Chrysler ES: which version to buy and why
The Chrysler ES was sold in one generation, from 1988 to 1991, as a Hatchback 3-door with six versions. There is no second generation to wait for and no restyling to treat as a later car. The buying question is only which of the six drivetrains fits the job: 2.2 MT (148 hp), 2.2 AT (148 hp), 2.5 MT (98 hp), 2.5 AT (98 hp), 2.5 MT (146 hp), or 2.5 AT (146 hp).
The Chrysler ES was sold in one generation, from 1988 to 1991, as a Hatchback 3-door with six versions. There is no second generation to wait for and no restyling to treat as a later car. The buying question is only which of the six drivetrains fits the job: 2.2 MT (148 hp), 2.2 AT (148 hp), 2.5 MT (98 hp), 2.5 AT (98 hp), 2.5 MT (146 hp), or 2.5 AT (146 hp). All six are Gasoline, Inline 4, Front, transverse, FWD, 92 octane, 53 L tank, 115 mm ground clearance, Independent, spring suspension front and rear, Ventilated disc front brakes and Drum rear brakes. Wheel sizes are not measured on any version. Fuel consumption (city, highway, mixed) is not measured on any version. CO2 and eco class are not measured. The differences that decide a purchase are power, torque, boost, gearbox, mass, 0–100, and top speed.
People searching “chrysler es for sale”, “chrysler estate”, or “what suvs does chrysler make” are looking at a different object. This ES is not an SUV, not an estate, and not a later Chrysler with Mercedes parts in the data. The data here is six Hatchback 3-door versions from 1988–1991.
Generations: one generation, six versions, no later chassis
1 generation (1988–1991), Hatchback 3-door, 6 versions. Production start 1988-01-01, stop 1991-12-31. Every modification uses the same body type and the same years. There is no restyling listed as a separate generation. Choosing a “later ES” is not available in this catalogue: the generation count is 1.
What the generation does not change between versions: body, years, drive (FWD), tank (53 L), clearance (115 mm), suspension labels, brake labels, cylinder count (4), cylinder layout (Inline), valves per cylinder (2), engine location (Front, transverse), injection (Distributed injection (multi-point)), fuel grade (92). What it does change: displacement (2213 vs 2501 cm³), boost (Turbo vs No), power (98 vs 146 vs 148 hp), torque (180 vs 230 vs 244 Nm), compression (7.8 vs 8.1 vs 9), bore × stroke (87.5 × 92 vs 87.5 × 104), gearbox (Manual 5 vs Automatic 3), kerb weight (1140 vs 1225 kg), gross weight (1640 vs 1700 kg), 0–100 (9.2 s on one version only), top speed (162, 184, 186, 193 km/h where measured).
Specs table: engines, gearbox, drive
| Version | hp | Nm | Displacement (cm³) | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 MT | 148 | 230 | 2213 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 2.2 AT | 148 | 230 | 2213 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Automatic 3 | FWD |
| 2.5 MT (98 hp) | 98 | 180 | 2501 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 2.5 AT (98 hp) | 98 | 180 | 2501 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | Automatic 3 | FWD |
| 2.5 MT (146 hp) | 146 | 244 | 2501 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 2.5 AT (146 hp) | 146 | 244 | 2501 | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | Turbo | Automatic 3 | FWD |
Power rpm: 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT 5200; 2.5 MT (98 hp) and 2.5 AT (98 hp) 4400; 2.5 MT (146 hp) and 2.5 AT (146 hp) 5200. Torque rpm: 2400 on both 2.2 versions, 2800 on both 98 hp 2.5 versions, 2000 on both 146 hp 2.5 versions. kW: 109 on 2.2, 72 on 98 hp 2.5, 107 on 146 hp 2.5.
Performance and economy: measured vs not measured
0–100 km/h is measured on one version only: 2.5 MT (146 hp) at 9.2 s. For 2.2 MT, 2.2 AT, 2.5 MT (98 hp), 2.5 AT (98 hp), and 2.5 AT (146 hp), 0–100 is not measured.
Top speed:
- 2.5 MT (146 hp): 193 km/h — highest measured
- 2.5 AT (146 hp): 186 km/h — 7 km/h below the same engine with Manual 5
- 2.2 MT: 184 km/h — 9 km/h below the 146 hp 2.5 MT, 2 km/h below the 146 hp 2.5 AT
- 2.5 MT (98 hp): 162 km/h — 31 km/h below 2.2 MT, 31 km/h below 146 hp 2.5 AT, 24 km/h below 2.2 MT’s 184 if compared only to the other manuals: 193 − 162 = 31 km/h gap to the fastest manual
- 2.2 AT: not measured
- 2.5 AT (98 hp): not measured
City, highway, and mixed consumption: not measured on all six. There is no mpg figure in the data to rank economy. Tank is 53 L on all six, so range cannot be calculated from consumption that is not measured.
Dimensions and weight
Kerb / gross:
- 2.2 MT, 2.2 AT, 2.5 MT (98 hp), 2.5 AT (98 hp): 1140 / 1640 kg (payload 1640 − 1140 = 500 kg)
- 2.5 MT (146 hp), 2.5 AT (146 hp): 1225 / 1700 kg (payload 1700 − 1225 = 475 kg)
The turbo 2.5 pair is 85 kg heavier at kerb (1225 − 1140) and 60 kg heavier at gross (1700 − 1640). Payload is 25 kg lower (500 − 475). Ground clearance is 115 mm on all six. Tank 53 L on all six. Wheel sizes: not measured on all six.
Which version to choose: arithmetic on the six names
There is only one generation, so “which generation” is already answered: 1 generation, 1988–1991, Hatchback 3-door. The extra choice is engine and gearbox.
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres)
Displacement as litres: 2213 cm³ = 2.213 L; 2501 cm³ = 2.501 L.
- 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT: 148 ÷ 2.213 ≈ 66.9 hp/L — densest
- 2.5 MT (146 hp) / 2.5 AT (146 hp): 146 ÷ 2.501 ≈ 58.4 hp/L
- 2.5 MT (98 hp) / 2.5 AT (98 hp): 98 ÷ 2.501 ≈ 39.2 hp/L — least dense
The 2.2 Turbo makes 2 hp more than the 2.5 Turbo (148 − 146) from 288 cm³ less (2501 − 2213). The naturally aspirated 2.5 (Boost: No) makes 50 hp less than the 2.2 Turbo (148 − 98) and 48 hp less than the 2.5 Turbo (146 − 98).
Torque and when it arrives
- 2.5 MT (146 hp) / 2.5 AT (146 hp): 244 Nm at 2000 rpm — peak torque earliest and highest
- 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT: 230 Nm at 2400 rpm — 14 Nm less (244 − 230), 400 rpm later
- 2.5 MT (98 hp) / 2.5 AT (98 hp): 180 Nm at 2800 rpm — 64 Nm below the 2.5 Turbo (244 − 180), 50 Nm below the 2.2 (230 − 180), 800 rpm later than the 2.5 Turbo
Compression: 9.0 on the 98 hp 2.5 (highest), 8.1 on the 2.2 Turbo, 7.8 on the 146 hp 2.5 Turbo (lowest). Bore is 87.5 mm on all; stroke is 92 mm on 2.2 and 104 mm on both 2.5 engines (12 mm longer stroke on 2501 cm³).
Weight per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp)
- 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT: 1140 ÷ 148 ≈ 7.70 kg/hp — lightest per horsepower
- 2.5 MT (146 hp) / 2.5 AT (146 hp): 1225 ÷ 146 ≈ 8.39 kg/hp — 0.69 kg/hp heavier than the 2.2 despite similar power
- 2.5 MT (98 hp) / 2.5 AT (98 hp): 1140 ÷ 98 ≈ 11.63 kg/hp — about 3.93 kg/hp more than the 2.2 (11.63 − 7.70)
The 98 hp 2.5 shares the 1140 kg kerb of the 2.2 but has 50 fewer hp, so it is the heaviest-feeling pairing on paper. The 146 hp 2.5 pays 85 kg for 2 hp less than the 2.2 and 14 Nm more.
Manual 5 vs Automatic 3 on the same engine
Each engine exists as MT and AT. Manual is 5 gears; Automatic is 3 gears. Same hp, same Nm, same displacement, same boost within each pair.
- 2.2 MT vs 2.2 AT: both 148 hp / 230 Nm / 1140 kg. Top speed 184 km/h on MT; AT top speed not measured. 0–100 not measured on either.
- 2.5 MT (98 hp) vs 2.5 AT (98 hp): both 98 hp / 180 Nm / 1140 kg. Top speed 162 km/h on MT; AT top speed not measured. 0–100 not measured on either.
- 2.5 MT (146 hp) vs 2.5 AT (146 hp): both 146 hp / 244 Nm / 1225 kg. MT: 0–100 9.2 s, top 193 km/h. AT: 0–100 not measured, top 186 km/h (7 km/h less).
If the only measured sprint in the catalogue matters, the only version that documents 0–100 is 2.5 MT (146 hp). If the only measured automatic top speed among the turbos matters, 2.5 AT (146 hp) at 186 km/h is the sole AT figure in that power class; 2.2 AT remains not measured.
What the extra displacement buys (2.5 vs 2.2)
Without turbo (Boost: No): 2.5 MT (98 hp) vs 2.2 MT (148 hp). Extra 288 cm³ buys minus 50 hp and minus 50 Nm, 22 km/h less top speed where both manuals are measured (184 − 162), same 1140 kg. The larger naturally aspirated engine is not the stronger engine in this catalogue.
With turbo: 2.5 MT (146 hp) vs 2.2 MT (148 hp). Extra 288 cm³ and 85 kg buys minus 2 hp, plus 14 Nm, plus 9 km/h top speed (193 − 184), and the only 0–100 figure (9.2 s vs not measured on 2.2 MT). Stroke grows from 92 to 104 mm; compression drops from 8.1 to 7.8.
Same comparison as automatics: 2.5 AT (146 hp) vs 2.2 AT (148 hp): +14 Nm, −2 hp, +85 kg; 186 km/h vs not measured on 2.2 AT.
Recommendation by job (numbers only)
Highest measured top speed: 2.5 MT (146 hp) at 193 km/h.
Only measured 0–100: 2.5 MT (146 hp) at 9.2 s. No other version has a measured sprint; saying another is “faster to 100” would be invention.
Highest power and lightest kerb together: 2.2 MT and 2.2 AT at 148 hp and 1140 kg (best kg/hp at ≈7.70). Top speed documented on 2.2 MT only (184 km/h).
Highest torque and earliest peak: 2.5 MT (146 hp) and 2.5 AT (146 hp) at 244 Nm @ 2000 rpm. Cost in the data: 85 kg extra kerb vs the 1140 kg cars, 25 kg less payload (475 vs 500).
Lowest power, same light kerb: 2.5 MT (98 hp) and 2.5 AT (98 hp) at 98 hp / 180 Nm / 1140 kg. Measured top speed on the manual only: 162 km/h, the lowest measured in the set. Choose this pair only if Boost: No is the requirement; it is not the stronger 2.5.
Automatic 3: three candidates — 2.2 AT (148 hp, top speed not measured), 2.5 AT (98 hp, top speed not measured), 2.5 AT (146 hp, 186 km/h). Among automatics, only the 146 hp 2.5 has a measured top speed. Among automatics, 0–100 is not measured on all three.
Manual 5: 2.2 MT (184 km/h), 2.5 MT (98 hp, 162 km/h), 2.5 MT (146 hp, 193 km/h and 9.2 s). Rank by measured top speed: 193 > 184 > 162.
Payload: 500 kg on the four 1140/1640 versions; 475 kg on the two 1225/1700 turbo 2.5 versions. If mass on the axle matters more than 14 Nm, the 2.2 pair and the 98 hp 2.5 pair share the higher payload.
Ground clearance and tank: identical (115 mm, 53 L). Neither version “clears more” or “goes farther on a tank” from these data, because consumption is not measured.
Two names that look the same: do not treat 2.5 MT as one car. 2.5 MT (98 hp, Boost: No, 180 Nm, 1140 kg, 162 km/h) is not 2.5 MT (146 hp, Turbo, 244 Nm, 1225 kg, 9.2 s, 193 km/h). The same split applies to 2.5 AT (98 hp) vs 2.5 AT (146 hp). Link and compare by the horsepower in the data.
Chrysler ES in this catalogue is one Hatchback 3-door generation (1988–1991) and six FWD Gasoline versions. The 2.2 Turbo is the strongest on hp and kg/hp; the 2.5 Turbo is the strongest on Nm and the only version with a measured 0–100 (2.5 MT 146 hp); the 2.5 without turbo is the weakest on hp, Nm, hp/L, kg/hp, and measured top speed. Gearbox choice is Manual 5 versus Automatic 3 on each engine, with a documented 7 km/h top-speed gap only on the 146 hp 2.5 pair (193 vs 186). Everything else that would usually decide a buy — mpg, CO2, wheels, 0–100 on five of six versions, top speed on two automatics — is not measured.