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FSO Polonez III 1.9 D (70 Hp)
Overall Rating
FSO Polonez:
The FSO Polonez is a motor vehicle that was developed in Poland in collaboration with Fiat and produced by Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych from 1978 to 2002. It was based on the Polski Fiat 125p platform with a new hatchback designed by Zbigniew Wattson , Walter de Silva and Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was available in body styles that included two- and four-door compact-sized cars, station wagons, as well as commercial versions as pickup truck, cargo van, and ambulance. Production totaled more than one million units, excluding the pickup truck and van variants. The Polonez was marketed in other nations and was popular in its domestic market until Poland joined the European Union in 2004....(Read more on Wikipedia)
III Overview:
FSO Polonez (III). With 120 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1135 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 20 s). The top speed reaches 140 km/h. A compact car with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to the cargo area. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The FSO Polonez III was not tested by Euro NCAP. As a vehicle from the 1990s with a budget focus, its passive and active safety features are likely to be significantly below modern standards.
1.9 D (70 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Extremely sluggish with a 0-100 km/h time of 20 seconds, making it unsuitable for quick overtakes or demanding highway driving.
Fuel Economy
Decent fuel economy for its era at 6.5 l/100 km, offering a cost-effective option for daily commuting.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Extremely affordable purchase price and low running costs (especially diesel)
- • Spacious interior and large trunk for its class
- • Simple, robust mechanicals that are easy to maintain
- • Good visibility from the driver's seat
Cons:
- • Outdated design and interior quality compared to Western rivals
- • Generally poor performance across most engine options
- • Lack of modern safety features and poor crash test performance (untested by NCAP)
- • High fuel consumption on older petrol engines
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(II: 1988 - 1992).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | FSO |
| Model: | Polonez |
| Generation: | III |
| Modification (Engine): | 1.9 D (70 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1992 |
| End of production: | 2002 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Hatchback |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 3/5 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 70 Hp @ 4600 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 36.7 Hp/l [worst than previous generation] |
| Torque: | 120 Nm @ 2000 rpm. |
| Engine displacement: | 1905 |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Precombustion chamber injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | OHC |
| Engine layout: | Front, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 83 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 88 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 23:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Diesel |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 6.5 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 20 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 20 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 140 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 16.2 kg/Hp, 61.7 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 9.5 kg/Nm, 105.7 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 19 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1135 |
| Max. weight: | 1560 |
| Max load: | 425 |
| Trunk (boot) space - maximum: | 1070 l |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 300 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 45 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4318 mm mm |
| Width: | 1650 mm mm |
| Height: | 1420 mm mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2509 mm mm |
| Front track: | 1315 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1292 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Disc |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Tires size | 175/70 R13 |
| Front suspension | Coil spring |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |
Fuel, speed, and comfort: How does the FSO Polonez rank in your book?