A Guide to 1992 Cars
From the best selling Ford Taurus to the family-moving Dodge Caravan, these are the best cars of 1992
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
1992 was full of important events—the 25th Olympic Games opened in Barcelona, Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd U.S. President, and McDonald’s opened their first restaurant on Chinese soil. But if you’re more concerned with the automotive history of 1992, read on!
Jerry
, the car insurance
broker and super app
, is here with a comprehensive list of the very best vehicles of 1992—from economical compacts to spacious SUVs—as well as an overview of some of the brand new automobiles launched that year.
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The best cars of 1992
Small and large, these seven vehicles were the best wheels on the road in 1992.
The best car of 1992: Ford Taurus
KBB fair market range: $445–$604
Powertrain: V6 engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The second generation
Ford Taurus
was launched in 1992 and was accompanied by a massive marketing campaign. It was an obvious success—the Taurus quickly became the best-selling passenger car in the U.S., beating out the extremely popular Honda Accord.Still built on its original chassis, every exterior body panel of the ‘92 Taurus (with the exception of the doors) was restyled. As a result, it gained several inches in length and over 200 pounds in curb weight.
The interior was also completely redesigned. Notably, the Taurus gained an optional passenger-side airbag.The additional airbag would eventually become standard—making it the first midsize sedan sold in the United States with standard dual airbags
The best luxury car of 1992: BMW M3
KBB fair market range: $974–$8,201
Powertrain: 3.0–3.2-liter engine paired with a 5- or 6-speed manual or automatic transmission
What makes it special:
BMW launched their second-generation
M3
in 1992 and it was—for all intents and purposes—a completely new car. This new coupe was elegant and sophisticated, offering optimized torque, power, and consumption. This coupe-only vehicle would be launched as a convertible a year later, and—in 1995—the special edition M3 Lightweight would be introduced to U.S. markets.
The best SUV of 1992: Ford Explorer
KBB fair market range: $455–$4,008
Powertrain: V6 engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
The first SUV as we know it was launched in 1984 by Jeep, and the vehicle type quickly gained popularity throughout the rest of the 80s and 90s. The very first
Ford Explorer
was created for the 1991 model year, and by 1992, the family-oriented vehicle with off-road capabilities was a huge hit.To attract family buyers, Ford optimized the aerodynamics of the passenger compartment, adopting flush-mounted glass and wraparound doors. Plus, a wider body allowed three passengers to fit in the back seat. Plus, to expand cargo space, the spare tire was stored under the floor.
The best luxury SUV of 1992: Oldsmobile Bravada
KBB fair market range: $749–$1,100
Powertrain: V6 engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The Oldsomobile Bravada was a rebranded, more luxurious version of Chevrolet’s S-10 Blazer. Typically seen in a sleek black or cool maroon—both paired with gold badging—the Bravada was intentionally upscale. No roundup of the best cars from 1992 would be complete without this iconic SUV.
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Start earning nowThe best family car of 1992: Dodge Caravan
KBB fair market range: $379–$506
Powertrain: Inline-4 engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
Even though the SUV was gaining popularity in the 90s, the minivan was still the number-one family vehicle on the market. The second generation Caravan was launched in ‘91. It came in two lengths—standard and the long-wheelbase Grand Caravan.
Size isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to family-friendly vehicles, though—the Caravan was also increasingly safe. In addition to already-existing safety features, anti-lock brakes and all-wheel drive were introduced as options, as well as a driver-side airbag—a first for the minivan segment.
The best sports car of 1992: Acura NSX
KBB fair market range: ~$62,626
Powertrain: 3.0 liter, DOHC, 24-valve, V6 engine paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
First produced in 1990, this two-seat mid-engine coupe was manufactured by Honda, who wanted to meet (or exceed) the performance of the V8-engined Ferrari range. “NSX” stood for “New” “Sports car” “eXperimental,” and the vehicle would eventually inspire Gordan Murray in his design of the McLaren F1.
The best truck of 1992: Ford F-Series
KBB fair market range: $332–$5,450
Powertrain: An range of V6 and V8 engines, paired with 3-, 4,- or 5-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
Ford’s iconic F-Series pickup trucks have been around for years, and the ninth generation launched in 1992. The series included a complete range of trucks, from a half-ton F-150 pickup truck to a medium-duty F-800 commercial truck.
What cars came out in 1992?
The growing popularity of SUVs, paired with the consistent pervasiveness of the fuel-efficient hatchback and family-friendly minivan, made 1992 an interesting year for the automobile. Take a look at some of the brand new vehicles launched that year:
Model | Vehicle type | Engine | Fair market range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfa Romeo 155 | Compact executive car | A variety of inline-4 and V6 engines | $4,822–$10,455 | Produced by Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo, the 155 was unveiled in January 1992 in Barcelona at the Geneva Motor Show. Just under 200,000 versions of this car were made, between ‘92 and ‘92, before it was replaced by the 156. |
Chrysler Concorde | Full-size car | 3.3-liter V6 | $138–$654 | This full-size, front-wheel-drive, four-door sedan took the position as the entry-level sedan in Chrysler’s lineup, utilizing the revolutionary cab-forward design. |
Dodge Intrepid | Full-size car | 3.3-liter V6 | $138–$1,038 | Similar to the Concorde, this four-door, full-size sedan had a cab-forward design, replacing the Monaco as Dodge’s largest passenger car. |
Ford Mondeo | Large family car | A variety of inline-4 and V6 engines | $1,050–$4,950 | The first Ford labeled as a “world car,” the Mondeo was intended to consolidate several Ford models worldwide, including the European Sierra and the Asian Telstar. |
Hummer H1 | SUV | A variety of turbo V8 engines | $20,800–$63,500 | In 1992, Hummer began selling civilian versions of the military M998 Humvee, and the H1 was the first to hit the lots. This four-wheel-drive utility vehicle was created in direct response to an increased market demand for rough-and-tumble off-road automobiles. |
Jeep Grand Cherokee | Mid-size SUV | 4.0-liter straight-6 engine | $564–$829 | Originally conceived in the 1980s, the Grand Cherokee wasn’t launched until 1992 as the first Chrysler-badged Jeep product. |
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FAQs
What was the most popular car in 1992?
The Ford Taurus wasn’t just the best car of the year—it was also the best-selling!
What was the fastest car in 1992?
Reaching top speeds of 210.5 mph, the fastest car of 1992 was the Jaguar XJ220.
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