When a New Name Can’t Save the Car: Top 7 Badge-Engineering Failures

Badge-engineering—when a car manufacturer reuses a model developed by another company and simply puts their own logo on it—has sometimes served as an economic shortcut. But not all attempts have been successful. Sometimes, consumers see right through the trick; other times, the model doesn’t align with the brand’s identity. Here are the 7 worst examples of badge-engineering gone wrong—ranked from least to most embarrassing.

#7: Saab 9-2X – A Subaru in Swedish Disguise

The Saab 9-2X was quickly nicknamed the “Saabaru” by enthusiasts—and for good reason. It was essentially a Subaru Impreza with minor cosmetic changes. The problem? Saab customers expected Scandinavian elegance, not Japanese functionality. The result was a confused model with no real identity that never found its place.

#6: Chrysler TC by Maserati – When Luxury and Mass Production Clash

The idea was to combine Italian luxury with American reliability. Instead, it became an awkward and clunky roadster that lived up neither to Maserati’s flair nor Chrysler’s volume strategy. The design was uninspiring, the price was too high, and customers quickly lost interest.

#5: Aston Martin Cygnet – A Toyota in a Tuxedo

Aston Martin attempted to bypass EU CO₂ regulations by rebranding the Toyota iQ as a luxury city car. The problem? The price tag said Aston Martin, but everything else screamed budget car. The Cygnet quickly became a symbol of how desperate a brand can appear under environmental pressure—and it didn’t last long.

#4: Cadillac Cimarron – When GM Went Too Far

The Cimarron was basically a Chevrolet Cavalier with some trim and a Cadillac badge—sold at a much higher price. Cadillac customers, expecting a lavish experience, instead got an average economy car with a luxury label. It hurt Cadillac’s image for years to come.

#3: Peugeot 4008 – A Mitsubishi Disguised as a Frenchman

The Peugeot 4008 was technically a Mitsubishi ASX with a redesigned front and a Peugeot badge. But customers quickly noticed it didn’t drive like a French car nor carry Peugeot’s design DNA. The result was an anonymous SUV that failed to attract either Mitsubishi or Peugeot buyers.

#2: Alfa Romeo Arna – When Style Meets Reliability (and Loses)

In the 1980s, Alfa Romeo partnered with Nissan to create the Arna—a hatchback combining Japanese engineering and Italian style. Unfortunately, it ended up with the worst of both worlds: Alfa’s questionable build quality and Nissan’s bland design. A complete failure on all fronts.

#1: Chevrolet SSR – The Pickup That Couldn’t Decide

The SSR was meant to be a retro-inspired convertible pickup with sports car ambitions—but technically, it was just a rebranded GM GMT platform with excessive styling. Neither practical, fast, nor particularly comfortable, customers were baffled as to who it was actually for. The result: one of GM’s most notorious flops in recent history.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.