1990-1993 Toyota Celica: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1990-1993 Toyota Celica and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Handling/roadholding
- Optional antilock brakes
- Acceleration (exc. ST)
- Fuel economy
Cons
- Rear visibility
- Cargo room
- Acceleration (ST automatic)
- Engine noise
- Entry/exit
- Rear-seat room
Vehicle Highlights
Curvaceously restyled for 1990, Toyota's sports coupe rode the same front-drive wheelbase as the prior Celica generation. A 2-door coupe and 2-door hatchback went on sale. Two new engines debuted, and a driver-side airbag went into all Celicas. The base engine was a twin-cam 1.6-liter 4 cylinder. The Celica GT and GT-S carried a new 130-horsepower, 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine. Most Celica models were front-wheel drive, with either 5-speed manual shift or a 4-speed automatic. The All-Trac (permanently engaged 4-wheel-drive) edition employed a 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and came only with manual shift.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Toyota Celica GT automatic Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 5 | |
| Fuel Economy | 6 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 5 | |
| Quietness | 2 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 3 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 39 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1990-1993 Toyota Celica. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1990-1993 Toyota Celica.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Toyota Celica:
Coupes and hatchbacks were joined by a convertible for 1991, offered in GT trim with a power-operated top that was covered by a soft tonneau when folded down.
1992 Toyota Celica:
Celicas earned a modest facelift this year, including a reshaped nose, new taillamps, and larger wheels/tires for ST and GT models. Availability of antilock braking expanded to the GT coupe. Both GT models had a standard rear spoiler.
1993 Toyota Celica:
Antilock brakes became standard on the top-line Celica All-Track, and optional on the GT convertible. Few other changes were evident in what would be the Celica's final season in this form.
Our road test for the 1990-1993 Toyota Celica includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1990-1993 Toyota Celica and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1990-1993 Toyota Celica is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Handling and roadholding are decent with an ST and quite sporty with a GT or GT-S. Those two stick to the road tautly and respond well in changes of direction. Each model offers refined road manners and a solid "feel." The ST's suspension has the softest damping, therefore, ride quality is somewhat smoother. Other Celica models don't absorb bumps quite as well, but suffer minimal cornering lean and crisper steering response. An All-Trac not only hugs the road tenaciously, but delivers a mighty blast of power. Refined road manners and an impressively solid bearing are particularly borne out by the convertible, which suffers only minimal body shake of the sort that's all too common in drop-tops. Base-engine performance is adequate with a 5-speed, but automatic drains away its strength. Manual shift is also the best performance bet with the 2.2-liter engine, though acceleration and gas mileage are impressive with either transmission. Few cars in this category isolate their occupants better from engine and wind noise, but tire roar and exhaust sounds grow intrusive. Low-set seats mix with a high-waisted profile to impair outward visibility. Space is okay up front, but tall drivers (and front passengers) might have to recline the front seatbacks to get adequate head room. The backseat is limited to youngsters, while cargo space is marginal in size and suffers from a high liftover.
Value for the Money
Like most Toyotas, Celicas are well-built. They're also reliable, and serve as models of ergonomic intelligence.
Like most Toyotas, Celicas are well-built. They're also reliable, and serve as models of ergonomic intelligence.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Toyota Celica GT automatic Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 5 | |
| Fuel Economy | 6 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 5 | |
| Quietness | 2 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 4 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 3 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 39 |
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 Celica includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Toyota Celica .
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.
Air conditioner:
Expansion-valve failure may lead to ineffective air-conditioner operation. (1992-93)
Audio system:
Panasonic CD players may skip, fail to play, or show "ERR" (1992-93) while Fujitsu 10 CD players may not load or eject. (1990-92)
Doors:
The fuel door may rattle. (1990-93)
Engine misfire:
Poor engine performance under light throttle may be corrected with a new EGR vacuum modulator. (1990-93)
Seat:
The headrests rattle, and dealers were repairing the supports by wrapping them with self-adhesive felt tape. (1990)
Water pump:
The original water-pump seal was prone to leaking requiring water pump replacement. (1990-93)
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 | $385 |
| Alternator | $520 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $680 |
| Brakes | $270 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $425 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $950 |
| Exhaust System | $340 |
| Radiator | $465 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $1,040 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $185 |
Our price chart for this generation Toyota Celica details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1993 | |||
| All-Trac | $2,600-3,300 | $1,900-2,400 | $500-700 |
| Celica | $1,300-2,300 | $800-1,400 | $200-300 |
| Convertible | $2,300-3,000 | $1,700-2,200 | $400-600 |
| 1992 | |||
| All-Trac | $2,200-2,900 | $1,600-2,100 | $400-600 |
| Celica | $1,200-2,000 | $700-1,200 | $100-200 |
| Convertible | $2,000-2,700 | $1,400-1,900 | $300-500 |
| 1991 | |||
| All-Trac | $1,900-2,600 | $1,300-1,800 | $300-400 |
| Celica | $1,100-1,800 | $700-1,100 | $100-200 |
| Convertible | $1,700-2,400 | $1,100-1,600 | $300-400 |
| 1990 | |||
| All-Trac | $1,800-2,400 | $1,200-1,600 | $300-400 |
| Celica | $1,000-1,500 | $600-900 | $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 Celica include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door convertible | 2-door coupe | 2-door hatchback |
| Wheelbase, in. | 99.4 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| Overall Length, in. | 176.0 | 176.0 | 173.6 |
| Overall Width, in. | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.1 |
| Overall Height, in. | 50.6 | 50.6 | 50.6 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2844 | 2447 | 2646 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 12.6 | 12.6 | 24.7 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 15.9 | 15.9 | 15.9 |
| Seating Capacity | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 37.7 | 37.7 | 37.7 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.9 | 42.9 | 42.9 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 33.0 | 33.0 | 33.0 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 26.8 | 26.8 | 26.8 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Celicas came with a choice of three engines, depending on model: a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder in the ST; a 2.2-liter four in the GT and GT-S; and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in the All-Trac. All except the All Trac might have either 5-speed manual shift or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| dohc I4 | 1.6 / 97 | 103 | 102 | 5-speed manual: 25/32 4-speed automatic: 24/31 |
5-speed manual: 22.3 4-speed automatic: -- |
| Turbocharged dohc I4 | 2.0 / 122 | 200 | 200 | 5-speed manual: 19/24 | 5-speed manual: -- |
| dohc I4 | 2.2 / 132 | 130-135 | 140 | 5-speed manual: 22/28 4-speed automatic: 20/27 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: 25.3 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Japan
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Toyota Celica include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1993 Celica |
|---|---|
| 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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