4
0
Premium midsize car; Built in Japan
  • 4-door sedan
  • longitudinal front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,000 – $1,800*


1992 Acura Vigor GS


1992 Acura Vigor GS


1993 Acura Vigor GS


1993 Acura Vigor GS


1994 Acura Vigor LS

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Antilock brakes
  • Cargo room
  • Steering/handling
Cons:
  • Engine/road noise
  • Rear-seat room

Vigors are not necessarily cheap, even today, but at least you get a load of Honda/Acura virtues. Therefore, Vigors are worth a look if you’re searching for a moderately-posh, older midsize 4-door sedan that also promises a dash of sportiness.

Overview

Derived from the 1990-93 Honda Accord sedan, but on a longer wheelbase and sporting frameless door glass, Vigor filled the gap–in both size and price–between Acura’s entry-level Integra and the luxury-flagship Legend. Vigors came in two price levels: base LS and upscale GS. All-disc antilock brakes and a driver-side airbag were standard from the beginning. Beneath each Vigor hood sat a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine, hooked to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or optional 4-speed automatic transmission.

Yearly Updates

1993 Vigor
A passenger-side airbag went into the 1993 Vigor GS model. Acura modified the automatic transmission to produce smoother shift action. The grille got a mild reworking, interiors benefited from additional sound insulation, and the GS gained color-matched bodyside moldings.
1994 Vigor
For the Vigor’s final season, a passenger-side airbag went into both the LS and GS models. A dashboard-mounted CD player became standard in the GS. Interiors switched from Zebra wood trim to burled-type wood.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/front-wheel drive

All Vigors are powered by a 2.5-liter, 20-valve, 5-cylinder engine, which develops 176 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard; 4-speed automatic optional.

ohc I5
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.5/152
Engine HP 176
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 170
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		20/27
20/26 		22.5

Road Test

Vigor’s acceleration is strong, especially with the precise 5-speed manual shift. In fact, Vigor can push you back in your seat when tromping the gas toward the engine’s 6800-rpm redline, but it’s rather noisy in the process and suffers from vibration as well. In our tests of a model with the automatic, the Vigor reached 60 mph in just 8.8 seconds. Shifts with the early 4-speed automatic can get rough, sometimes lurching into a lower gear when stomping the gas pedal. Fuel mileage isn’t bad, if unexceptional. We averaged 22.5 mpg with manual shift, but premium fuel is required.

Agile handling and fine braking ability earn praise. So does the car’s great outward view, plus satisfying detail finish. Body lean is moderate and the ride is satisfyingly flat, though the firm suspension delivers some jolts when going over poor pavement. Braking can be a tad touchy, but the antilock system works well. Tire noise could annoy, rumbling intrusively through most surfaces.

The driver sits low, facing a dashboard with easy-to-read analog gauges. Interior controls are logical, smooth-working, and well within reach. Leg room is tight in back, and taller drivers may have trouble with head room in the front seat on models equipped with a sunroof. The Vigor’s trunk is flat and roomy, extending far forward.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1994 Acura Vigor

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 - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 3
30%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Rear - 4
40%
Cargo Room - 4
40%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 48

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
110.4 190.4 70.1 53.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
14.2 17.2 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.8 36.2 43.7 30.3
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1992 Vigor 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 2
40%
Front Passenger Injury - 2
40%

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 127
Injury 78
Theft 243

Trouble Spots

Brakes
Description: If the parking brake doesn’t release, a rivet on the handle must be loosened. (1993-94)
Climate control
Description: A blower that operates only on high speed and makes a whistling sound probably has a blown power transistor caused by a bad commutator ring in the blower motor. (1992)
Doors
Description: Over time, the door lock actuator switch gets corroded which causes the alarm to go off when the door is unlocked and opened. (1992-93)
Doors
Description: The linkage separates inside the door if the rear door handle is pulled hard. (1992)
Hard starting
Description: If the engine is hard to start, the original owner may not have responded to the letter requesting that they have a redesigned distributor cap and engine-harness cover installed. (1993)
Steering problems
Description: If the car drifts to one side at highway speeds, the alignment may be incorrect and is corrected by loosening the transmission mount bolt and subframe bolts and shifting the subframe. (1992)

Recall History

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 May 9, 2014.
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