1992-1994 Acura Vigor: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1992-1994 Acura Vigor and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Antilock brakes
- Steering/handling
- Acceleration
- Cargo room
Cons
- Rear-seat room
- Engine/road noise
Vehicle Highlights
Derived from the 1990-93 Honda Accord sedan, but on a longer wheelbase and sporting frameless door glass, Vigor filled the gap--in both size and price--between Acura's entry-level Integra and the luxury-flagship Legend. Vigors came in two price levels: base LS and upscale GS. All-disc antilock brakes and a driver-side airbag were standard from the beginning. Beneath each Vigor hood sat a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine, hooked to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or optional 4-speed automatic transmission.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Acura Vigor Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 6 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 6 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 48 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1992-1994 Acura Vigor. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1992-1994 Acura Vigor.
Year to Year Changes
1993 Acura Vigor:
A passenger-side airbag went into the 1993 Vigor GS model. Acura modified the automatic transmission to produce smoother shift action. The grille got a mild reworking, interiors benefited from additional sound insulation, and the GS gained color-matched bodyside moldings.
1994 Acura Vigor:
For the Vigor's final season, a passenger-side airbag went into both the LS and GS models. A dashboard-mounted CD player became standard in the GS. Interiors switched from Zebra wood trim to burled-type wood.
Our road test for the 1992-1994 Acura Vigor includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1992-1994 Acura Vigor and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1992-1994 Acura Vigor is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Vigor's acceleration is strong, especially with the precise 5-speed manual shift. In fact, Vigor can push you back in your seat when tromping the gas toward the engine's 6800-rpm redline, but it's rather noisy in the process and suffers from vibration as well. In our tests of a model with the automatic, the Vigor reached 60 mph in just 8.8 seconds. Shifts with the early 4-speed automatic can get rough, sometimes lurching into a lower gear when stomping the gas pedal. Fuel mileage isn't bad, if unexceptional. We averaged 22.5 mpg with manual shift, but premium fuel is required. Agile handling and fine braking ability earn praise. So does the car's great outward view, plus satisfying detail finish. Body lean is moderate and the ride is satisfyingly flat, though the firm suspension delivers some jolts when going over poor pavement. Braking can be a tad touchy, but the antilock system works well. Tire noise could annoy, rumbling intrusively through most surfaces. The driver sits low, facing a dashboard with easy-to-read analog gauges. Interior controls are logical, smooth-working, and well within reach. Leg room is tight in back, and taller drivers may have trouble with head room in the front seat on models equipped with a sunroof. The Vigor's trunk is flat and roomy, extending far forward.
Value for the Money
Vigors are not necessarily cheap, even today, but at least you get a load of Honda/Acura virtues. Therefore, Vigors are worth a look if you're searching for a moderately-posh, older midsize 4-door sedan that also promises a dash of sportiness.
Vigors are not necessarily cheap, even today, but at least you get a load of Honda/Acura virtues. Therefore, Vigors are worth a look if you're searching for a moderately-posh, older midsize 4-door sedan that also promises a dash of sportiness.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Acura Vigor Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 6 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 6 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 48 |
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 Acura Vigor includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Acura Vigor .
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.
Brakes:
If the parking brake doesn't release, a rivet on the handle must be loosened. (1993-94)
Climate control:
A blower that operates only on high speed and makes a whistling sound probably has a blown power transistor caused by a bad commutator ring in the blower motor. (1992)
Doors:
The linkage separates inside the door if the rear door handle is pulled hard. (1992)
Doors:
Over time, the door lock actuator switch gets corroded which causes the alarm to go off when the door is unlocked and opened. (1992-93)
Hard starting:
If the engine is hard to start, the original owner may not have responded to the letter requesting that they have a redesigned distributor cap and engine-harness cover installed. (1993)
Steering problems:
If the car drifts to one side at highway speeds, the alignment may be incorrect and is corrected by loosening the transmission mount bolt and subframe bolts and shifting the subframe. (1992)
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 | $690 |
| Alternator | $385 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $1,195 |
| Brakes | $215 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $675 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $405 |
| Exhaust System | $610 |
| Radiator | $525 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $960 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $215 |
Our price chart for this generation Acura Vigor details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1994 | |||
| Vigor | $1,800-2,400 | $1,200-1,600 | $300-400 |
| 1993 | |||
| Vigor | $1,500-2,200 | $1,000-1,400 | $200-300 |
| 1992 | |||
| Vigor | $1,200-1,700 | $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 Acura Vigor include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door sedan | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 110.4 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 190.4 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 70.1 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 53.9 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3150 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 14.2 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 17.2 | |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.8 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 43.7 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 36.2 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 30.3 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
All Vigors are powered by a 2.5-liter, 20-valve, 5-cylinder engine, which develops 176 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard; 4-speed automatic optional.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohc I5 | 2.5 / 152 | 176 | 170 | 5-speed manual: 20/27 4-speed automatic: 20/26 |
5-speed manual: 22.5 4-speed automatic: -- |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Japan
Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Acura Vigor include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1992 Vigor |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 2 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 2 |
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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