The Sierra range was further changed in 1990. By now the Sierra Cosworth 4x4 was clearly established as the flagship model of the Sierra range and the XR had become the "poor forgotten relation". Clear front indicators, smoked rear lights, satin black back registration infill panel, new style five spoke 5.5 x 14" alloy wheels and new style rear spoiler were all added. Minor changes included a remote petrol filler release and boot release. The boot lock became a flush fitting one as per other Ford models at the time. The 4x4 wing badges had also disappeared by this time. The wide flank side strip disappeared to be replaced with a thinner item, with either a Cobra Red or Blue insert. The wider bumper strips also disappeared giving the car a more mundane appearance as per the rest of the Sierra range.

Interior changes included the addition of rear headrests, revised door cards, different headlining, better lighting within the car and an adjustable steering column. Intermittent tailgate wash/wipe was also added along with the heated windscreen. The stereo was upgraded to the Model 2007 still with a separate amp but only four speakers. Higher grade Zolda trim in a Raven shade to the seats was also added now that the Astral trim had been relegated to the Laser and LX range. An anti-theft alarm was also added.

The only extras listed were Air Conditioning (£920) and an upgraded stereo option (model 2008) (£435) or c/w a model 2028 compact disc player (£650).

Colour available were Diamond White or Radiant Red. Also available, at extra cost, were Black (£140), Tasman Blue or Flint Grey (all metallic colours £190).

When first released the price for the 2.9i model was £18,210, with the 2.0 DOHC EFi listed at £16,620. The Ghia Estate version was only listed as a 2.0 DOHC EFi model by now, with the 2.9i engine being dropped, with a list price of £17,210. These models appeared on a G or H plate.

From August 1991 a new catalysed version of the 2.9i engine was introduced. Other changes included the trim being slightly revised with new inner door trim to match the Zolda dark grey trim (blue trim in those cars painted Tasman Blue), better instrument illumination and new heater controls. The stereo, although still a model 2007, had now sprouted eight speakers. The alloy wheel style changed again to a 6 x 15" size coupled with 195/55 R15 tyres. The electric sunroof was now standard. This also saw the introduction of a catalysed version of the 2.9i engine reducing power output to about 143bhp. Production finished in April 1993. This model appeared on a J or K plate.

The colour range changed in that Smokestone replaced Flint Grey.

Ford also decided to introduce a 2 litre injected version, in January 1990, in both four and five door bodyshells, which was aimed squarely at the company car sector for tax break reasons. This model never proved to be particularly popular and sold in very small numbers, due to a lack of marketing by Ford. Strangely the four door version was never sold as an XR but as a Ghia. The five door version was badged as an XR4x4.

This was also Ford's way of introducing their new 2 litre engine, codenamed I4 (inline 4 cylinder), as a replacement for the ageing Pinto engine. The engine was a twin cam, still only with 2 valves per cylinder, and fitted with EFi.This was later developed further to create a 16 valve, 150bhp version, for the front wheel drive Escort RS2000 in 1991, and a 134bhp version for the Scorpio in 1995. This produced about 125 bhp in non-catalysed form and about 118 bhp with the catalyser. In non-catalysed form this equated to a 0-60 time of around 9 seconds.

A 2WD version was introduced at the same time which resurrected the XR4i name for a short time. The biggest short coming of the 2 litre version was it never really had the power to pull all the weight of the 4WD system around. Both two litre cars lasted for a very short period of time, the first being G registered 1990 models and the last mainly J registered 1992 models, a few maybe pushing through to become K registered 1993 models.