Fifth Generation | 1985–1988
Source: order_242 via Wikimedia Commons
| Trim | Production | Engine | Power | Transmission | Drivetrain |
| 5th Gen | 1985 – 1988 | 1.6L 4A-C / 4A-GE Inline-4 | 74 – 110 HP / 76 – 112 PS / 55 – 82 kW | 5-Speed Manual 3/4-Speed Automatic | FWD |
The Chevrolet Nova nameplate made a comeback in 1984 as a front-wheel drive subcompact car for the 1985-1988 model years. Produced at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, through a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, the Nova was part of a series of Corolla-based vehicles manufactured by General Motors. The project was known as the S-car within GM. The new Nova, which revived the name last used in the 1979 rear-wheel drive model, was essentially a rebadged and slightly redesigned version of the Toyota Sprinter, a car sold in Japan as a Toyota Corolla variant. Built on the Corolla’s AE82 platform, the Nova featured a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and offered a choice of 5-speed manual, 3-speed, or 4-speed automatic transmissions. Quad headlights, a popular design trend of the time, were introduced on the Nova, resembling similar models like the Chevrolet Cavalier. The car was meticulously engineered for efficient production and achieved exceptional quality and speed at the NUMMI plant compared to other American factories.
