1990-1992 Eagle Summit Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Eagle Summit. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Eagle Summit.

1990-1992 Eagle Summit Review

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.

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.

1990-1992 Eagle Summit Road Test

Pros	Cons

Fuel economy	Acceleration (w/automatic transmission)

Handling and maneuverability	Noise

Acceleration (1990 dual-cam)	Rear-seat room

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.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

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:	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.

1990-1992 Eagle Summit Reliability

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: Hard shifting and gear clash may be eliminated by installing revised synchronizer components. (1991)

Automatic transmission: No second gear and/or a loud tapping noise when shifted into or out of any forward range. (1991-92)

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

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.

1990-1992 Eagle Summit Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

1990
Summit	$0	$0	$0

1991
Summit	$0	$0	$0

1992
Summit	$1,000-1,300	$600-800	$100

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.

1990-1992 Eagle Summit Specs & Safety

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	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	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.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	1992 Summit	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%. Side-impact 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%.

Built In: Japan, USA

Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

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Also in the 1990-1992 Eagle Summit Review:

Eagle Summit

Eagle Summit Road Test

Eagle Summit Reliability

Eagle Summit Prices

Eagle Summit Specs & Safety

Eagle Summit Photos

Eagle Summit Full Review