1978 would be the last year of the first generation of Dodge Colts. It would go through a redesign in 1979, including a move from a Mitsubishi Galant platform to that of a Mirage. As such, the 1978 Colt featured no substantial changes, and really had altered little from its first inception back in 1971.

The 1978 Dodge Colt could be had as a 2-door coupe or a 2-door GT coupe in either soft or hard top. The base coupe was given the name Carousel to distinguish it from the GT. The GT featured a 1.6-liter turbo engine, while the coupe came in either a regular 1.4 I4 or 1.6 I4 that hit 85-hp. Those same engines were available in the 4-door sedan or 5-door wagon. A standard 5-speed manual transmission or 3-speed automatic was offered across the line.

The 1978 Colt sat four, though, aside from the wagon, it was more a driver-oriented car. Front seats featured reclining buckets and a tilt steering wheel to maximize driver comfort. The Colt had a nice kick to it because of its light weight, and the turbo added a little more zest and thrill to the ride experience. It proved to be a popular and enduring car, holding its own against such competition as the Ford Pinto, the Toyota Corolla, and Chevy Vega.