1990-1992 Eagle Summit: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1990-1992 Eagle Summit and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Fuel economy
- Handling and maneuverability
- Acceleration (1990 dual-cam)
Cons
- Acceleration (w/automatic transmission)
- Noise
- Rear-seat room
Vehicle Highlights
The subcompact duo of Mitsubishi Mirage and Eagle Summit appeared in 1989 as twins to the Dodge/Plymouth Colt. Each of these entry-level automobiles was produced by Mitsubishi. A new base-model Summit for 1990 had manual steering and a low-budget cloth interior with cloth low-back bucket seats. Base, mid-level DL, and luxury-oriented LX Summits all had a standard 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, developing 81 horsepower. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard; 3-speed automatic optional. As for powertrain options, a non-turbo dual-cam 1.6-liter four rated at 113 horsepower was standard in the Summit ES and optional under LX hoods. When equipped with automatic, a 4-speed unit was installed with the larger engine.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Eagle Summit hatchback 1.5-liter Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3 | |
| Fuel Economy | 7 | |
| Ride Quality | 4 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 3 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 3 | |
| Value within Class | 3 | |
| Total Score: | 36 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1990-1992 Eagle Summit. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1990-1992 Eagle Summit.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Eagle Summit:
Horsepower of the Summit's base engine jumped from 81 to 92 with the 3-valve-per-cylinder design introduced for '91. The former 113-horsepower dual-cam engine was gone. Summit also added a 2-door hatchback bodystyle on a wheelbase 2.8 inches shorter than the 4-door. A new grille for 1991 was intended to reflect the Eagle-brand identity. A 4-speed automatic replaced the 3-speed as an option for 4-doors. DL and LX models were dropped, leaving base and ES Summits.
1992 Eagle Summit:
Little change was evident this year.
Our road test for the 1990-1992 Eagle Summit includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1990-1992 Eagle Summit and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1990-1992 Eagle Summit is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
A pleasant example of Japanese small cars in the early '90s, Summit combines competent road manners with a comfortable ride. Especially in 92-horsepower form, the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine revs smoothly and provides adequate acceleration. Performance and fuel economy suffer with automatic, of course. Five-speed manual shift delivers better gas mileage and slightly quicker acceleration than an automatic transmission, but shift action of the 5-speed might be loose and crude on some models. Even so, the 5-speed won't sap as much strength as a 3-speed automatic, delivering quieter, more fuel-efficient highway cruising. The 1.6-liter dual-cam engine, available only in 1990, was a lively one. Front-seat space is fine for a subcompact. Rear leg room is good, too, though the hatchback could stand a bit more. Head room is scarce back there for anyone taller than 5-foot-10 or so. On the plus side, usable trunk space is above average. Visibility and controls are excellent.
Value for the Money
Overall, this is a well-rounded subcompact, available at attractive prices. Built better than most domestic competitors of similar vintage, Summits lack the high level of refinement and assembly quality that can be found on such rivals as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and Ford Escort.
Overall, this is a well-rounded subcompact, available at attractive prices. Built better than most domestic competitors of similar vintage, Summits lack the high level of refinement and assembly quality that can be found on such rivals as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and Ford Escort.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Eagle Summit hatchback 1.5-liter Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3 | |
| Fuel Economy | 7 | |
| Ride Quality | 4 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 3 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 3 | |
| Value within Class | 3 | |
| Total Score: | 36 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Eagle Summit includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Eagle Summit .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Automatic transmission:
No second gear and/or a loud tapping noise when shifted into or out of any forward range. (1991-92)
Automatic transmission:
Hard shifting and gear clash may be eliminated by installing revised synchronizer components. (1991)
Engine misfire:
Surging between 45 and 55 mph on cars with a 1.5-liter engine may be a result of the wrong transmission fluid. (1990)
Engine misfire:
Build up in the air cleaner and airflow sensor causes hesitation and stalling when cold and surging when warm on 1.5-liter engines. A revised valve cover corrects the problem. (1990)
Engine noise:
Carbon build-up on the pistons causes light tapping to heavy knock on 1.5-liter engines and can be blamed on the gasoline. Regular use of fuel injector cleaner may reduce the buildup. (1990-92)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $725 |
| Alternator | $570 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $960 |
| Brakes | $240 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $435 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $675 |
| Exhaust System | $465 |
| Radiator | $370 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $710 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $270 |
Our price chart for this generation Eagle Summit details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1992 | |||
| Summit | $1,000-1,300 | $600-800 | $100 |
| 1991 | |||
| Summit | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 1990 | |||
| Summit | $0 | $0 | $0 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Eagle Summit include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door hatchback | 4-door sedan |
| Wheelbase, in. | 93.9 | 96.7 |
| Overall Length, in. | 158.7 | 170.1 |
| Overall Width, in. | 65.7 | 65.7 |
| Overall Height, in. | 51.9 | 52.8 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2205 | 2271 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 34.7 | 10.3 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 13.2 | 13.2 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.3 | 39.1 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 41.9 | 41.9 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 36.9 | 37.5 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 32.5 | 34.3 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Two engines were available in 1990: a 1.5-liter base 4-cylinder, rated 81 horsepower; and an optional dual-overhead-cam 1.6-liter, which developed 113 horsepower. Standard transmission was a 5-speed manual, with 3- and 4-speed automatics optional (the latter installed with the bigger engine). For 1991-92, only a 92-horsepower 1.5-liter four was installed in Summits. Five-speed manual shift was standard in all except the base 2-door, which had a 4-speed stick. Four-speed automatic was optional in 4-door sedans, while a 3-speed automatic transmission was the option for 2-doors.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohc I4 | 1.5 / 90 | 81 | 91 | 5-speed manual: 38/34 3-speed automatic: 27/29 |
5-speed manual: 29.5 3-speed automatic: -- |
| ohc I4 | 1.5 / 90 | 92 | 93 | 5-speed manual: 29/35 3-speed automatic: 28/31 4-speed automatic: 26/32 |
5-speed manual: -- 3-speed automatic: -- 4-speed automatic: 27.5 |
| dohc I5 | 1.6 / 97 | 113 | 99 | 5-speed manual: 23/28 4-speed automatic: 23/28 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: -- |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Japan, USA
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Eagle Summit include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1992 Summit |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | -- |
| Front Impact, Passenger | -- |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1990-1992 Eagle Summit directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1990-91:
Front seatbelt release button can break and pieces can fall inside, causing improper operation.
1992:
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.
1992:
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.
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