3
0
Premium large car; Built in Canada
  • 4-door sedan
  • 4-door sedan
  • longitudinal front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,000 – $2,100*


1993 Chrysler Concorde


1996 Chrysler Concorde LXi


1994 Chrysler New Yorker


1994 Chrysler New Yorker interior


1994 Chrysler Concorde 3.5-liter engine

Pros:
  • Acceleration (3.5-liter)
  • Antilock brakes
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Ride
  • Steering/handling
Cons:
  • Acceleration (3.3-liter)
  • Climate controls
  • Rear visibility (LHS/New Yorker)

Chrysler introduced the LH sedans to great fanfare and each version is well worth a test drive, including the New Yorker and LHS with their even more abundant backseats.

Overview

Built in Canada, the front-drive Concorde sedan was the luxury version of Chrysler’s “LH” trio (which also includes Dodge Intrepid and Eagle Vision). The “cab-forward” body rode a rather long 113-inch wheelbase, which helped enlarge the interior. Driver- and passenger-side airbags were standard. So was antilock all-disc braking. Traction control has been an option, as has a child safety seat that folds out from the middle of the rear bench. Power comes from either an overhead-valve 3.3-liter V6 or overhead-cam 3.5-liter V6. The only transmission is a 4-speed automatic.

Yearly Updates

1994 Concorde/New Yorker/LHS
Both a sporty LHS and revived luxury New Yorker joined as early ’94 models on the Concorde’s wheelbase but five inches longer overall. Both are roomier in back and use only the 214-horsepower engine. New Yorkers cost less when new, and had a split front bench seat instead of the LHS’s buckets. Variable-assist power steering also arrived after the cars debuted. Initially optional in Concordes, the touring suspension became standard this year. Also on the Concorde, base engines gained eight horsepower, and a 3-place front bench seat became available. Power steering added more assist, to reduce turning effort for parking but deliver greater feel at higher speeds.
1995 Concorde/New Yorker/LHS
Except for a modification to the optional remote keyless entry system, and addition of a cancel feature to their cruise control, not much changed in the Concorde, LHS, or New Yorker.
1996 Concorde/New Yorker/LHS
The New Yorker model entered its final season in ’96, after which the Concorde and LHS would carry on. Extra sound insulation and revised structural engineering promised to make these sedans quieter. The LHS got a new antenna, built into the back window.
1997 Concorde/New Yorker/LHS
Chrysler made only one major change for 1997, in anticipation of an all-new Concorde for 1998. The 3.3-liter V6 was dropped as the standard powerplant for the base LX model. The LHS returns virtually unchanged.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/front-wheel drive

Both the basic 3.3-liter V6 and the 214-horsepower (24-valve) 3.5-liter V6 work through a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. The 3.3-liter engine jumped from 153 to 161 horsepower for 1994. A flex-fuel option became available that year, running on a mixture of gasoline and methanol, but few are likely to be on sale secondhand.

ohv V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.3/201
Engine HP 153-161
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 181
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic 19/27
ohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.5/215
Engine HP 214
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 221
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic 18/26 19.1

Road Test

The unusually long wheelbase translates to ample leg room front and rear, while the sleek “cab-forward” profile pushes wheels out to the corners for exceptional backseat width. Three large adults can ride in the rear without crowding, and cargo space is ample. A low waistline and large windows add to the impression of spaciousness. Wide door openings ease entry/exit. New Yorker/LHS sedans offer all the space in the Concorde, and more yet for rear occupants.

With the Touring Package, the all-independent suspension delivers crisp, assured handling and a comfortable, controlled ride. The base ’93 suspension isn’t bad, but permits more body and wheel motion over large humps and dips.

Performance ranks only as adequate with the smaller engine. The bigger 24-valve V6 is a bit gruff under load, but offers more pulling power. Acceleration is definitely quick, but won’t slam anyone into the seat. Reaching 60 mph took just 8.2 seconds with the 3.5-liter engine. The 3.3-liter takes about two seconds longer. Either way, the automatic transmissions shift smoothly. Fuel economy is about right for this league, even if it won’t win any awards with either engine.

A well-arranged dashboard contains clear gauges and logical controls, though some interior trim is on the plasticky side. Climate controls, mounted low and in the center, are difficult to adjust while driving. Interior noise levels are low, but road noise can be noticeable in all LH sedans. Visibility to the rear is restricted by a narrow back window in the LHS/New Yorker.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1994 Chrysler Concorde 3.5-liter

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 - 7
70%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 7
70%
Cargo Room - 5
50%

Other

Value - 8
80%

Total: 62

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
113.0 201.5 74.4 56.3
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
16.6 18.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.4 37.3 42.3 38.7
4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
113.0 207.4 74.5 55.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
17.9 18.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.9 37.8 42.3 41.7
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1997 LHS 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
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 88
Injury 62
Theft 81

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: A transmission shudder under light-to-moderate acceleration is caused by a leaking front pump due to a worn bushing, which requires replacement of the pump as well as the torque converter. (1993-96)
Automatic transmission
Description: Bad seals in the transmission lead to premature friction component wear, which causes shudder when starting from a stop. (1993-95)
Automatic transmission
Description: A defective throttle-position sensor, not a transmission problem, could be the cause of late, erratic, or harsh shifting. (1994)
Automatic transmission
Description: Automatic transaxles could take several seconds to engage at startup because of a problem with the valve body. (1993-95)
Engine noise
Description: The motor mount on the left side of the engine tends to break. (1992-93)
Engine noise
Description: Hard starting and a miss at idle can be traced to defective fuel rails. (1993-94)
Engine noise
Description: Clatter in the valve train on 3.5-liter V6 may be due to damaged rockers and camshaft. Revised parts are available. (1993-96)
Vehicle noise
Description: If front end makes a squawking noise over bumps, strut striker caps may need to be replaced. (1998-2000)

Recall History

1993 w/3.3-liter engine
Description: Deterioration of O-rings at fuel-injector tubes can cause fuel leakage, with potential for fire.
1993-95 Concorde, LHS
Description: Lower control-arm attaching brackets on some cars can crack due to fatigue and separate from engine cradle; transmission halfshaft could then pull out of transaxle.
1993-97 w/3.5-liter engine
Description: Fuel-injection system can leak from O-rings or hairline cracks in fuel-injection rail.
1994
Description: Right steering tie rod can rub through automatic-transmission wiring harness, causing short circuit; may result in stalling, or allow engine to start when selector is not in “Park” position.

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 June 26, 2014.
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