1990-1992 Toyota Cressida: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1990-1992 Toyota Cressida and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Acceleration
- Optional antilock brakes
- Ride
- Quietness
Cons
- Cargo room
- Price
- Fuel economy
Vehicle Highlights
Toyota's rear-drive luxury sedan was restyled for 1989, growing modestly but keeping its basic shape. A 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine (with four valves per cylinder) replaced the former 2.8-liter, boosting horsepower to 190. Cressidas came in only one trim level with a 4-speed automatic, with electronic shift controls standard. On the safety front, antilock braking was optional for the 4-wheel disc system, but no airbag was installed. Motorized front shoulder belts, with separate manual lap belts, were standard.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Toyota Cressida Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 5 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 3 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 43 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1990-1992 Toyota Cressida. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1990-1992 Toyota Cressida.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Toyota Cressida:
A redesigned grille and taillamps, and new alloy wheels, subtly affected exterior appearance. Inside, the climate-system controls now were consolidated in a single dashboard location.
1992 Toyota Cressida:
Unchanged for 1992, Cressida was dropped before the 1993 model year began.
Our road test for the 1990-1992 Toyota Cressida includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1990-1992 Toyota Cressida and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1990-1992 Toyota Cressida is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Cressida performance has rated as rather snappy--more than competitive with the car's natural rivals. Gas mileage, on the other hand, earned no prizes. We've averaged 22.2 mpg overall, but just 17 mpg in the city. Cressida owners enjoy refined cruising and smooth revving from the inline 6-cylinder engine, which runs very quietly. The automatic transmission delivers prompt, smooth shifts at all speeds. This Cressida handles with some agility, and the back end hugs the road tightly through corners. Braking is exceptionally good with the optional antilock system, and steering is crisp and responsive. Cressida tracks straight and true on the highway. On the down side, rear-wheel drive translates to poor wet-weather traction, though grip is predictable most of the time. A firm but supple highway ride comes with little pitching and rolling. However, the size and weight of the Cressida prevent it from having sports-carlike moves. Conservative, upright styling does not translate into an abundance of usable passenger room. Trunk space is skimpy, compared to the competition, and the rear seats do not fold down to increase cargo space. Except for the slide-out climate control panel of 1990 models, and duplicate sound-system controls that put too many buttons on the dashboard, Cressida's interior brings no complaints. Simple, feather-touch controls help make driving easy, seats are comfortable, and outward visibility is good.
Value for the Money
Toyota's well-equipped flagship of the past delivers lots of luxury in a capable sedan, widely known for reliability and happy owners.
Toyota's well-equipped flagship of the past delivers lots of luxury in a capable sedan, widely known for reliability and happy owners.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Toyota Cressida Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 5 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 3 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 43 |
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 Toyota Cressida includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Toyota Cressida .
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.
Audio system:
Panasonic CD players may skip, fail to play, or show ERR (1992) while Fujitsu 10 CD players may not load or eject. (1990-92)
Oil leak:
Head gaskets may fail on 7M-GE and 7M-GTE engines. (1990-91)
Vehicle noise:
The headrests rattle. (1990-91)
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 | $430 |
| Alternator | $535 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $1,020 |
| Brakes | $250 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $360 |
| Exhaust System | $270 |
| Radiator | $400 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $1,300 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $140 |
| Universal Joints | $400 |
Our price chart for this generation Toyota Cressida details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1992 | |||
| Cressida | $1,600-2,100 | $1,100-1,400 | $200-300 |
| 1991 | |||
| Cressida | $1,400-1,800 | $900-1,200 | $200 |
| 1990 | |||
| Cressida | $1,200-1,600 | $700-1,000 | $100-200 |
|
|
|||
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 Toyota Cressida include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door sedan | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 105.6 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 189.6 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 67.3 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 54.5 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3439 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 12.5 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.5 | |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.4 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.8 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 37.1 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 35.0 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Just one powertrain was available in Cressidas: a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with dual-overhead camshafts, making 190 horsepower and driving a 4-speed automatic transmission.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| dohc I6 | 3.0 / 180 | 190 | 185 | 4-speed automatic: 19/24 | 4-speed automatic: 22.2 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Japan
Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Toyota Cressida include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1991 Cressida |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 3 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 4 |
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%.
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