Mitsubishi Starion 0–60 Times
The Mitsubishi Starion 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 6 recorded performance tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Motor Week and more.
The fastest tested Mitsubishi Starion is the 1985 Mitsubishi Starion ESI Coupe, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 7.50 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 16.00 seconds at 87.5 mph, according to Road & Track.
The slowest tested Mitsubishi Starion is the 1983 Mitsubishi Starion LS Coupe, which took 9.20 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 17.00 seconds at 79.5 mph, according to Road & Track.
Out of all the Mitsubishi Starion tests in our database, the average 0–60 mph time is 8.40 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 16.52 seconds at 83.47 mph.
Fastest 0–60
7.50sec
1985 ESI Coupe · stock
Average 0–60
8.40sec
Across 6 runs
Avg ¼ Mile
16.52sec
@ 83.5 mph trap
Slowest 0–60
9.20sec
1983 LS Coupe
Across 6 verified runs, the Mitsubishi Starion ranges from 7.50 to 9.20 seconds 0–60, with a 8.40-second average.
01 /
Mitsubishi Starion Performance Overview
Mitsubishi’s Starion performance story on this page spans 1983 to 1986, with 6 verified tests covering the rear-drive A18x era. Across those tests, the turbocharged G54B four-cylinder remained the constant, with output ranging from 145 to 176 hp and gasoline power throughout. The earliest result here, the 1983 LS Coupe, set the initial benchmark at 8.62 seconds to 60 mph, while another 1983 LS Coupe ran 9.2 seconds, establishing the slower end of the recorded range.
By 1985, the A18x package had moved into its quickest documented form. The 1985 ESI Coupe cut 0-60 to 7.5 seconds and covered the quarter-mile in 16.0 seconds at 87.5 mph, both the best figures in this dataset. Other mid-run tests show the spread within the lineup: a 1985 ESI-R Coupe reached 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, and a 1986 ESI-R Coupe did it in 7.9 seconds, indicating incremental gains as the series matured.
As represented by these independently verified results, the Starion remains a compact 1980s turbo coupe with a narrow but clear performance arc: from low-9-second and high-8-second early LS runs to the strongest ESI and ESI-R performances in the mid-7-second range. In the data today, the 1985 ESI Coupe still stands as the quickest Starion tested.
02 /
Mitsubishi Starion 0–60 Times by Generation
1 generation| Generation | Years | Avg 0–60 | Fastest 0–60 | Tests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A18x | 1982–1989 | 8.40s | 7.50s — 1985 ESI Coupe | 6 | The A18x generation (1982–1989) averaged 8.40 seconds to 60 mph across 6 tests, led by the 1985 ESI Coupe at 7.50 seconds. Output ranged from 145 to 176 hp across 2.6L Turbo I-4 configurations. |
A18x
1982–1989
Avg 0–60
8.40s
Fastest
7.50s
Tests
6
1985 ESI Coupe
The A18x generation (1982–1989) averaged 8.40 seconds to 60 mph across 6 tests, led by the 1985 ESI Coupe at 7.50 seconds. Output ranged from 145 to 176 hp across 2.6L Turbo I-4 configurations.
03 /
Mitsubishi Starion 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
6 tests · 3 years
▾
1986 Mitsubishi Starion
1 verified run
Avg 0–60
8.10
sec
Avg ¼ Mile
16.50
sec
Recorded Tests
1
#03
1986 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R Coupe
8.10sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph
0.0s · 0mph
16.50s
¼ mi @ 83.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 8.10 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 16.50 sec
- Trap Speed
- 83.0 mph
- Engine
- 2.6L Turbo I-4
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 176 hp
- Torque
- 223 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 3,100 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 17.6 lbs/hp
- MPG EPA
- 16 C / 22 H
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Coupe
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Motor Week
- Overall Rank
- #3 of 6
How we verify Mitsubishi Starion performance data
We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same Mitsubishi Starion trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
04 /
Mitsubishi Starion 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a recorded test run
0–60 →
¼ mile →
Fastest
Recorded run
Slowest
05 /
Mitsubishi Starion performance FAQs
10 questions
The 1986 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R Coupe reaches 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. Its recorded quarter-mile time is 16.5 seconds at 83 mph. That 1986 test car used a turbocharged 2.6-liter G54B engine with 176 horsepower and 223 lb-ft, sending power to the rear wheels.
The quickest Mitsubishi Starion on record is the 1985 ESI Coupe, with a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds. It also owns the best quarter-mile result at 16.0 seconds with an 87.5-mph trap speed. Across all six verified Starion tests, that remains the benchmark.
The fastest stock Mitsubishi Starion on record is also the 1985 ESI Coupe at 7.5 seconds from 0-60 mph. There are six production Starion tests in total, and no modified examples are included, so the fastest overall result and fastest stock result are the same car and time.
The A18x-series Mitsubishi Starion, covering 1982 to 1989, averages 8.4 seconds from 0-60 mph across six tests. The quickest A18x result is 7.5 seconds, set by the 1985 ESI Coupe. Power across the generation ranges from 145 to 176 horsepower, with turbocharged gasoline engines throughout.
The fastest A18x Mitsubishi Starion is the 1985 ESI Coupe. Its best recorded 0-60 run is 7.5 seconds, which is also the quickest Starion result overall. Within the A18x generation's six tests, no other trim matches that acceleration time.
For the full 1982-1989 run, the Mitsubishi Starion posts an average 0-60 time of 8.4 seconds across six tests. Average quarter-mile performance is 16.52 seconds at 83.5 mph. The range runs from a quickest 7.5-second 0-60 to a slowest 9.2-second result.
The ESI Coupe is clearly quicker than the LS Coupe in recorded 0-60 testing. ESI Coupe results average 7.75 seconds, with a best run of 7.5 seconds. LS Coupe results average 8.94 seconds, and the best LS run is 8.62 seconds, making the ESI the faster trim.
The ESI Coupe is faster in recorded 0-60 runs. The ESI averages 7.75 seconds and has a best of 7.5 seconds, while the ESI-R Coupe records 8.1 seconds. That puts the tested ESI-R behind the quickest ESI by 0.6 second and behind the ESI average by 0.35 second.
The 1986 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R Coupe uses a turbocharged G54B engine rated at 176 horsepower and 223 lb-ft of torque. In tested performance, it reaches 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and runs the quarter mile in 16.5 seconds at 83 mph. It is rear-wheel drive and weighs 3,100 pounds.
Across all six Mitsubishi Starion tests, the average quarter-mile time is 16.52 seconds at 83.5 mph. The quickest Starion quarter-mile on record is the 1985 ESI Coupe at 16.0 seconds and 87.5 mph. For the 1986 ESI-R Coupe specifically, the quarter mile is 16.5 seconds at 83 mph.
Sources
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
Motor Week
Road & Track
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a Mitsubishi Starion can do, not a single marketing claim.
06 /
Other Mitsubishi 0–60 times
07 /
Are we missing a performance test for Mitsubishi Starion?
Log in to suggest a missing test.