Ford LTD Crown Victoria: Which Version to Choose?
The Ford LTD Crown Victoria catalogue covers one Sedan generation produced from 1980 to 1991, with six listed versions: four entries named 4.9 AT and two named 5.8 AT. Because several versions share the same name, power is the clearest way to distinguish them. The 4.9 AT versions produce 132, 142, 147, or 152 hp, while the 5.8 AT versions produce 167 or 182 hp.
The Ford LTD Crown Victoria catalogue covers one Sedan generation produced from 1980 to 1991, with six listed versions: four entries named 4.9 AT and two named 5.8 AT. Because several versions share the same name, power is the clearest way to distinguish them. The 4.9 AT versions produce 132, 142, 147, or 152 hp, while the 5.8 AT versions produce 167 or 182 hp. All six are Gasoline, naturally aspirated, rear-wheel-drive cars with an Automatic gearbox. The key choice is between the more economical 4.9 AT specifications and the stronger but thirstier 5.8 AT specifications.
Generations and versions
The only generation ran from 1980 to 1991. It has a Sedan body and six versions. There is no second generation in the supplied catalogue data, so the buying comparison is entirely between engine specifications within the same generation rather than between generations.
Despite the repeated names, the specifications are not interchangeable. Power spans 132–182 hp, torque spans 325–393 Nm, kerb weight spans 1,685–1,744 kg, and combined fuel consumption spans 11.2–13.8 l/100 km. Buyers should therefore identify a car by both its exact version name and its stated power output.
Engine specs comparison
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 AT (132 hp) | 132 hp / 97 kW at 3,200 rpm | 325 Nm at 2,000 rpm | 4,942 cc | Gasoline, 92 | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 4.9 AT (142 hp) | 142 hp / 104 kW at 3,200 rpm | 339 Nm at 1,600 rpm | 4,942 cc | Gasoline, 92 | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 4.9 AT (147 hp) | 147 hp / 108 kW at 3,600 rpm | 332 Nm at 2,200 rpm | 4,942 cc | Gasoline, 92 | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 4.9 AT (152 hp) | 152 hp / 112 kW at 3,200 rpm | 366 Nm at 2,000 rpm | 4,942 cc | Gasoline, 92 | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 5.8 AT (167 hp) | 167 hp / 123 kW at 3,600 rpm | 393 Nm at 2,200 rpm | 5,766 cc | Gasoline, 92 | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 5.8 AT (182 hp) | 182 hp / 134 kW at 3,600 rpm | 386 Nm at 2,400 rpm | 5,766 cc | Gasoline, 92 | 8, V-shaped | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
Every engine has two valves per cylinder and a front, longitudinal location. The four 4.9 AT entries share a 101.6 × 76.2 mm bore and stroke. The 132, 142, and 147 hp versions use Central injection (single-point or single- point) and an 8.4 compression ratio; the 152 hp version uses Distributed injection (multi-point) and an 8.9 compression ratio.
Both 5.8 AT versions use a Carburetor, an 8.3 compression ratio, and a 101.6 × 88.9 mm bore and stroke. Among the complete set, the 5.8 AT (167 hp) has the highest torque at 393 Nm, exceeding the 5.8 AT (182 hp) by 7 Nm even though it produces 15 hp less.
Calculated from the supplied displacement and power figures, specific output ranges from about 26.7 hp per litre for the 4.9 AT (132 hp) to about 31.6 hp per litre for the 5.8 AT (182 hp). The 4.9 AT (152 hp) reaches about 30.8 hp per litre, making it the strongest 4.9 AT relative to displacement.
Performance, mpg and fuel economy
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 AT (132 hp) | 13.3 s | 162 km/h | 13.8 l/100 km | 9.0 l/100 km | 11.8 l/100 km |
| 4.9 AT (142 hp) | 12.4 s | 166 km/h | 13.8 l/100 km | 8.7 l/100 km | 11.8 l/100 km |
| 4.9 AT (147 hp) | 12.3 s | 168 km/h | 13.8 l/100 km | 9.0 l/100 km | 11.8 l/100 km |
| 4.9 AT (152 hp) | 11.8 s | 176 km/h | 13.1 l/100 km | 9.0 l/100 km | 11.2 l/100 km |
| 5.8 AT (167 hp) | 11.1 s | 176 km/h | 16.8 l/100 km | 9.8 l/100 km | 13.8 l/100 km |
| 5.8 AT (182 hp) | 10.8 s | 181 km/h | 16.8 l/100 km | 9.8 l/100 km | 13.8 l/100 km |
For performance, the 5.8 AT (182 hp) is the clear leader: it reaches 100 km/h 2.5 seconds sooner and has a top speed 19 km/h higher than the 4.9 AT (132 hp). The 5.8 AT (167 hp) is only 0.3 seconds slower to 100 km/h than the 182 hp specification, and both 5.8 AT versions have identical listed consumption.
For economy, the 4.9 AT (152 hp) is the strongest choice. Its 11.2 l/100 km combined figure is 0.6 l/100 km lower than the other 4.9 AT versions and 2.6 l/100 km lower than either 5.8 AT. It also has the lowest listed city consumption at 13.1 l/100 km. The lowest highway figure belongs to the 4.9 AT (142 hp) at 8.7 l/100 km, which is 1.1 l/100 km below either 5.8 AT.
CO₂ emissions are not measured for every version. The environmental class is also not measured for every version.
Dimensions, weight and chassis
Exterior length, width, height, and wheelbase are not measured for all six versions. Gross weight is not measured, and wheel sizes are not measured.
| Version | Kerb weight | Weight per hp | Ground clearance | Fuel tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 AT (132 hp) | 1,685 kg | 12.8 kg/hp | 130 mm | 68 l |
| 4.9 AT (142 hp) | 1,692 kg | 11.9 kg/hp | 130 mm | 68 l |
| 4.9 AT (147 hp) | 1,700 kg | 11.6 kg/hp | 130 mm | 68 l |
| 4.9 AT (152 hp) | 1,714 kg | 11.3 kg/hp | 130 mm | 68 l |
| 5.8 AT (167 hp) | 1,730 kg | 10.4 kg/hp | 130 mm | 68 l |
| 5.8 AT (182 hp) | 1,744 kg | 9.6 kg/hp | 130 mm | 68 l |
The extra power improves the calculated weight-to-power relationship despite increasing kerb weight. The 5.8 AT (182 hp) weighs 59 kg more than the 4.9 AT (132 hp), but carries about 3.2 fewer kilograms per horsepower. The 4.9 AT (152 hp) is 29 kg lighter than the 5.8 AT (182 hp), although the latter has a 1.7 kg/hp advantage.
Chassis specifications do not distinguish the versions: each has Independent, spring front suspension, Dependent, spring rear suspension, Disc front brakes, and Drum rear brakes.
Which Ford LTD Crown Victoria version should you buy?
The 4.9 AT (152 hp) is the best all-round specification on the supplied numbers. It combines 366 Nm with an 11.8-second 0–100 km/h time and a 176 km/h top speed, while also recording the lowest city and combined consumption. Compared with the 4.9 AT (132 hp), it adds 20 hp and 41 Nm, cuts 1.5 seconds from the acceleration time, and raises top speed by 14 km/h while using 0.6 l/100 km less on the combined cycle.
Choose the 4.9 AT (142 hp) if highway consumption is the priority. Its 8.7 l/100 km highway result is the lowest in the range. It also provides 14 Nm more than the 4.9 AT (132 hp), reaches 100 km/h 0.9 seconds sooner, and increases top speed by 4 km/h without changing the 11.8 l/100 km combined figure.
The 4.9 AT (147 hp) sits between the 142 and 152 hp alternatives but has a less decisive numerical advantage. Against the 142 hp version, it adds 5 hp yet has 7 Nm less torque, saves only 0.1 seconds to 100 km/h, and uses 0.3 l/100 km more on the highway. The 4.9 AT (132 hp) is the lightest option, but it is also the slowest and least powerful.
Choose the 5.8 AT (167 hp) when maximum listed torque matters most. Its 393 Nm is the highest figure here, and its 11.1-second acceleration time beats the 4.9 AT (152 hp) by 0.7 seconds. The trade-off is consumption: it uses 3.7 l/100 km more in the city and 2.6 l/100 km more combined than the 152 hp 4.9 AT, while both share the same 176 km/h top speed.
Choose the 5.8 AT (182 hp) for outright performance. It has the best acceleration, highest top speed, greatest power, and lowest calculated weight per horsepower. Relative to the 5.8 AT (167 hp), it adds 15 hp, saves 0.3 seconds to 100 km/h, and gains 5 km/h in top speed, with identical listed fuel consumption. Its torque is 7 Nm lower, however, so the 167 hp version remains the torque-led alternative.
Problems and reliability data are not measured for any version, so these specifications cannot support a reliability ranking. Based strictly on the available figures, the 4.9 AT (152 hp) offers the strongest balance, while the 5.8 AT (182 hp) is the performance choice.