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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*


1994 Plymouth Colt 2-door coupe


1993 Plymouth Colt 4-door sedan


1993 Plymouth Colt 2-door coupe


1993 Plymouth Colt 4-door sedan


1993 Plymouth Colt interior

Pros:
  • Optional antilock brakes
  • Fuel economy
Cons:
  • Acceleration (w/automatic transmission)
  • Rear-seat room

Friendly both in everyday manner and in price, Colts should be considered by anyone shopping for an older subcompact. Differences between the two Colts and their Mitsubishi/Eagle relatives are mostly negligible, apart from engine availability.

Overview

Built by Mitsubishi in Japan, the Plymouth version was virtually identical to the Colt sold at Dodge dealers, and were related to the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Eagle Summit.The front-drive Colt now came in 2- and 4-door notchback body styles. Each body style came in base or GL trim. Standard engine for the 2-door notchback and the base-model 4-door sedan was a 92-horsepower, 1.5-liter 4-cylinder. Optional on base sedans and standard on GL sedans was a 113-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder. Base coupes came only with 5-speed manual, but others could have a 3-speed automatic with the smaller engine, or a 4-speed unit with the 1.8-liter engine. Antilock disc brakes were optional, but only on the GL 4-door sedan.

Yearly Updates

1994 Colt
A driver-side airbag went into 1994 Colts. That revision also included the addition of a manual 3-point seatbelt and a height adjustment for the driver. A motorized shoulder belt with a manual lap belt remained for the front passenger. The 1.8-liter engine was now an option for the 2-door Colt GL, and standard in all 4-door sedans.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Two engines were available in Colts: a 1.5-liter 4 cylinder that produced 92 horsepower, and a 1.8-liter that developed 113 horsepower. The larger engine went into 4-door GL models in 1993 (all 4-doors in ’94), and could be installed in the 2-door GL in 1994. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard; 3-speed automatic optional (except on base coupes) with the smaller engine; 4-speed automatic available with the 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 		24.3
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 		33.1

Road Test

Acceleration with the 1.5-liter engine is modest. Passing power with the automatic transmission is rather meager as well. With either transmission, the 1.8-liter 4-doors are discernably quicker. Also, their wider tires (which were optional on 2-doors) provide better control through turns.

Dashboards are logically laid out, and all controls move with a satisfying smoothness. Thin roof pillars permit excellent visibility. Welcome conveniences include cup holders, map pockets, and storage bins.

As for interior space, 6-footers can expect just enough head clearance. Space is sufficient for adult-sized feet in the back, but rear head and knee room is tight. The trunk is modest in size, but has a useful cubic shape. Although the trunklid opens wide, the intrusive taillights and high rear fascia make loading a bit of a burden.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1994 Plymouth Colt GL 2-door 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 backward 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)
Automatic transmission
Description: No second gear and/or a loud tapping noise when shifted into or out of any forward range. (1993-94)
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: Shoulder-belt anchorage may remain at A-pillar when car door is closed.
1993
Description: Due to abrasion of cable, driver’s shoulder-belt anchorage could 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 24, 2014.
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