Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Coupe 2.5 i (106 Hp)

Overall Rating

3.6 / 10

Safety N/A / 5

Not Rated

Engine N/A / 5

Not Rated

Value N/A / 5

Not Rated

Performance N/A / 5

Not Rated

Comfort N/A / 5

Not Rated

People\'s Opinion 1.8 / 5

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)

Ciera Coupe Overview:

Oldsmobile Cutlass (Ciera Coupe). A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 0 makes it ideal for daily use.

2.5 i (106 Hp) Verdict:

Performance Verdict

The 2.5L 'Iron Duke' inline-four, while robust, offered merely adequate performance for the Ciera Coupe. It was designed for economy and reliability rather than spirited driving, making it suitable for daily commuting.

Fuel Economy

This engine provided reasonable fuel economy for its era, especially compared to larger V6 and V8 options. It was a practical choice for buyers prioritizing efficiency over outright power.

Best Use Case: City / Suburban Commuting

Community Verdict

This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.

Allowed: 13% Neutral: 13% Issues: 75%

1.8 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 16 discussions

Read What Owners Say

👎 NEGATIVE

Engine swaps in emissions inspections areas (like metro Atlanta.) Put a really stout Olds 350, 403 or 455 in, true dual exhaust, no catalytic converters.

👎 NEGATIVE

One of the last desirable ones. As the former owner of a vehicle with the 307 Oldsmobile V8 quadrajet, which became the standard engine in these, I was actually mad that these square wagons never got anything better after the early 80s.

👍 POSITIVE

God I want one of these. Real desirable car there.

👎 NEGATIVE

Rear windows that don't roll down.

👎 NEGATIVE

I'd love to own a nice example in 2026, but I'm pretty sure these exist only in photos and tall tales anymore.

👎 NEGATIVE

I drove an '88 Custom Cruiser as a teenager. Not sure if same engine, but it's the official car of SLOW! 0-60 was just under 20 seconds.

👎 NEGATIVE

What year did they fix the blocks? '82? I think that's also when they down rated them to 105 HP. I hope they move better than the full size diesel wagons.

👍 POSITIVE

I’ll take either the Bonneville or the Cutlass.

👎 NEGATIVE

Not at all, imo. Every piece of rubber on that car is going to give up the ghost immediately if you start actually using it. I’ve had much better luck with average mileage old cars than low mileage ones. You’d be better off finding something that has been driven enough to have required maintenance.

👎 NEGATIVE

You definitely have to be a diy person. I drive 20+ year old car every day. Plan at least double on upkeep. Tires, belts, hoses,gaskets. A water pump or thermostat might not be bad, but the gasket might give. And at that point you replace the part if you're that far in for the gasket. And, look into parts, you might be getting into parts scarcity. Lots of hoses for vacuum and emissions will be cra

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Comfortable ride quality typical of Oldsmobile.
• Spacious interior for its class.
• Reliable powertrain options for the era.
• Classic American styling.

Cons:

• Base 2.5L engine can feel underpowered.
• Handling is soft, not sporty.
• Outdated safety features by modern standards.
• Fuel economy, while improved, isn't exceptional.

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Supreme Holiday Sedan: 1966 - 1967).

General:
Brand:	Oldsmobile
Model:	Cutlass
Generation:	Ciera Coupe
Modification (Engine):	2.5 i (106 Hp)
Start of production:	1981
End of production:	1991
Powertrain Architecture:	Internal Combustion engine
Body type:	Sedan

Engine:
Power:	106 Hp
Engine aspiration:	Naturally aspirated engine
Engine oil capacity:	4.3 l
Coolant:	11.5 l

Performance:
Fuel Type:	Petrol (Gasoline)

Is the Oldsmobile Cutlass the king of its class? Share your thoughts.

Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it produced over 35 million vehicles, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan, factory alone....Continue reading