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Compact car; Built in Japan
  • 2-door coupe
  • 4-door sedan
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,000 – $1,400*


1993 Dodge Colt 4-door sedan


1993 Dodge Colt 2-door coupe


1993 Dodge Colt interior


1993 Dodge Colt 4-door sedan


1993 Dodge Colt 4-door sedan

Pros:
  • Antilock brakes (optional 4-doors)
  • Fuel economy
  • Maneuverability (some models)
Cons:
  • Acceleration (w/automatic transmission)
  • Engine noise
  • Rear-seat room
  • Road noise

Friendly in manner and in cost, this Colt is worth a look among the crop of entry-level subcompacts, including the Toyota Tercel and entry-level Saturn.

Overview

Marketed under a trio of names, the Mitsubishi-built subcompact was redesigned for 1993. The Mitsubishi Mirage and Eagle Summit are similar. A 2-door coupe replaced the prior hatchback, augmented by a 4-door sedan. Wheelbases grew two inches. Head and leg room shrunk slightly. Rear leg room in the 2-door was about an inch shorter than before, and an inch longer in the 4-door. Base and GL Colts went on sale. Two overhead-cam 4-cylinder engines were available: a 1.5-liter and a 16-valve, 113-horsepower, 1.8-liter for 4-door models. Five-speed manual shift was standard; 3- or 4-speed automatic either standard or optional depending on model. Antilock brakes now were available, and were an option on GL 4-doors.

Yearly Updates

1994 Colt
A driver-side airbag went into 1994 Colts, front passengers kept the motorized shoulder belt with a manual lap belt. Two-door models got a new fascia, and the ES 4-door gained monochromatic paint for bumpers and lower body moldings. ES models got the 1.8-liter engine, which was newly optional for the ES 2-door. Dodge/Plymouth dropped the Colt after 1994, to concentrate on the new Neon.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Colts might have either a 1.5-liter or 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, the latter producing 21 more horsepower. A 5-speed manual gearbox was standard (mandatory on 2-doors). Two automatic transmissions were available: a 3-speed for GL 2-doors and base 4-doors, and a 4-speed that was used with the optional 1.8-liter engine.

ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 1.8/112
Engine HP 113
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 116
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		26/33
26/33 		27.1
ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 1.5/90
Engine HP 92
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 93
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic 		32/39
28/32

Road Test

Acceleration with the 1.5-liter engine is modest, and passing power with an automatic transmission is meager. The 1.8-liter 4-doors are discernibly quicker with either transmission, and their wider tires (optional on 2-door models) deliver better control in turns.

You get a supple ride (for a subcompact), but to attain any degree of proficient handling, Colts must have the larger (14-inch) wheels and tires. Power steering was an option in 1993, and standard only on 4-doors in ’94. Many drivers will be unhappy without that power assist, because parking can demand quite a bit of muscle with manual steering. Antilock braking is appealing, but was available only on top models. Lightweight construction filters out little road or engine noise.

Dashboards are logically arranged, and all controls move with pleasing smoothness. Thin roof pillars allow excellent over-the-shoulder visibility. Cupholders, map pockets, and storage bins provide extra utility.

Interior space is right on target for the car’s class: good in front, but cramped out back. Access to the back seat is difficult on 2-doors, and sedans suffer small rear-door openings. Trunks are modest in size, but the lid opens wide.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1994 Dodge Colt ES 2-door 1.5-liter 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 - 3
30%
Fuel Economy - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 3
30%
Steering/Handling - 3
30%
Quietness - 3
30%

Accommodations

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

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 35

Specifications

2-door coupe
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
96.1 171.1 66.1 51.4
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
10.5 13.2 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.6 36.4 42.9 31.1
4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
98.4 174.0 66.1 51.4
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
10.5 13.2 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.6 36.2 42.9 33.5
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1993 Colt 4-door sedan

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 N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: The pulse generator often gets installed backwards after a transmission rebuild resulting in third-gear starts. (1994)
Automatic transmission
Description: An accelerator switch that is out of adjustment causes harsh coast-down downshifts. (1994)
Engine misfire
Description: Intermittent rough idle and stalling upon acceleration due to a bad ground connection for the engine control computer. (1993)
Transmission leak
Description: The transmission cooler hoses are prone to leaking, which can result in transmission failure. (1993)

Recall History

1993
Description: Excess lubrication can cause rubber door latch switch cover to deform, and switch to malfunction; shoulder-belt anchorage may remain at A-pillar when car door is closed.
1993
Description: Over time, abrading force on the lower edges of the chamber for the moving cable that controls driver’s shoulder belt may be sufficient to allow cable to drop; could cause shoulder-belt anchorage to become stuck.

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.
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