Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 2.5 i (106 Hp)


Overall Rating

6.9 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.0 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 3.0 / 5
Comfort 4.0 / 5
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 Overview:

Oldsmobile Cutlass (Ciera). With 183 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1275 kg, it’s quite light. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. The top speed reaches 160 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.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera was not tested by Euro NCAP, as it was primarily designed for the North American market. Safety standards of the early 1990s were significantly different from modern vehicles, focusing more on basic crash protection and less on advanced driver-assistance systems.

2.5 i (106 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

Barely adequate for basic transportation, struggling with acceleration and highway speeds, best suited for relaxed driving.

Fuel Economy

Likely offered modest fuel economy, but its low power output means it often had to work harder, potentially negating efficiency gains.

Best Use Case: Strictly city driving, budget-conscious owners, or those prioritizing simplicity over performance.

reddit 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%
rating
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, soft ride quality
  • • Spacious interior for its class
  • • Generally reliable and easy to maintain
  • • Affordable purchase and running costs
  • • Simple, proven mechanicals

Cons:

  • • Outdated interior design and materials
  • • Vague steering and handling
  • • Lower fuel economy on V6 models
  • • Lacks modern safety features
  • • Resale value can be low

Specifications:

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

General:
Brand:Oldsmobile
Model:Cutlass
Generation:Ciera
Modification (Engine):2.5 i (106 Hp)
Start of production:1981
End of production:1991
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Sedan
Seats:5
Doors:4
Engine:
Power:106 Hp @ 4800 rpm.
Power per litre:42.9 Hp/l
Torque:183 Nm @ 3200 rpm.
Engine displacement:2471
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Single-point injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Engine oil capacity:4.3 l
Coolant:11.5 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:101.6 mm mm
Piston Stroke:76.2 mm mm
Compression ratio:8.3:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:14 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:9 l/100 km
Maximum speed:160 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:12 kg/Hp, 83.1 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:7 kg/Nm, 143.5 Nm/tonne
Space:
Kerb Weight:1275
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:450 l
Fuel tank capacity:59 l
Size:
Length:4835 mm mm [352mm less]
Width:1765 mm mm [165mm less]
Height:1375 mm mm [7mm less]
Wheelbase:2665 mm mm [256mm less]
Front track:1490 mm
Rear (Back) track:1445 mm
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears3
Transmission typeAutomatic
Front brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDrum [bad for performance and cooling.]
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size185/75 R14
Front suspensionCoil spring
Rear suspensionLeaf spring

Does the Oldsmobile Cutlass live up to the hype? Give us your verdict!