10 Badge-Engineered Vehicles That Are Better Than The Original

Badge-engineering is a common practice worldwide to help automakers share technology, reduce production costs, and, at times, even learn a thing or two about competitors. The most popular automakers who are famous (or infamous) for badge-engineering a slew of cars are General Motors and Chrysler. Generally, the original creation stands out as superior, as the rebadged version seldom undergoes enough R&D to yield significant differences.

However, this list explores ten rebadged cars that have turned out to be more popular, more affordable, more practical, and even cooler-looking than the originals. This list contains a few popular cars from Subaru—Toyota, Lexus—Toyota, and Honda—Chevy. But it also goes beyond to include some lesser-known, cooler collabs from the likes of Subaru—Saab, Kia—Lotus —and even Honda—Isuzu.

Subaru BRZ

Better Than The Toyota GR86

Reasons Why It’s Better

• More comfortable ride owing to softer spring rates
• Marginally better daily driver
• Subtle front fascia design tweaks, like a more concise front bumper, give the Subaru an understated look.

The Subaru BRZ is a cool beginner-friendly sports car that exists because of the Toyota 86. The BRZ is a badge-engineered Toyota that shares almost all its components with it. These two cars look so identical that it’s hard for laymen to tell them apart at a glance.

However, the BRZ has a distinctive fan base because Subaru chose a slightly compliant, softer spring rating to make it more comfortable to ride daily. The BRZ also gets tweaked front stabilizer bars and rear subframe to support its comfortable suspension setup. While an ordinary person would not notice the design tweaks, a keen eye will quickly see that the BRZ has a more concise front fascia, giving it an understated appeal.

Chevrolet SS

Better Than The Pontiac G8

Reasons Why It’s Better

• A more modern and updated chassis
• Superior hardware, including Brembo brakes and adaptive suspension
• Extensive use of leather upholstery, and even got heated/cooled seats

The Pontiac G8 might be an understated sports sedan, but it was its corporate twin that made the car popular and desirable. The Chevy SS is a rebadged Pontiac G8 that can be compared to the likes of the Dodge Charger and the Cadillac ATS-V. The Chevy has an edge over the Pontiac with an updated platform, superior interior materials, and more modern features.

While the G8 used the Zeta platform, the SS came with the updated Zeta 2 platform that was more refined. The interior is superior, featuring better materials like Alcantara and faux carbon fiber, leather upholstery, and a steering wheel straight from the Camaro. Chevy offered standard Brembo brakes and an adaptive suspension system on the SS.

Saab 9-2X

Better Than The Subaru Impreza

Reasons Why It’s Better

• A plusher cabin with better soundproofing
• More refined and agile chassis with a faster steering ratio
• Superior safety features like active head restraints

The Subaru Impreza impresses us with its well-rounded appeal. But back in the day, Saab showed us that there could be a more luxurious, more driver-centric, and cooler-looking Subaru with their iteration of the same. The 9-2X was a rebadged car that made the Subaru Impreza look boring. The driving dynamics were extensively worked on, with features like a faster steering ratio, which was interestingly adopted from the WRX STi of the time.

The suspension setup was also upgraded with recalibrated dampers, different springs, and stiffer anti-roll bar bushings. Even the stamped steel rear control arms were replaced with lighter aluminum ones on the 9-2X. The cabin was refined with superior sound damping, more ergonomic dashboard design elements, and improved safety features such as Saab’s active head restraints. Also, the distinctive Saab design gives the “Impreza” a sportier outlook.

Kia Elan

Better Than The Lotus M100 Elan

Reasons Why It’s Better

• More reliable due to the use of simpler mechanical components
• More affordable than the Lotus Elan
• The more practical, daily-drivable car with a higher suspension

The Lotus M100 Elan is considered a great driver’s car, with sharp handling and a cheerful performance appeal. However, it failed to translate its driving appeal into popularity and sales figures for various reasons, primarily reliability and the “leisure” tag. However, Kia managed to turn things around for the M100 Elan by offering a more reliable package, more comfortable driving dynamics, and a lower price tag with its version of the same car.

The Kia Elan is a badge-engineered Lotus that compromises on a few bits to be more usable. It gets a less powerful but easier to work on 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine instead of the 1.6-liter turbo Isuzu engine Lotus used. The suspension was also raised to improve maneuverability over rough roads and offer a more comfortable driving experience. The only bummer was that Kia sold its ‘Elan’ exclusively in South Korea and Japan.

Chrysler Conquest

Better Than The Mitsubishi Starion

Reasons Why It’s Better

• Helped American automakers get a taste of nimble, refined, and versatile Japanese engineering.
• Evolved to offer more power
• More easily available due to Chrysler’s footprint in America

During the early 1980s, Mitsubishi wanted to make its presence felt in the States and partnered with Chrysler. Many of the Japanese cars were rebadged as Chryslers, Dodges, and Plymouths during this phase, and the Conquest is a specimen of the same. It is essentially identical to the Mitsubishi Starion of the time, sharing the same underpinnings, including the chassis, suspension setup, braking system, and powertrain.

There were minor styling tweaks, too. While the first-gen models were not superior to the Starion, they did offer a marginally more powerful base engine. But things changed over the years, with Chrysler giving the Conquest better performance appeal, especially with the widebody versions.

1994-2002 Honda Passport

Better Than The Isuzu Rodeo

Reasons Why It’s Better

• Better long-term reliability (after all, it’s a Honda)
• Came with standard AWD
• More comfortable and modern interior with more modern features

Not many know of the Isuzu Rodeo, but it has a reputation for being a go-anywhere SUV with ruggedness at its core. Its simplicity is also praised for, with minimal electronics to go with it. Honda repackaged this formula with more comfort, more technology, more safety, and more capabilities in the first-gen Honda Passport. Yup, it is a rebadged Isuzu.

The Passport’s reliability advantage is a no-brainer. It goes further with a standard all-wheel-drive system, which is a crucial buying decision for many looking for a lugged Honda. All of these features helped Honda cement the Passport as a solid SUV that has since evolved. We can even say that the upcoming fourth-gen 2026 Passport is a spiritual successor to the OG in terms of design and rugged appeal.

2026 Honda Prologue

Better Than The Chevrolet Blazer EV

Reasons Why It’s Better

• Subtle and mature styling that will help it age better
• Gets standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• A firmer suspension setup translates to more stable driving dynamics.

This is the latest example of badge-engineered vehicles, as the Chevy Blazer EV and the Honda Prologue share the same platform and have similar dimensions. As the original offering, the Chevy Blazer EV does have a few perks on its side, including more powerful trim levels, a longer maximum range, and even an available Super Cruise. But the Honda Prologue gets the attention of those who love their car a bit understated.

The Prologue doesn’t quite look like an electric car, thanks to its subtle and mature styling. While the chassis and powertrains are shared, Honda offers a stiffer suspension setup. Furthermore, the standard fitment of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is enough to sway customers over to Honda. The Prologue also features a cleaner, simpler interior design with more physical buttons for toggling.

Opel GT

Better Than The Pontiac Solstice

Reasons Why It’s Better

• More powerful with a turbocharged engine
• European styling of the GT packed more drama and elegance
• Rich heritage with the Opel GT nameplate being traced back to 1968.

Opel’s European DNA helps the GT stand out. Despite being the same sports cars underneath, the Opel GT has a more Euro-inspired design that adds more drama with sharp, distinctive lines and a clamshell hood. The Solstice wasn’t bad, but it was more aggressive than elegant. The GT also came standard with a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 264 horsepower. The Solstice packs a standard 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine producing 177 horsepower.

The 2.0-liter turbo mill was offered on the top trim levels of the Solstice. Interestingly, while the Pontiac Solstice was the original offering, the Opel GT is what actually connected well in terms of history. This is because the Opel GT nameplate has been around since the 1960s and started life as a gorgeous-looking, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive two-seat sports car. The Opel GT did fit the tag of being a spiritual successor.

First-gen Honda Crossroad

Better Than The Land Rover Discovery 1

Reasons Why It’s Better

• Perceived reliability and build quality associated with the Honda badge
• Rarity and a unique outcome from a collaboration between two very different brands
• Thanks to Land Rover’s appeal, this was one of the more desirable rugged Honda SUVs made

This was a very out-of-the-box collaboration between Honda and Land Rover. The first-gen Crossroad was Honda’s attempt at wooing European consumers with a lifestyle vehicle. Underneath it was essentially the Land Rover Discovery 1, sharing the same 3.9-liter V8 and even the chassis, drivetrain, and interior layout.

Now, while the Crossroad did bear the “reliable” Honda badging, it couldn’t escape from the notorious issues that this collaboration brought. The Discovery 1 was infamous for being unreliable. The advantage, however, here was Honda’s proactive intervention on all matters and the vast network of dealerships and service centers that helped Crossroad differentiate itself from its corporate twin.

Lexus LX 600

Better Than The Toyota Land Cruiser LC 300

Reasons Why It’s Better

• Currently, the only way to “own” a Toyota Land Cruiser LC 300 in America
• Heightened levels of luxury and comfort
• Sharp design language can be a deciding factor for many

When most of the world got the Land Cruiser LC 300, we were bummed to be deprived of it. The iconic off-roading SUV does have a rich legacy, but if you are unfazed by the “Land Cruiser” nameplate, then there is a way to own one in America. The Lexus LX 600 is the corporate twin of the LC 300, sharing the same underpinnings.

However, it has its perks, thanks to the Lexus badging that adds elevated luxury, superior comfort and convenience features, and a bold, sharp design language. Furthermore, the more luxurious Lexus is just marginally more expensive than the Land Cruiser 300. The 2026 Lexus LX 600 starts from $107,950, while the UAE-spec Toyota Land Cruiser LC 300 starts from an equivalent of ~$107,000.