A brand new generation of Dodge Colts saw a brand new redesign. Gone are the coupes, sedans, and wagons. The 1979 Dodge Colt is available only as a 2-door hatchback. Built on a Mitsubishi Mirage platform, the front-wheel drive has replaced the old rear-wheel drive (to the despair of some Colt lovers), and believe it or not, the Colt actually got a little smaller.

The engine choices remained the same, a 1.4-liter or 1.6-liter I4 paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. This new twin stick turned the 4-speed into an 8-speed because it had high and low ranges in each gear. A 3-speed auto tran was still optional.

The 1979 Colt was still a great economy car that got high gas mileage (28/37 mpg) and sold at an affordable price. Perfect for city driving, it had enough pep to make commuting somewhat tolerable. Though few standard features adorned the hatchback, attractive options included air conditioning, rear defrost, tachometer, power mirrors, and a roof rack.