A Guide to 1989 Cars
These are the best cars from 1989, from practical family sedans to luxury rides and early SUVs.
Written by Tiffany Leung
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Honda Accord was the best-selling car in 1989 thanks to design improvements that made American consumers love it even more. The Ford Taurus and Lincoln Continental were also popular.
1989 was the year where Japanese automakers began importing high-end luxury brands to the United States. Nissan and Toyota debuted the Infiniti and Lexus brands at the 1989 Detroit show, which officially became the North American International Auto Show. This was the year that started the golden age of the Detroit show, leading to an influx of brands from around the world.
This was a pivotal year that pushed automakers to create new vehicles to outcompete their competitors in the next quarter-century. We've rounded up our favorite cars from this momentous year in automotive history. From flashy sports cars to rugged SUVs, let’s take a look at some of the most popular and iconic cars of the year.
The best cars of 1989
The best car of 1989: Honda Accord
KBB fair market range: average retail value of $2,250
Powertrain: 2.2-liter 16-valve electronic fuel-injected engine standard
What makes it special:
The 1989
Honda Accord
was the year’s best-selling car. Its sales surpassed the second-place Ford Taurus by over 14,600 units. This generation was one of many firsts. It was the first time that the Accord wasn’t available as a 3-door hatchback internationally. It was also the first U.S. production car to feature optic reflectors with completely clear lenses on the headlamp. Significant design improvements were made to this fourth-generation Accord including an upgraded engine and reduced low-frequency noise and vibration.
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The best family car of 1989: Ford Taurus
KBB fair market range: average retail price of $1,475
Powertrain: 2.5L 4-in-line, 3.0L V6, DOHC 3.0L V6, 3.8L V6
What makes it special:
The 1989
Ford Taurus
was offered as a sedan and a wagon, both of which were a hit with American customers. If customers were looking for a family car with an enjoyable drive, Ford had the solution. The
Taurus SHO
(Super High Output) reached 143 mph on test tracks thanks to the 220hp 24-valve DOHC Yamaha V-6. It is the fastest American-built four-door sedan in American automotive history.The best luxury car of 1989: Lincoln Continental
KBB fair market range: average retail price of $3,850
Powertrain: 3.8L V-6
What makes it special:
The
Lincoln Continental
redefined the large American sedan with its front-drive layout and forward-sloping exterior. What’s more, Ford engineers successfully married capable handling and a cushy ride—something that was nearly impossible to achieve at that time. Its 3.8L V6 engine was smooth and quiet while producing 150hp and a top speed of 120 mph. Sensible size, luxurious interior, and genius engineering made the Continental the best luxury car of 1989.The best SUV of 1989: Jeep Cherokee
KBB fair market range: N/A but has an average retail price of $3,675
Powertrain: 4.0L AMC 242 I-6
What makes it special:
Although the
Jeep Cherokee
was a variant of the Wagoneer, it was a strong seller in the compact SUV market and was known as an innovator of the modern SUV. It was one of the first compact SUVs, a class that eventually replaced the station wagon.The Cherokee was so popular that it spawned a new line of SUVs altogether—the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This then went on to become a successive line of flagship vehicles at Jeep.
The best luxury SUV of 1989: Laforza Magnum
KBB fair market range: N/A
Powertrain: 5.0L V8
What makes it special:
The Laforza Magnum was an exotic Italian luxury SUV. It was a low-production vehicle with a body built by Carrozzeria, a chassis from Iveco, and a Ford 5-liter V8 engine. It also had a well-furnished interior that put the
Range Rover
to shame. The best sports car of 1989: Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo
KBB fair market range: N/A
Powertrain: Turbocharged 2.0 L 16-valve DOHC 4G63T engine
What makes it special:
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo, aka the Plymouth Laser Turbo, was a modestly priced 3-door liftback coupe. Its turbocharged 2.0 L 16-valve DOHC 4G63T engine produced up to 195 horsepower.
Aside from its power and speed, the car also handled exceptionally well with a buttery-smooth shifter—making it a popular sports car in 1989.
The best truck of 1989: Toyota Truck
KBB fair market range: N/A, but has an average retail price of $3,375
Powertrain: 2.4L inline four-cylinder or 3.0L V6
What makes it special:
The fifth-generation 1989 Toyota Truck, known as the Hilux outside of North America, was available in a wide range of models. The Truck became popular with its customizable options to fit different consumer needs. The performance was improved in this generation, with a more powerful V6 engine option and a maximum towing capacity of 1,640 pounds.
What cars came out in 1989?
1989 is when the American car industry started changing with more international brands available to the market. This pushed automakers to rethink their product lineup and add more innovation to their car designs.
Check out the table below to see some notable cars that came out in 1989.
Model | Vehicle type | Engine | Fair market range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Acura Legend Coupe | 4-door sedan | SOHC 90° V-6, 24-valve | $1,500 to $2,500 | First flagship sold under the Acura nameplate |
Chevrolet Corvette | Sports car | 5.7 L V8 with TPI | $6,000 to $11,000 | Great performance with impressive braking and handling |
Dodge Spirit | Mid-size car | 2.2 L Turbo III I-4 base | $1,200 to $1,700 | Replaced the Dodge 600 |
Ford Fiesta Mk3 | Compact car | 1.0 L I-4 base | N/A | The biggest change to the Fiesta since the original car |
Infiniti M | Executive car | 3.0 L SOHC V6 | N/A | Now marketed as Infiniti Q70 |
Mazda MX-5 | Sports car | 1.6 L I-4 | $2,900 to $5,100 | Best-selling two-seat convertible sports car |
Pontiac Trans Sport | Minivan | 3.1 L V6 | $1,200 to $1,500 | GM badge engineered variants, the Chevrolet Lumina APV and Oldsmobile Silhouette |
Shelby Dakota | Pickup truck | 5.2 L LA V8 | $15,000 to $21,000 | Limited-production performance version of the Dodge Dakota Sport pickup truck |
Porsche 964 | Luxury sports car | 3.3 L turbo flat-6 | $95,000 to $105,000 | Was met with lukewarm reception but is now appreciating rapidly |
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FAQs
What was the most popular car in 1989?
TheHonda Accord was the nation’s most popular car in 1989.
What was the fastest car in 1989?
The fastest car made in America in 1989 was the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. It has an official zero to 60 mph of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 162 mph.
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