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Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais 2.3 16V (162 Hp)
Overall Rating
Oldsmobile Cutlass:
The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a series of automobiles produced by the General Motors' Oldsmobile division between 1961 and 1999. At its introduction, the Cutlass was Oldsmobile's entry-level model; it began as a unibody compact car, but saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate. The Cutlass was named after Vought F7U Cutlass, as well as the type of sword, which was common during the Age of Sail.
Introduced as the top trim level in Oldsmobile's compact F-85 Series, the Cutlass evolved into a distinct series of its own, spawning numerous variants. These included the 4-4-2 muscle car in 1964, the upscale Cutlass Supreme in 1966, the high-performance Hurst/Olds in 1968, and the Vista Cruiser station wagon....(Read more on Wikipedia)
Calais Overview:
Oldsmobile Cutlass (Calais). With 210 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1200 kg, it’s quite light. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. The top speed reaches 195 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais was produced before the establishment of Euro NCAP (1997) and therefore was not tested under its protocols. Safety standards of the era were significantly different from modern vehicles.
2.3 16V (162 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
A high-revving, potent engine for its time (the Quad 4), offering surprisingly strong acceleration and a sporty feel for a compact sedan, especially when paired with the manual transmission.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is secondary to performance, likely average to below-average for a 4-cylinder of its era, particularly when driven enthusiastically.
Community Verdict
This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.
3 / 5
Based on AI analysis of 11 discussions
Read What Owners Say
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Distinctive styling for its era
- • Available high-performance Quad 4 engine option
- • Comfortable ride quality, typical of American sedans
- • Relatively spacious interior for its class
- • Good highway cruiser with the V6 option
Cons:
- • Outdated safety features by modern standards
- • Interior quality could be inconsistent and prone to wear
- • Some engines lacked refinement (e.g., Iron Duke)
- • Front-wheel drive platform limited ultimate sporty potential
- • Fuel economy could be poor on performance and V6 models
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Supreme Coupe: 1987 - 1997).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Oldsmobile |
| Model: | Cutlass |
| Generation: | Calais |
| Modification (Engine): | 2.3 16V (162 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1988 |
| End of production: | 1991 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 162 Hp @ 6200 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 71.7 Hp/l [345mm less] |
| Torque: | 210 Nm @ 5200 rpm. |
| Engine displacement: | 2260 |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 4 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4.3 l |
| Coolant: | 10.5 l |
| Engine layout: | Front, Transverse |
| Cylinder Bore: | 92 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 85 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9.5:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 15 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 9.2 l/100 km |
| Maximum speed: | 195 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 7.4 kg/Hp, 135 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 5.7 kg/Nm, 175 Nm/tonne |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1200 |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 375 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 51 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4555 mm mm [345mm less] |
| Width: | 1700 mm mm [105mm less] |
| Height: | 1330 mm mm [20mm less] |
| Wheelbase: | 2625 mm mm [105mm less] |
| Front track: | 1420 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1410 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 185/75 R14 |
| Front suspension | Coil spring |
| Rear suspension | Leaf spring |
If you could change one thing about the Oldsmobile Cutlass, what would it be?