; 1.4 AT (75 hp) 13.9; 1.4 MT (60 hp) 14.3; 1.2 DSG 14.7; 1.7 MT 16.8; 1.0 MT 17.7.

Top speed (km/h): 1.4 AT (105 hp) 199; 1.4 MT (100 hp) 188; 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) 172; 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) 170; 1.4 AT (75 hp) 168; 1.2 DSG 165; 1.4 MT (60 hp) 160; 1.7 MT 157; 1.0 MT 152.

Consumption city / highway / mixed (L/100 km): 1.2 DSG 3.6 / 2.7 / 3.0 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) 5.6 / 3.5 / 4.3 1.7 MT 5.9 / 3.6 / 4.4 1.4 AT (105 hp) 6.3 / 4.1 / 4.9 1.0 MT 7.8 / 4.7 / 5.8 1.4 MT (60 hp) 8.3 / 4.9 / 6.1 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) 8.6 / 4.8 / 6.2 1.4 MT (100 hp) 9.4 / 5.0 / 6.6 1.4 AT (75 hp) 10.4 / 6.0 / 7.5

On a 34 L tank, mixed range is about 1133 km for 1.2 DSG, 791 km for 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel), 773 km for 1.7 MT, 694 km for 1.4 AT (105 hp), 586 km for 1.0 MT, 557 km for 1.4 MT (60 hp), 548 km for 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline), 515 km for 1.4 MT (100 hp), and 453 km for 1.4 AT (75 hp). That last Automatic is 2.5 times the mixed fuel of 1.2 DSG and 680 km shorter on the same tank.

Arithmetic on the Gasoline ladder (same 1390 cc unless noted): From 1.0 MT (999 cc, 50 hp) to 1.4 MT (60 hp): +10 hp, +30 Nm, −3.4 s to 100, +8 km/h, mixed +0.3 L/100 km, curb +30 kg. From 1.4 MT (60 hp) to 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline): +15 hp, +10 Nm, −2.3 s, +12 km/h, mixed +0.1 L, curb +5 kg — the cheapest-looking step in time and speed for almost no extra mixed fuel. From 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) to 1.4 MT (100 hp): +25 hp, torque stays 126 Nm (but peak moves from 3800 to 4400 rpm), −2.0 s, +16 km/h, mixed +0.4 L, curb +27 kg. From 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) Manual to 1.4 AT (75 hp) Automatic: same 75 hp and 126 Nm, +1.9 s, −4 km/h, mixed +1.3 L (6.2 → 7.5). The 4-speed Automatic does not buy speed; it costs 1.9 s and 21% more mixed fuel. From 1.4 AT (75 hp) to 1.4 AT (105 hp): +30 hp, +4 Nm, −2.1 s, +31 km/h, mixed −2.6 L (7.5 → 4.9). Direct injection (direct), compression 11.5 vs 10.0, 5-speed Automatic vs 4-speed, curb −20 kg. Among Automatics, 1.4 AT (105 hp) is both faster and leaner.

Diesel vs Gasoline at the same 75 hp: 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) vs 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline): torque 195 vs 126 (+69 Nm, +55%), 0–100 12.3 vs 12.0 (+0.3 s), top 170 vs 172 (−2 km/h), mixed 4.3 vs 6.2 (−1.9 L, −31%), curb 985 vs 920 (+65 kg). The Diesel is not the quicker 75 hp; it is the stronger-torque and lower-fuel 75 hp.

1.2 DSG vs 1.0 MT: +11 hp, +54 Nm, −3.0 s, +13 km/h, mixed −2.8 L (5.8 → 3.0, −48%), curb −30 kg. 1.2 DSG vs 1.4 MT (60 hp Gasoline): +1 hp, +24 Nm, +0.4 s, +5 km/h, mixed −3.1 L, curb −60 kg.

1.7 MT vs 1.2 DSG: +525 cc, −1 hp, −25 Nm, +2.1 s, −8 km/h, mixed +1.4 L, curb +120 kg. 1.7 MT vs 1.4 MT (60 hp Gasoline): same 60 hp, −1 Nm, +2.5 s, −3 km/h, mixed −1.7 L, curb +60 kg. The 1.7 MT buys Diesel fuel use, not speed.

Dimensions and weight: kg per horsepower and payload

Curb / gross (kg), payload (gross − curb), kg per hp (curb / hp):

1.4 AT (105 hp) is the lightest per horsepower. 1.4 MT (100 hp) is next and has the largest payload by far: 753 kg vs 355–470 kg on the others — 283 kg more than the next Gasoline 1.4 MT (75 hp) at 470 kg. 1.2 DSG is the lightest car (855 kg) but the smallest payload (355 kg) because gross is only 1210 kg. 1.4 AT (105 hp) is also payload-light at 360 kg.

Ground clearance 110 mm and tank 34 L do not change with version. Wheel sizes: not measured. Front suspension: Independent, spring on all nine. Rear: Independent, spring on both 1.4 AT versions; Semi-independent, spring on the seven manuals/DSG (the database English string also carries a truncated fragment). Front brakes: Disc on all. Rear: Disc on 1.4 MT (100 hp), 1.4 AT (105 hp), and 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel); Drum on the other six.

Which version to choose

There is 1 generation, so the choice is only among the 9 Mini 3-doors versions. Prices are not in these data; “what the extra engine buys” is read from hp, seconds, litres, and kilograms.

Buy 1.2 DSG if mixed fuel is the ranking. 3.0 L/100 km mixed, 3.6 city, 2.7 highway, 855 kg, 140 Nm from 1800 rpm, Turbo, Robotic 5, 3 Inline cylinders, 1191 cc. It is 48% less mixed fuel than 1.0 MT and 60% less than 1.4 AT (75 hp). Trade-offs in the same data: 61 hp, 14.7 s, 165 km/h, payload only 355 kg, rear Drum.

Buy 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) if you want 75 hp and torque, not 75 hp and revs. 195 Nm at 2200 rpm is the catalogue peak — 55% more than the Gasoline 1.4 MT (75 hp) at 126 Nm. Mixed 4.3 vs 6.2. You give 0.3 s and 2 km/h to the Gasoline twin and carry 65 kg more. Rear Disc. It uses 1.3 L/100 km more mixed than 1.2 DSG but is 3.5 s quicker to 100 and 5 km/h faster, with +55 Nm.

Do not buy 1.7 MT for “more diesel.” It is the largest engine (1716 cc) and the lowest specific output (35.0 hp/L, 67 Nm/L), No boost, 16.8 s, 157 km/h — only 1.0 MT is slower. Mixed 4.4 is 0.1 worse than 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel) and 1.4 worse than 1.2 DSG. Same 60 hp as 1.4 MT (60 hp Gasoline) with 2.5 s more to 100.

Buy 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) as the middle Gasoline Manual. Versus 1.4 MT (60 hp): +15 hp for +0.1 mixed and +5 kg. Versus 1.0 MT: +25 hp, −5.7 s, +20 km/h, mixed only +0.4. Versus 1.4 MT (100 hp): you give 2.0 s and 16 km/h to save 0.4 mixed and 27 kg. 4 valves per cylinder vs 2 on the 50 and 60 hp Gasoline.

Buy 1.4 MT (100 hp) if 0–100 and payload dominate. Fastest sprint in the set (10 s), second-highest speed (188 km/h), highest gross (1700 kg) and payload (753 kg), rear Disc. Mixed 6.6 is 0.4 above the 75 hp Gasoline Manual and 3.6 above 1.2 DSG. kg/hp 9.47 is second only to 1.4 AT (105 hp). Torque is still 126 Nm — the same as the 75 hp Gasoline — so the extra 25 hp is high-rpm (6000 vs 5000).

Buy 1.4 AT (105 hp) if you need Automatic and do not want the 75 hp Automatic’s fuel. 105 hp, 199 km/h (the set maximum), 11.8 s, mixed 4.9 — 2.6 L/100 km less than 1.4 AT (75 hp) and 1.3 less than 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline). Direct injection (direct), 5-speed Automatic, 900 kg, 8.57 kg/hp, rear Disc. Payload is only 360 kg. Engine position not measured.

Skip 1.4 AT (75 hp) unless a 4-speed Automatic is the only requirement. Same 75 hp as the Gasoline Manual, 1.9 s slower, 4 km/h slower, mixed 7.5 — the worst in the catalogue, 2.5× 1.2 DSG. Compression 10.0 vs 10.5 on the Manual twin; bore/stroke 76 × 75.6 vs 76.5 × 75.6. Rear Independent, spring (same as 1.4 AT 105 hp), not a performance gain in the timed figures.

1.0 MT is the lowest power, slowest (17.7 s, 152 km/h), and heaviest per hp (17.70 kg/hp). Mixed 5.8 is better than every Gasoline except 1.4 AT (105 hp), but 1.2 DSG undercuts it by 2.8 L/100 km and is 3.0 s quicker. Choose 1.0 MT only if 999 cc Gasoline and 50 hp at 885 kg is the constraint.

1.4 MT (60 hp) sits between 1.0 MT and 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline) with almost no mixed saving versus the 75 hp Manual (6.1 vs 6.2) and 2.3 s more to 100. The 60 hp step is the weak Gasoline buy: +391 cc over 1.0 MT for +10 hp and only −3.4 s.

Reliability and problems are not measured in these data; do not treat silence as a score. What is measured: one generation, nine FWD versions, 34 L, 110 mm, and the table of hp, Nm, seconds, and litres above. For least fuel, 1.2 DSG. For 75 hp with the most Nm, 1.4 MT (75 hp Diesel). For the shortest 0–100 and the largest payload, 1.4 MT (100 hp). For Automatic without the 7.5 L mixed penalty, 1.4 AT (105 hp). For a Gasoline Manual that does not waste the 60 hp step, 1.4 MT (75 hp Gasoline).