Introduced for 1984, the Tempo and the similar Mercury Topaz were both remodeled in 1988. The front-drive 2- and 4-door sedans came in two trim levels for 1990 GL and GLS. A top-of-the-line LX edition came only as a 4-door.
A driver-side airbag had been optional on 4-doors as early as 1986, though not many were installed. A part-time 4-wheel-drive option debuted in 1987, intended for use only on slippery pavement. This All-Wheel Drive system came only on 4-door sedans. A 98-horsepower 4-cylinder engine went into GL and LX models, while GLS and All-Wheel Drive Tempos got a 100-horsepower rendition.