What was the last year of the Chevy Citation?
The last year of the Chevy Citation was 1985.
The Chevy Citation was GM's compact car introduced in 1980 as part of the early-1980s X-body family. This article outlines its production span, place in GM's lineup, and why the model was discontinued after the mid-1980s.
Overview
The Citation marked GM's attempt to modernize its compact lineup with a front-wheel-drive layout. It shared a platform with several other GM badges, including the Pontiac Phoenix, Buick Skyhawk, and Oldsmobile Omega, collectively known as the X-body family. The car's early promise was tempered by reliability and quality concerns that affected the broader X-body line and influenced GM's later product decisions.
X-body platform and lineage
GM launched the X-body family to standardize design and engineering across its compact cars in the early 1980s. The Chevrolet Citation was the flagship Chevrolet variant in this group, with several badge-engineered siblings sold under different GM brands.
Production timeline
Below are the key points about how long the Citation was produced and where it fit in GM's strategy of the era.
- 1980 model year: Chevrolet Citation is introduced as GM's first mass-produced front-wheel-drive compact, built on the X-body platform alongside its GM siblings (Pontiac Phoenix, Buick Skyhawk, Oldsmobile Omega).
- 1985 model year: The Citations production ends, marking the conclusion of the X-body lineup for this model and signaling GM's shift toward newer compact designs such as the Cavalier.
In summary, the Citation's lifecycle stretched from 1980 to 1985, ending as GM redirected its small-car strategy toward newer designs.
Legacy and impact
The Chevy Citation, along with its X-body peers, left a mixed legacy. It represented an early push toward front-wheel-drive efficiency, but reliability and quality concerns during the period affected its reputation. The experience helped shape GM's subsequent approaches to compact cars and contributed to the industry-wide push for better-built, more dependable small cars in the late 1980s and beyond.
Summary
The Chevy Citation ran from 1980 through 1985 as GM's front-wheel-drive compact in the X-body lineup. Its discontinuation reflected a strategic shift to newer compact designs, with successors like the Cavalier continuing GM's efforts to compete in the evolving small-car market.
What car replaced the Chevy Citation?
After its discontinuation in 1985, the Citation was replaced by the Chevrolet Beretta coupe and Chevrolet Corsica sedan/hatchback, introduced in 1987.
How much horsepower does a 1980 Chevy Citation have?
This car has the optional 2.8-liter V6 engine, rated at 115 horsepower. The base engine was the harsh and clattery Iron Duke 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a sturdy-but-misery-inducing 90-horse unit that would have been more at home in a 1954 Bulgarian tractor than in a modern American family sedan.
When did they stop making Chevy citations?
1985
1985 marked the final year for the Citation. Now only sold with the Buick Skylark, Chevrolet dropped the Citation II coupe, leaving only the hatchbacks. While in its final year, the interior underwent its most substantial revision since 1980, as Chevrolet introduced a new dashboard for the Citation.
Why was the Chevy Citation so popular?
The cars were design breakthroughs, and rightfully heralded for their clean and modern silhouettes, roomy cabins, spritely handling, and impressive fuel economy. The Citation especially impressed the media so well that Consumer Guide named it the best car of 1980.
