Plymouth Colt Vista
The Plymouth Colt Vista was a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) sold by Plymouth, a division of Chrysler, in the 1980s and early 1990s. Like the Plymouth Colt, the Colt Vista was the result of Chrysler’s partnership with Mitsubishi Motors, meaning it was essentially a rebadged Mitsubishi product. It filled a niche in the U.S. market for those seeking a compact, versatile vehicle before the rise in popularity of SUVs and larger minivans.
Plymouth Colt Vista Overview
The Plymouth Colt Vista was a rebadged version of the Mitsubishi Chariot/Space Wagon/Nimbus. Due to Chrysler’s partnership with Mitsubishi, several Mitsubishi models were sold under different nameplates in the U.S., and the Colt Vista was one such example.
The Colt Vista was a compact MPV, offering a taller profile than regular sedans and hatchbacks, which made it more versatile for families and cargo. The vehicle was available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, which was somewhat unique for a vehicle of its class during that time. It typically featured sliding doors on its passenger side (but wasn’t a minivan in the traditional sense) and had a two-box design, with seating configurations to accommodate five to seven passengers.
The Colt Vista was powered by a variety of four-cylinder engines over its production run, which reflected the powertrain options of its Mitsubishi counterpart.
In addition to being sold as the Plymouth Colt Vista, this MPV was also marketed as the Dodge Colt Vista. After the discontinuation of the Plymouth brand, the vehicle’s successor continued as the Mitsubishi Expo LRV and Eagle Summit Wagon in the U.S.
The Colt Vista, given its versatile design, was seen as a practical choice for families looking for a compact yet spacious vehicle. Its option for all-wheel drive also made it appealing to those in regions with more challenging weather conditions. However, like many badge-engineered vehicles, it often lived in the shadow of its original counterpart, the Mitsubishi Chariot.
The Plymouth Colt Vista, along with its Dodge counterpart, was phased out in the early 1990s. By the mid-90s, the compact MPV segment had evolved, and traditional minivans and SUVs began to dominate the family vehicle market.
Plymouth Colt Vista US Sales Data & Charts
US Annual Sales
| Year | Sales Units |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 1,992 |
| 1984 | 7,465 |
| 1985 | 11,588 |
| 1986 | 16,995 |
| 1987 | 14,044 |
| 1988 | 9,249 |
| 1989 | 6,257 |
| 1990 | 2,666 |
| 1991 | 4,860 |
| 1992 | 7,507 |
| 1993 | 6,175 |
| 1994 | 2,370 |
| 1995 | 4,550 |
| 1996 | 1,335 |
