| Compact car; Built in South Korea |
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| Good condition price range: $1,000 – $1,300* |
1990 Mitsubishi Precis
1990 Mitsubishi Precis
1990 Mitsubishi Precis
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In performance and overall quality, Precis and the similar Excel lag behind the class-leading Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Price is its foremost attraction.
Overview
Closely related to the newly redesigned Hyundai Excel, the mini-sized Mitsubishi Precis hatchback was built in South Korea and introduced to the U.S. market in spring 1987. Excel also came in 4-door sedan form, but Mitsubishi offered only the hatchback.
The lineup shrank in 1990 from six models and two body styles, to just a pair of 2-door hatchbacks: base and RS. Mitsubishi no longer needed the Precis to meet voluntary import quotas, as the Mirage was now produced in Illinois. Precis remained Mitsubishi’s price leader, however.
Mirage and Precis differed in styling, but were close in dimensions and mechanical specifications. Precis and the Hyundai Excel were derived from an earlier Mirage design, using a similar front-drive chassis and mechanical components.
Precis used the same 81-horsepower, 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that went into the Mirage, as well as the same 4- and 5-speed manual transmissions. The automatic-transmission option for Precis was a 4-speed overdrive unit, while the Mirage made do with a 3-speed automatic.
Yearly Updates
| 1991 Precis Minor appearance changes marked the 1991 Precis. The RS model was gone, but most of its equipment wound up in an RS option package, including wire wheels with full covers, body-colored bumpers, a tachometer, cloth upholstery, and split folding rear seatback. The 5-speed manual transmission also was dropped, leaving only a 4-speed stick and the 4-speed automatic option. |
| 1992 Precis Slight front-end restyling and two new body colors were the only notable changes to Mitsubishi’s subcompact hatchback. |
| 1993 Precis A new grille went on the 1993 Precis, which was available in two new body colors. Only a single version was offered, with 4-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic. |
| 1994 Precis Changes were few in the final season for Mitsubishi’s lowest-priced model. |
