9
0
Sporty/performance car; Built in Japan
  • 2-door convertible
  • 2-door coupe
  • 2-door hatchback
  • transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,000 – $2,600*


1990 Toyota Celica All-Trac 2-door hatchback


1990 Toyota Celica interior


1991 Toyota Celica GT 2-door convertible


1992 Toyota Celica 2-door hatchback


1993 Toyota Celica GT 2-door convertible

Pros:
  • Acceleration (exc. ST)
  • Optional antilock brakes
  • Fuel economy
  • Handling/roadholding
Cons:
  • Acceleration (ST automatic)
  • Cargo room
  • Engine noise
  • Entry/exit
  • Rear-seat room
  • Rear visibility

Like most Toyotas, Celicas are well-built. They’re also reliable, and serve as models of ergonomic intelligence.

Overview

Curvaceously restyled for 1990, Toyota’s sports coupe rode the same front-drive wheelbase as the prior Celica generation. A 2-door coupe and 2-door hatchback went on sale. Two new engines debuted, and a driver-side airbag went into all Celicas. The base engine was a twin-cam 1.6-liter 4 cylinder. The Celica GT and GT-S carried a new 130-horsepower, 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine. Most Celica models were front-wheel drive, with either 5-speed manual shift or a 4-speed automatic. The All-Trac (permanently engaged 4-wheel-drive) edition employed a 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and came only with manual shift.

Yearly Updates

1991 Celica
Coupes and hatchbacks were joined by a convertible for 1991, offered in GT trim with a power-operated top that was covered by a soft tonneau when folded down.
1992 Celica
Celicas earned a modest facelift this year, including a reshaped nose, new taillamps, and larger wheels/tires for ST and GT models. Availability of antilock braking expanded to the GT coupe. Both GT models had a standard rear spoiler.
1993 Celica
Antilock brakes became standard on the top-line Celica All-Track, and optional on the GT convertible. Few other changes were evident in what would be the Celica’s final season in this form.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive

Celicas came with a choice of three engines, depending on model: a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder in the ST; a 2.2-liter four in the GT and GT-S; and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in the All-Trac. All except the All Trac might have either 5-speed manual shift or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission.

dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 1.6/97
Engine HP 103
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 102
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		25/32
24/31 		22.3
dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.2/132
Engine HP 130-135
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 140
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		22/28
20/27 		25.3
Turbocharged dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.0/122
Engine HP 200
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 200
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual

 19/24

Road Test

Handling and roadholding are decent with an ST and quite sporty with a GT or GT-S. Those two stick to the road tautly and respond well in changes of direction. Each model offers refined road manners and a solid “feel.” The ST’s suspension has the softest damping, therefore, ride quality is somewhat smoother. Other Celica models don’t absorb bumps quite as well, but suffer minimal cornering lean and crisper steering response.

An All-Trac not only hugs the road tenaciously, but delivers a mighty blast of power. Refined road manners and an impressively solid bearing are particularly borne out by the convertible, which suffers only minimal body shake of the sort that’s all too common in drop-tops.

Base-engine performance is adequate with a 5-speed, but automatic drains away its strength. Manual shift is also the best performance bet with the 2.2-liter engine, though acceleration and gas mileage are impressive with either transmission. Few cars in this category isolate their occupants better from engine and wind noise, but tire roar and exhaust sounds grow intrusive.

Low-set seats mix with a high-waisted profile to impair outward visibility. Space is okay up front, but tall drivers (and front passengers) might have to recline the front seatbacks to get adequate head room. The backseat is limited to youngsters, while cargo space is marginal in size and suffers from a high liftover.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1992 Toyota Celica GT automatic

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 3
30%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 2
20%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 4
40%
Room/Comfort Front - 4
40%
Room/Comfort Rear - 2
20%
Cargo Room - 3
30%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 39

Specifications

2-door convertible
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
99.4 176.0 67.1 50.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
12.6 15.9 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.7 33.0 42.9 26.8
2-door coupe
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
99.4 176.0 67.1 50.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
12.6 15.9 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.7 33.0 42.9 26.8
2-door hatchback
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
99.4 173.6 67.1 50.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
24.7 15.9 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.7 33.0 42.9 26.8
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1993 Celica 2-door coupe

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 3
60%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 153
Injury 119
Theft 105

Trouble Spots

Air conditioner
Description: Expansion-valve failure may lead to ineffective air-conditioner operation. (1992-93)
Doors
Description: The fuel door may rattle. (1990-93)
Engine misfire
Description: Poor engine performance under light throttle may be corrected with a new EGR vacuum modulator. (1990-93)
Audio system
Description: Panasonic CD players may skip, fail to play, or show “ERR” (1992-93) while Fujitsu 10 CD players may not load or eject. (1990-92)
Seat
Description: The headrests rattle, and dealers were repairing the supports by wrapping them with self-adhesive felt tape. (1990)
Water pump
Description: The original water-pump seal was prone to leaking requiring water pump replacement. (1990-93)

Recall History

1990
Description: Airbag inflator might be defective.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 30, 2014.
Share this:
, , , , , , ,