Automakers have always looked for ways to cut costs while expanding their lineups. One of the easiest ways to do that is through badge engineering, where an existing car is slightly restyled, given a new badge, and sold under another brand. Sometimes it works well, giving buyers extra choice, but often the differences are so minor that enthusiasts immediately recognize what is hiding under the skin. The results range from clever collaborations to infamous flops. Here are ten cars that looked unique at first glance but were really something else underneath, with more detail on what they shared and how they were received.
Cadillac Cimarron and Chevrolet Cavalier
The Cadillac Cimarron, launched in 1981, is one of the most criticized examples of badge engineering. Built on GM’s J platform, it was essentially a Chevrolet Cavalier with Cadillac badges, leather seats, and a higher price tag. Its four cylinder engine, producing just 88 horsepower at launch, was nowhere near what luxury buyers expected from Cadillac. While GM hoped it would appeal to buyers looking for a smaller luxury sedan during an oil-conscious era, most people saw it as a cynical cost-cutting move. The Cimarron became a symbol of how badge engineering can damage a brand’s reputation.
Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ
The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ are perhaps the most honest examples of a joint venture done right. Developed collaboratively by both companies, the cars share the same 2.0 liter flat four engine, rear wheel drive layout, and chassis design. Only minor styling tweaks and tuning differences separate them. Toyota contributed its knowledge of lightweight design while Subaru provided its boxer engine expertise. Both cars have earned respect as affordable, fun-to-drive sports cars, and enthusiasts often say that whichever badge you choose, you are essentially buying the same car underneath.
Chrysler Crossfire and Mercedes SLK
The Chrysler Crossfire, introduced in 2004, wore striking styling with its long hood and boat-tail rear end, but beneath the sheet metal it was nearly identical to the first generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. Built while Daimler owned Chrysler, the Crossfire borrowed its platform, suspension, and even the five speed automatic transmission from Mercedes. The 3.2 liter V6, producing 215 horsepower, was a direct carryover. Performance models even shared the AMG-tuned supercharged engines. While the Crossfire offered Mercedes engineering at a Chrysler price, buyers were not convinced by its unusual looks and the car disappeared after just a few years.
Ford Probe and Mazda MX-6
The Ford Probe was intended as a futuristic replacement for the Ford Mustang in the late 1980s, but backlash from enthusiasts forced Ford to keep the Mustang alive. Instead, the Probe became a sporty coupe that was heavily based on the Mazda MX-6 platform. It shared engines, transmissions, and much of its chassis design with Mazda, including the 2.2 liter turbocharged four cylinder option. Built during Ford’s ownership stake in Mazda, the Probe combined American styling with Japanese engineering. While it sold reasonably well, enthusiasts never fully embraced it, knowing it was more Mazda than Mustang at heart.
Geo Prizm and Toyota Corolla
The Geo Prizm, sold in the 1990s, was built at the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) plant in California, a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. Mechanically, it was nearly identical to the Toyota Corolla of the same era, sharing engines, transmissions, and most of its parts. The main differences were trim levels, styling details, and badging. For savvy buyers, the Prizm was a way to get Toyota reliability at a slightly lower GM price point. While not glamorous, it was one of the better examples of badge engineering actually benefiting buyers.
Dodge Stealth and Mitsubishi 3000GT
In the early 1990s, Chrysler partnered with Mitsubishi to produce the Dodge Stealth, which was essentially a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT. Both cars shared the same advanced features for their time, including optional all wheel drive, active aerodynamics, and four wheel steering. High performance versions used twin turbo V6 engines producing up to 300 horsepower. The cars looked slightly different thanks to unique bumpers and trim, but under the skin they were nearly identical. While the Stealth gave Dodge a halo sports car for its showrooms, enthusiasts often preferred the Mitsubishi version, seeing it as the original.
Saab 9-2X and Subaru Impreza
The Saab 9-2X, sold in the mid 2000s, earned the nickname “Saabaru” because it was almost entirely a Subaru Impreza wagon beneath its Swedish styled nose. General Motors owned a stake in Subaru’s parent company and wanted to give Saab an entry-level all wheel drive model. Aside from cosmetic tweaks and slightly upgraded interiors, it was a Subaru through and through, powered by the same flat four engines ranging from naturally aspirated units to the turbocharged WRX versions. While Saab purists were skeptical, many buyers appreciated the mix of Subaru reliability with a slightly more upscale feel.
Mercury Villager and Nissan Quest
The Mercury Villager minivan, introduced in the early 1990s, was built in partnership with Nissan and was mechanically identical to the Nissan Quest. Powered by Nissan’s 3.0 liter V6 and later a 3.3 liter, both vans were produced in the same Ohio factory. The only differences were minor styling cues and interior trims. While neither became bestsellers in a market dominated by Chrysler minivans, the Villager gave Mercury a family-friendly option and offered buyers Nissan engineering with a Ford family badge.
Chevrolet SSR and Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Chevrolet SSR was one of the more unusual vehicles of the 2000s, styled like a retro pickup convertible. Beneath its flashy exterior, however, it was built on the same GMT360 body-on-frame platform as the Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV. This meant it was heavy and handled more like a truck than a sporty roadster. Its engines, ranging from a 5.3 liter V8 to a Corvette-sourced 6.0 liter LS2, provided power, but the weight and odd design kept it from finding mass appeal. The SSR serves as an example of how dressing up an SUV platform does not always translate to a successful sports car.
Acura SLX and Isuzu Trooper
The Acura SLX, sold from 1996 to 1999, was Acura’s first SUV in North America. Buyers expecting a luxury alternative to rivals like the Lexus LX were surprised to find that the SLX was simply an Isuzu Trooper with Acura badges and slightly upgraded interiors. Even the engines and four wheel drive system were directly carried over. While the Trooper had a reputation as a tough off-road vehicle, Acura’s customers wanted refinement, and the SLX’s rough edges hurt its appeal. Sales were weak, and Acura eventually replaced it with the more original MDX, leaving the SLX as a forgotten experiment.
Shared Tech
Rebadged cars and platform sharing are a normal part of the industry, but they do not always succeed. Some, like the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, are respected because both versions deliver exactly what enthusiasts want. Others, like the Cadillac Cimarron and Acura SLX, are remembered as examples of when badge engineering went wrong. Joint ventures such as the Dodge Stealth and Mitsubishi 3000GT or the Geo Prizm and Toyota Corolla showed how two companies could share costs and technology, even if one badge was favored over the other. These cars prove that what you see on the outside is not always what you are really driving, and that sometimes the name on the hood tells only part of the story.
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