Cordia and Tredia may sound like characters from Greek mythology, the tiny twins in the Mothra Japanese monster flicks, or actors in a cheesy tire advertising campaign, but actually they were the mainstay models of Mitsubishi's first foray at selling cars in the United States under its own brand. Although Chrysler had sold Mitsu models Stateside since the early '70s, the first of the three-leaf badged cars didn't hit our shores until the 1983 model year, with the Starion, Montero, a pickup truck called Mighty Max and the Cordia/Tredia siblings.
Of the Tredia and Cordia, Tredia was the sensible-shoes four-door sedan. Cordia was a spunkier two-door hatchback. The platforms were basically the same, with transverse four-cylinders, front-wheel drive and fully independent suspension, and both a somewhat lackluster 82 bhp from 1.8 liters. The excitement level was raised the following year, however, with that engineering clich of the '80s, the turbocharger. Clich or not, it bumped the 1,795cc SOHC four to 116 bhp. Hardly overwhelming today, it was then, for comparison, 11 horses more than the Celica GT-S. The engine was smooth, thanks to Mitsubishi's dual "Silent Shaft" balancers, and featured the smog-fighting MCA-Jet three-valve cylinder head. Electronic spark control to counter detonation was a big deal then, and Mitsubishi lowered the compression ratio from 8.2 to 7.5:1 for the same reason.
The turbo engine was available in both Tredia and Cordia, but the two-door was still the sexier of the two. With the hotter engine, Cordia also got a blackout grille, discrete front spoiler, a soft rear spoiler and interior styling changes that included a weird single-spoked steering wheel. The Turbo also had alloy wheels for its P185/70R-13 tires and a rear anti-roll bar and other chassis tuning mods.
Price well-equipped ran just under $11,000. For that, the Cordia was distinctive, with what one reviewer called "pseudo-French" styling. It remained fairly uncommon, however, with the Tredia courting practical buyers and hard-core enthusiasts dropping their shekels on the Starion. The Cordia Turbo was limited to about 2,000 examples in the United States each year.
Providing variety for dealers' showrooms for minimal corporate expense, the Cordia was kept on and even, along with the Tredia, given a face-lift for the 1986 model year. New "Euro-style" interiors accompanied flush headlamps, a front grille with diagonal body-color bars and color-keyed lower body-side extensions and rear spoiler. Power remained the same, however, and the naturally aspirated crowd was gaining on, if not passing, the Cordia's powerplant. VW's Scirocco 16V made 123 bhp, the Celica GT-S an impressive 135 bhp. Tests showed the Cordia still able to accelerate with these rivals and pull away from the 113 hp Acura Integra.
But the world isn't a dragstrip, and despite its new 195/60HR-14 rubber, the Cordia couldn't run with these competitors on a road course. Although substituting rubber stickier than the standard-issue Yokohama AX-323 would have helped, the Cordia platform was aging. One contemporary test damned the Cordia Turbo with faint praise, saying it "offers decent on-track handling and performance," explaining that it "feels comforting and confidence-inspiring because it understeers." Ouch. Not exactly the bundle of excitement a sports coupe is supposed to be.
The Cordia staked out its corner of the Mitsubishi showroom through the 1988 model year with only detail changes. For '89, the Tredia was superceded by the Galant, while the Eclipse eclipsed the Cordia. With more turbo power, an improved platform and "boy-racier" styling than the chisel-flanked Cordia, the Eclipse would develop a cult following its predecessor never did. Alas, no bit parts in the next Godzilla movie, no odes on a Grecian urn for thee, sturdy Tredia, fair Cordia. Such was not your lot.