1990 Chevrolet Lumina

1990-1994 Chevrolet Lumina
Midsize, front-drive 6-passenger sedan arrived in late spring 1989 as GM's challenge to the Ford Taurus. A coupe joined the sedan that fall on the same 107.5-inch wheelbase, roughly replacing the old Monte Carlo. Chevrolet's sedan was the first 4-door from the GM design that produced the 1988 Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Pontiac Grand Prix coupes. Luminas came in base or sportier Euro guise. Euros wore blackout body trim and had a sport suspension, and either 15- or 16-inch tires. Base Luminas made do with 14-inch rubber. Standard equipment on all models included 4-wheel disc brakes, power steering, and a fully independent suspension all around. Euros added air conditioning.

Year-to-Year Changes
1991 Chevrolet Lumina: A high-performance Z34 coupe arrived during 1991, powered by GM's new twin-cam 3.4-liter engine. The Z34 was the only Chevrolet model to get that potent V6. Special styling touches included a louvered hood, ground-effects body add-ons, and a rear lip spoiler. In addition to the hotter engine, the Z34 contained a sport suspension, high-performance tires on alloy wheels, analog gauges, and sport-bucket seats. A body-colored, louver-style grille replaced the black-out unit on Luminas, and Euros got "touring" tires for a softer ride.
1992 Chevrolet Lumina: Antilock braking became available in '92, standard in the Euro and Z34, but optional in base models. Also, the 3.4-liter engine was offered in Euro sedans as well as in the Z34 coupe. The 3.4-liter Euro option package came only with 4-speed automatic, so the engine was rated 200 horsepower.
1993 Chevrolet Lumina: A 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine replaced the 2.5-liter in base Luminas, but all coupes carried a V6 this year.
1994 Chevrolet Lumina: All '94 Luminas had a V6 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission with new electronic controls. The base coupe departed, leaving only Euro and Z34 coupes. A new design was in the works for 1995.

Road Test Evaluation
Lumina's base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers only so-so action. The 2.2-liter of 1993 isn't sufficient, either. The 3.1-liter V6 is snappier, especially with 4-speed automatic transmission. However, the automatic's aversion to downshifts makes the car feel sluggish. Acceleration off-the-line is quick, but once underway, a heavy throttle foot is needed to overcome the transmission's reluctance. Highway cruising is quiet and relaxed, however.
The twin-cam 3.4-liter engine, available from 1991 onward delivers outstanding acceleration, but most of its power is concentrated at high engine speeds.

Body lean in turns is well-controlled. While the suspension absorbs most bumps without much disturbance, freeway dips set the body to jouncing. Steering feel is imprecise and heavy, contributing to the car's ponderous feel in urban driving. All-disc brakes have good stopping power, but the pedal is too firm and hard to modulate.

Non-Euros lag a bit in performance and handling, though both versions deliver a solid feel on the road. For competent handling, the Euro's sport suspension and bigger tires are a necessity. Even so, Euros have proved to be disappointing. Their suspensions fail to filter out the bumps well, and still allow too much bounce over wavy surfaces. With its sport suspension, the Z34 is quick but rides rougher than its more sedate mates.

Gauges are easy to read at a glance, but some controls are hard to reach. Climate controls are large and simple. Luminas are roomy inside for adults, front and rear, with plenty of cargo space on a flat trunk floor. Rear seat cushions are too short for long-distance comfort. Every door has a map pocket, and the center storage console is handy, but the glovebox is tiny.

 

Other Highlights

Powertrain Options and Availability
A 110-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was standard in early Luminas. A 135-horsepower, 3.1-liter V6 went into Euro editions, or could be installed in base models. Standard transmission was a 3-speed automatic, but a 4-speed overdrive automatic was optional with the V6. The 3-speed can be found in many V6 Luminas, however. GM's new twin-cam 3.4-liter V6 went into the high-performance Z34 coupe, which arrived during 1991. That engine was rated at 210 horsepower with standard 5-speed manual shift (200 with automatic). Base engines lost 5 horsepower in 1992, but the potent dual-cam 3.4-liter could be installed in Euros (automatic transmission only). A smaller (2.2-liter) 4-cylinder engine went into '93 models, making 110 horsepower; but a year later, all Luminas had V6 engines.