5
0
Sporty/performance car; Built in Japan
  • 2-door hatchback
  • transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,100 – $4,600*


1996 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo


1991 Dodge Stealth R/T


1994 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo


1994 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo interior


1991 Dodge Stealth ES

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Antilock brakes
  • Handling/roadholding
  • All-wheel-drive traction (R/T Turbo)
Cons:
  • Cargo room
  • Fuel economy (R/T Turbo)
  • Rear-seat room
  • Ride (R/T Turbo)

Appealing more because of its style and performance than its practical virtues, Dodge’s sports coupe scores high on that level. But a Stealth is not nearly as successful as a daily driver.

Overview

Dodge dove directly into the high-performance field with its own version of the new Japanese 2+2 sport coupe. Called 3000GT in Mitsubishi form, the platform was based on that used by the Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon coupes. All shared the same wheelbase, but the assertive Stealth and 3000GT bodies measured 10 inches longer overall and six inches wider. Four Stealth models were offered, each with a driver-side airbag and transverse 3.0-liter V6 engine. Base, ES, and R/T models were front drive. A 164-horsepower engine went into the base Stealth, while the ES and R/T got a dual overhead-cam variant that put out 222 horses. Top dog was the R/T Turbo, breathing through a pair of intercooled turbochargers for 300 horsepower. That one also got permanently engaged 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel steering, which turns the rear wheels slightly in the same direction as the front wheels at speeds past 30 mph. Turbos came only with manual shift.

Yearly Updates

1992 Stealth
Only a handful of changes were evident for ’92. A manual tilt/removable glass sunroof arrived at mid-year as a new option.
1993 Stealth
Base-model Stealths gained the lower body-sill molding formerly used only on the ES. Also, base and ES models could have a rear spoiler like the R/T.
1994 Stealth
A passenger-side airbag arrived for 1994. New front/rear styling included exposed projector style headlamps. The ES model disappeared, cutting the lineup to three: base, R/T, and R/T Turbo. The R/T Turbo got a 6-speed manual gearbox and its engine gained 20 horsepower.
1995 Stealth
The R/T Turbo could now be ordered with 18-inch chromed aluminum wheels, but few other changes arrived this year.
1996 Stealth
Leather front seats (vinyl rears) became available on base Stealths. All three models got a new body-color rear spoiler.

Engines

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

Each Stealth model had a variant of the 3.0-liter V6 engine. A 164-horsepower, overhead-cam V6 went into base models. The ES and R/T got a dual overhead-cam rendition, rated at 222 horsepower. In turbocharged form for the R/T Turbo, the V6 put out 300 horsepower (320 after 1993). A 5-speed manual transmission was standard, but the R/T Turbo switched to a 6-speed unit in ’94. Any Stealth except the R/T Turbo could have a 4-speed automatic.

ohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 164
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 185
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		19/24
18/23 		19.2
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 222
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 201
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		19/25
18/24
Turbocharged dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 300-320
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 307-315
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
6-speed manual 		19/25
18/24 		18.8

Road Test

An R/T Turbo is frightfully fast. All told, a base or ES Stealth makes more sense for most drivers. Both feel more responsive in daily driving with manual shift. Far lighter in weight, they don’t suffer the flagship model’s turbo lag or stiff ride. Front-drive Stealths suffer only minimal torque steer, and run quieter. Sadly, the optional automatic transmission keeps the V6 from revving high enough. Turbo gas mileage is marginal, but not bad for a car with such strong performance and so many pounds to haul. An early test Turbo averaged 18.8 mpg. Still, the aero gimmicks on either R/T do not justify their higher prices.

Stealths suffer a rather claustrophobic 2+2 cockpit that isn’t so easy to enter or leave. Elbow room is greater than a Talon or Eclipse, but rear seats are next to useless. Cargo space is scant, too.

All-wheel drive on the R/T Turbo is a bonus on wet pavement, though front-drive Stealths also provide fine grip. Four-wheel steering subtly does its part toward that top Stealth’s tenacious roadholding. On the other hand, the difference isn’t great, and 4WS can communicate a nervous detachment, unlike the satisfying precision of regular steering on other Stealths.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1992 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo 5-speed

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 - 8
80%
Fuel Economy - 3
30%
Ride Quality - 2
20%
Steering/Handling - 7
70%
Quietness - 3
30%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 3
30%
Room/Comfort Front - 4
40%
Room/Comfort Rear - 1
10%
Cargo Room - 2
20%

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 37

Specifications

2-door hatchback
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
97.2 179.5 72.4 49.1
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
11.1 19.8 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.1 34.1 44.2 28.5
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1993 Stealth 2-door hatchback

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
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 145
Injury 110
Theft 104

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: Hard shifting and gear clash can be eliminated by installing revised synchronizer components. (1991)
Automatic transmission
Description: No second gear and/or a loud tapping noise when shifted into or out of any forward range. (1991-96)
Dashboard lights
Description: The check engine light comes on, and will set a code for a bad camshaft sensor. The fix is to replace the engine control computer. (1996)
Doors
Description: The door window weatherstrip pulls out when the glass is moved up or down. A revised weatherstrip has been released to replace it. (1994)

Recall History

1991
Description: Front seatbelt release button can break, causing improper operation.
1991 R/T Turbo
Description: Oil might leak from AWD transfer case, causing bearing damage and failure.
1991-94
Description: In conditions of full-lock steering and full suspension travel, front brake hose can crack, resulting in brake fluid leakage.
1991-96 built by Mitsubishi
Description: All-wheel drive transfer case may leak oil, causing bearing damage and increasing the risk of a crash.

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 2, 2014.
Share this:
, , , , , , , ,