Wartburg 353 Tourist 1.0 (45 Hp)


Overall Rating

5.7 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 2.5 / 5
Value 3.5 / 5
Performance 2.5 / 5
Comfort 2.0 / 5
People\'s Opinion N/A / 5
Not Rated

Wartburg 353:

The Wartburg 353, known in some export markets as the Wartburg Knight, is a medium-sized family car produced by the East German car manufacturer AWE for their Wartburg brand. It was the successor of the Wartburg 311 and was itself succeeded by the Wartburg 1. 3.
The Wartburg 353 was produced from 1966 to 1988, becoming the Wartburg with the longest production run. During its lifetime, it saw several changes and improvements, the most recognizable of which came in 1985 with a front facelift , a slightly different layout around the engine block, and a new carburettor....(Read more on Wikipedia)

Tourist Overview:

Wartburg 353 (Tourist). A car with an extended rear cargo area, combining passenger comfort with increased storage. Seating for 0 makes it ideal for daily use.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The Wartburg 353 Tourist was produced long before modern safety standards and testing protocols were established by Euro NCAP. It lacks contemporary safety features like airbags, ABS, or crumple zones.

1.0 (45 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

Adequate for basic transport and city driving, but struggles with modern traffic speeds and inclines due to its modest power output.

Fuel Economy

The two-stroke engine design results in moderate fuel consumption for its era, but requires the inconvenience of oil mixture with petrol.

Best Use Case: City / Rural roads

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Simple and robust mechanicals
  • • Spacious interior and cargo capacity for its class
  • • Affordable and easy to maintain (for its era)
  • • Distinctive two-stroke engine sound and character
  • • Good visibility from the cabin

Cons:

  • • Basic safety features (pre-modern standards)
  • • High emissions and noise from the two-stroke engine
  • • Requires oil mixture with fuel (inconvenient)
  • • Limited performance and acceleration
  • • Dated design and interior amenities

Specifications:

General:
Brand:Wartburg
Model:353
Generation:Tourist
Modification (Engine):1.0 (45 Hp)
Start of production:1966
End of production:1969
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Station wagon (estate)
Engine:
Power:45 Hp
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)

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