5
0
Midsize car; Built in USA, Mexico
  • 4-door sedan
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,000 – $1,600*


1990 Chrysler LeBaron


1992 Chrysler LeBaron


1991 Chrysler LeBaron


1992 Chrysler LeBaron LX


1993 Chrysler LeBaron Landau

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Antilock brakes (optional)
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Quietness
  • Visibility
Cons:
  • Automatic-transmission performance

No, there’s nothing startling about a 4-door LeBaron, but these are solid, capable family sedans offering entry-level luxury and a likable persona, plus a distinctive appearance. Although they lag behind Japanese rivals in overall quality, they’re also cheaper secondhand.

Overview

The new LeBaron sedan was a derivative of the front-drive Dodge Spirit and Plymouth Acclaim. All three shared the same chassis, but the 6-passenger LeBaron came only with V6 power. The three differed mainly in detail and trim choices–and the fact that the Spirit and Acclaim could have 4-cylinder engines. All LeBaron sedans have a driver-side airbag. The LeBaron’s touring suspension package included front gas-charged struts, plus front and rear anti-sway bars.

Yearly Updates

1991 LeBaron Sedan
Antilock braking became optional in LeBaron sedans for 1991. A new electronic analog speedometer with a secondary metric scale was accompanied by a tachometer, as well as odometer and gauge readouts.
1992 LeBaron Sedan
An expanded lineup for ’92 gave LeBaron buyers more powertrain choices. Base, LX, and Landau editions now were available, the latter with a distinctive vinyl roof. Base and Landau LeBarons dropped to a standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, which sent 100 horsepower to a 3-speed automatic transmission. A V6 engine and 4-speed automatic was standard in the LX sedan and optional in other models.
1993 LeBaron Sedan
LeBaron sedans gained fresh taillamps and a new rear fascia for ’93. The mid-level LX disappeared, leaving only a base model (renamed LE) and the top-of-the-line Landau.
1994 LeBaron Sedan
LE and Landau LeBaron sedans returned for ’94, adding a motorized shoulder belt for the front passenger, to meet passive restraint requirements. No more 4-cylinder engines were installed, leaving only the V6, now driving a 3-speed automatic transmission. The 4-speed overdrive automatic was an option.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

For 1990-91, the LeBaron sedan employed just one powertrain: a Mitsubishi-built 3.0-liter V6 engine with multi-point fuel injection, connected to an Ultradrive 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. A 4-cylinder engine arrived in 1992, standard on base and Landau sedans, while mid-range LX sedans used the V6. A year later, the LX was gone but Landaus got the V6 as standard fare. For their final season, all LeBarons carried a V6, with a choice of 3- or 4-speed automatic.

ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.5/153
Engine HP 100
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 135
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
3-speed automatic

 23/28
ohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 141
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 171
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 20/28

 21.6

Road Test

Quiet and competent, the luxurious compact LeBaron sedan is quite a pleasant surprise. Handling is reasonably good and the ride is pleasing, helped by a touring-type suspension. Acceleration with the 6-cylinder engine, at least, is smooth and responsive. On the downside, early automatic transmissions downshift too sluggishly for easy passing on the highway. Brake feel and control are good, too, though the nose dives a bit in hard stops.

A tauter handling suspension might be found on later models, and LeBarons had a choice of several fixed and split bench seats. On the whole, though, new LeBarons did not come with the suspension and seating choices that faced buyers of the Dodge Spirit.

Chrysler promised more rear leg room than any domestic sedan in its class. Roomy interiors offer top-notch visibility. Bench seats are comfortable in the traditional mode, if not quite sufficiently supportive to suit everyone. The LeBaron’s big, flat-floored trunk is easy to load.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1993 Chrysler Lebaron

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 - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 4
40%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 4
40%
Room/Comfort Front - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Rear - 4
40%
Cargo Room - 4
40%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 45

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
103.5 182.7 68.1 55.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
14.4 16.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.4 37.9 41.9 38.3
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1994 LeBaron 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

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

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 77
Injury 90
Theft 63

Trouble Spots

Air conditioner
Description: If the air conditioner gradually stops cooling and/or the airflow from the vents decreases, the computer (PCM) may not be sending a signal to the compressor clutch relay to cycle off, which causes the AC evaporator to freeze up. (1991-94)
Alternator belt
Description: Unless a shield is installed under the engine on the right side, deep snow could knock the serpentine belt off the pulleys of 3.0-liter engines. (1991-94)
Automatic transmission
Description: 41TE or 42LE automatic transaxles could take several seconds to engage at startup because of a problem with the valve body. (1993-94)
Cold-starting problems
Description: 2.2- or 2.5-liter engines may idle rough or stumble when first started below freezing temperatures unless a revised intake manifold (with an “X” cast into the number 1 runner) was installed (1992), a revised computer (PCM) was installed (1992-93), or the computer was reprogrammed (1994).
Engine noise
Description: The motor mount on the left side of the engine tends to break. (1992-93)
Oil consumption
Description: High oil consumption and smoke from the exhaust at idle and deceleration on 3.0-liter engines is caused by exhaust valve guides that slide out of the heads. (1990-93)

Recall History

1990
Description: Engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow oil to leak, which could cause a fire.
1990
Description: On cars with grey interior, airbag inflator modules may not contain diffuser holes between ignitor and propellant chambers, so airbag would not deploy in an impact, which could lead to driver injury.
1991
Description: Front disc brake caliper guide pin bolts may not be adequately tightened and could loosen, which could cause reduced braking effectiveness that might result in accident.
1991
Description: Both airbag system front impact sensors may not be secured to mounting brackets, so airbag would not deploy in a frontal collision.
1991
Description: Front-outboard seatbelt may become difficult to latch and/or unlatch; latch may then open during accident or sudden stop, increasing risk of injury.
1992
Description: Zinc plating of some upper steering column shaft coupling bolts could cause hydrogen embrittlement and breakage of the bolt.
1994
Description: Seatbelt assembly on small number of cars may fail in accident.

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 June 26, 2014.
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