Volkswagen Corrado 53I, facelift 1991 2.9 VR6 (190 Hp) Automatic


Overall Rating

7.5 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.8 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 4.0 / 5
Comfort 3.5 / 5
People\'s Opinion 3.5 / 5

Volkswagen Corrado:

The Volkswagen Corrado is a sport compact car which was marketed by Volkswagen from 1988 until 1995. It was manufactured by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany. The Corrado is a three-door coupé with two side passenger doors and a rear liftback that seats four passengers in a 2+2 seating arrangement. It has a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout and was based on the Volkswagen Group A2 platform used in the Volkswagen Golf Mk2.
Designed by Herbert Schäfer, the Corrado overlapped and eventually superseded Volkswagen's Scirocco model. 97,521 Corrados were manufactured over the seven year production run; about 50,000 of them were sold in the United States....(Read more on Wikipedia)

53I, facelift 1991 Overview:

Volkswagen Corrado (53I, facelift 1991). With 245 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1270 kg, it’s quite light. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is good (0–100 km/h in 6.9 s). The top speed reaches 225 km/h. A two-door car with a fixed roof, known for its sporty design and dynamic performance. Seating for 4 makes it ideal for daily use.

2.9 VR6 (190 Hp) Automatic Verdict:

Rating 4 stars

Performance Verdict

A potent engine delivering strong acceleration, making it a true performance coupe. The automatic transmission, while convenient, might not fully exploit its potential.

Fuel Economy

Despite the higher power, the listed fuel economy is surprisingly competitive for an automatic VR6, though real-world figures may vary.

Best Use Case: Enthusiast driving / Highway cruising

reddit Community Verdict

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

Allowed: 45% Neutral: 36% Issues: 18%
rating
3.5 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 11 discussions

Read What Owners Say
👍 POSITIVE
The JD power reviews and bullshit and bought out VW's are reliable. Their 2.0T engines are nearly bullet proof. Granted they have been having issues with their tiguans but overall great cars!
👍 POSITIVE
Yes. I had a 2013 Jetta S, put 160k on it with zero issues and nothing but basic maintenance and traded it in for a new Jetta.
😐 NEUTRAL
A lot of people conflate cost of maintenance with reliability. The people bashing brands like VW, Audi, and BMW will turn around and praise Porsches for being reliable. Yes, Porsches are reliable, but maintenance costs are high. Being reliable means that the car won't break down on you unexpectedly. Unless you're buying a VW that is well known to fail (for example, 1st and 2nd gen EA888 engines),
👎 NEGATIVE
I’m at 105k miles and had to replace two emissions systems valves ($1800) and the 21’s have shit brakes. I’ve spent more money on brakes and rotors than anything. Almost never have to change them on a Yota or a Honda. Facts
👍 POSITIVE
Take care of the car and it'll take care of you for a long while.
👍 POSITIVE
Every 5,000 miles change the oil using the Volkswagen standard 502 synthetic, and you should have many years of hassle-free driving. I'm driving a 25-year-old Passat wagon with 190,000 mi on the clock. So I guess what I'm saying is they're reliable as long as you do the maintenance.
👎 NEGATIVE
Reliable? Yes but not as good as they used to be (built wise). They used to be better but VW cut corners since Diesel gate.
👍 POSITIVE
They are reliable. I only have to top off my coolant reservoir in 4 months.
😐 NEUTRAL
Effectively every vehicle is reliable if you maintain it. And sometimes things break. On any vehicle.
😐 NEUTRAL
It depends a little on the model. I had a 2013 Jetta that never gave me shit except for a few little things (evap solenoid, wheel bearing). She always started. I recently bought a B6 Passat for a project that wasn’t running, now that I’ve gotten it going it’s having a few little problems but nothing substantially wrong with it. I think it depends on how well you’re willing to maintain your car


Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Timeless and distinctive coupe design
  • • Engaging handling and driving dynamics
  • • Powerful VR6 engine options offer thrilling performance
  • • High-quality interior materials for its era
  • • Becoming a sought-after modern classic

Cons:

  • • Rear seating is very cramped
  • • Fuel economy can be poor, especially with VR6 engines
  • • Maintenance costs can be higher for VR6 and G60 models
  • • Some parts can be difficult to source due to age
  • • Automatic transmissions can feel dated

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(53l: 1989 - 1991).

General:
Brand:Volkswagen
Model:Corrado
Generation:53I, facelift 1991
Modification (Engine):2.9 VR6 (190 Hp) Automatic
Start of production:1991
End of production:1995
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Coupe
Seats:4
Doors:3
Engine:
Power:190 Hp @ 5800 rpm. Same horsepower
Power per litre:66.4 Hp/l [Same length.]
Torque:245 Nm @ 4200 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:ABV More details about the engine ABV
Engine displacement:2861
Number of cylinders:6
Engine configuration:VR-engine
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Valvetrain:DOHC
Engine oil capacity:6 l
Coolant:8.2 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:82 mm mm
Piston Stroke:90.3 mm mm
Compression ratio:10:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:14.3 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:7.9 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - combined:8.5 l/100 km
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h:6.9 sec
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph:6.9 sec
Maximum speed:225 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:6.7 kg/Hp, 149.6 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:5.2 kg/Nm, 192.9 Nm/tonne
Acceleration 0 - 60 mph:6.6 sec
Space:
Kerb Weight:1270
Max. weight:1580
Max load:310
Trunk (boot) space - maximum:810 l
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:235 l
Fuel tank capacity:70 l
Size:
Length:4050 mm mm [Same length.]
Width:1690 mm mm [Same width.]
Height:1310 mm mm [Same height.]
Wheelbase:2470 mm mm [Same wheelbase.]
Front track:1435 mm
Rear (Back) track:1430 mm
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears4
Transmission typeAutomatic
Front brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDisc
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size205/50 R15
Wheel rims size6.5J x 15
Front suspensionWishbone
Rear suspensionSuspension with traction connecting levers

Every driver has a story. What’s yours with the Volkswagen Corrado?