Is a Chevy Lumina rear wheel drive?
No. The Chevrolet Lumina is a front-wheel-drive sedan. It was produced by General Motors from 1990 to 2001 and used a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout (with no factory rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive option in the U.S. market).
Overview of the Lumina and its drivetrain
The Lumina was Chevrolet’s mid-size sedan offering during the 1990s, positioned alongside other front-wheel-drive GM family cars. While GM sold a range of rear-wheel-drive models in the same era, the Lumina itself was never offered with factory RWD or AWD configurations in North America. This alignment with front-drive was part of GM’s broader shift toward transverse engine layouts in that period.
Drivetrain overview by era
Below is a concise look at the drivetrain configuration across the Lumina’s production years.
- 1990–1994 Lumina: front-wheel drive; common engine options included a 2.2-liter inline-four and a 3.1-liter V6.
- 1995–1999 Lumina (including the SS): front-wheel drive; continued use of the 3.1-liter V6 with a sport-oriented variant offering enhanced suspension and styling.
- 2000–2001 Lumina: final generation; front-wheel drive continued; 3.1-liter V6 remained typical; production ended in 2001.
Conclusion: All production Luminas were front-wheel-drive, with no official factory rear-wheel-drive versions offered in the U.S. market.
Common misconceptions and how they arise
Several readers associate the Lumina with rear-wheel drive because GM offered other RWD sedans in the same era or due to general confusion about GM’s lineup. It’s important to note that the Lumina family did not include rear-wheel-drive configurations; aftermarket conversions exist in theory but are not representative of factory design and can affect safety and reliability.
For consumers seeking GM sedans with true rear-wheel drive from that era, the Caprice/Impala on the B-body platform is the more typical reference, while the Lumina itself remained front-wheel drive.
Shopping considerations
When evaluating a used Lumina, check the vehicle’s drivetrain information in the VIN/build sheet and owner’s manual to confirm front-wheel-drive configuration. While some fans debate or discuss modifications, factory Luminas were not offered with rear-wheel drive or AWD from the factory.
Summary
The Chevy Lumina is not a rear-wheel-drive car. Across its production from 1990 to 2001, GM marketed Luminas with front-wheel drive as the standard configuration, with no factory rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive options. If you specifically need a GM sedan with RWD from that era, you’d look to other models such as the Caprice.
Is a Chevy Lumina front wheel drive?
The Chevrolet Lumina APV is a minivan that was produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Launched as the first front-wheel drive minivan sold by Chevrolet, the Lumina APV was sold in a single generation from the 1990 to 1996 model years.
Why was Chevy Lumina discontinued?
The Lumina is manufactured by General Motors company. The Lumina could be bought in a minivan, coupe or sedan. In North America Chevrolet discontinued the Lumina in 2000 due to dwindling sales and the success of the reborn Impala.
How much is a 1991 Chevy Lumina worth?
$890 to $5,165
How much is a 1991 Chevrolet Lumina worth? The value of a used 1991 Chevrolet Lumina ranges from $890 to $5,165, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options. Get a free appraisal here.
What Chevy sedan is RWD?
The main Chevy rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sedan is the now-discontinued Chevrolet SS, which was produced from 2014 to 2017. It was a performance-oriented, full-size sedan powered by a V8 engine and featuring RWD. The Caprice also existed as an RWD police vehicle from 2011 to 2017.
This video provides an overview of the Chevrolet SS, highlighting its features and performance: 59sAutomotive Anonymous YouTube · Jul 2, 2025
- Chevrolet SS (2014-2017): This is the primary RWD performance sedan Chevrolet offered for consumers.
- Engine: Featured a 6.2L LS3 V8 engine producing 415 horsepower.
- Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive.
- Transmission: Available with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.
- Performance: Could accelerate from 000 to 606060 mph in about 4.24.24.2 seconds.
- Chevrolet Caprice (2011-2017): This RWD sedan was sold primarily as a police vehicle in North America, built on a platform from Holden in Australia.
