These Iconic 1990s Cars Have Aged Like Bad Milk
You get cool cars - and then you get cars that are absolutely iconic. The ‘90s gave us some of the most iconic cars ever. But not all of them have aged well. Buckle up as we look at 35 iconic '90s cars that didn’t stand the test of time.
Pontiac Sunfire
The Sunfire tried so hard to be sporty, but came off cheap. It had plastic panels, a cheap interior, and a shaky engine that made it more of a nightmare than an icon. It looked cool, but that design aged poorly. Today, it’s anything but a classic car.
Dodge Neon
The Neon was Dodge’s small and affordable car. But reliability was a problem. Add in rust, engine issues, and cheap plastics, and you’ve got a car that hasn’t aged well. It was once a popular budget car that’s pretty much forgotten today.
Ford Escort ZX2
Ford’s ZX2 Escort had a tiny cabin space and underwhelming handling that left drivers unimpressed. It had a rounded, early-90s styling that just hasn’t held up over time. It was a fun budget ride then, but today it’s all about the secondhand headaches.
Chevrolet Cavalier
The Cavalier was everywhere in the ‘90s. Sadly, it showed its age fast, and those cheap interiors, sloppy suspension, and lackluster performance make it hard to love today. It was practical and affordable back then, but now it’s lost its charm.
Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Chrysler’s Sebring Convertible looked super fancy back in the ‘90s. But that soft top often leaked. The electronics were quirky, and the interior looked and felt cheap. Driving one today is a reminder that not all convertibles are timeless.
2nd Generation Mitsubishi Eclipse
The Eclipse had style and pop culture fame, but its performance often lagged behind the hype. It had plastics inside, odd proportions, and early reliability issues. Yes, it was fun in the ‘90s, but now it mostly hints at questionable taste.
Geo Metro
Geo’s Metro was tiny, cheap, and super fuel-efficient - but that’s about it. Issues like rust and weak engines were common, and the interior was nothing to brag about. It also had a small, bubble-like shape that just looks weird now.
Plymouth Breeze
The Breeze was a bland, budget sedan. Nothing exciting stood out, and its styling was also forgettable. The reliability was okay, but cheap plastics and a dull interior made it age poorly. It’s mostly remembered as the ‘90s family car that didn’t leave a mark.
Saturn SL
Saturn aimed for innovation with the plastic panels on the SL. But it looked cheap, the interior was boring, and the tech felt dated fast. The handling was also unremarkable. It was a decent budget car, sure, but it’s just another ‘90s experiment that didn’t age well.
Ford Probe
Ford has made a lot of cool cars over the years. The Probe, however, was not one of them. The styling looked futuristic, but it just feels awkward today. Nothing made it timeless, and not even the decent handling and engine could save it.
Oldsmobile Achieva
If it’s a typical ‘90s sedan you wanted, the Oldsmobile Achieva was a great choice. It was reliable, but pretty bland. It had boxy styling that didn’t age well or excite anyone. Today, it’s just a reminder that Oldsmobile was losing its spark.
Pontiac Grand Am
The Grand Am was just another ‘90s car that had sporty ambitions but failed. The interior quality was weak, and reliability issues were far too common. It had odd proportions and a clunky design that looks old and out of place today.
Chevy Lumina
The Lumina was meant to be a classier car, but it just ended up boring and bland. It wasn’t bad for its time, but it looks like just another forgotten ‘90s sedan today with its heavy handling and odd proportions that make it dated.
Dodge Stratus
Dodge’s Stratus replaced the Shadow. Their styling, however, felt uninspired. Cheap electronics and interiors gave owners way too many headaches. It used to be a solid budget item, but its design makes it feel very ‘90s - and not in a good way.
First Generation Hyundai Accent
The first-gen Accent was both affordable and practical - great characteristics to have in a car, right? But it felt cheap. The handling was mediocre at best, and the car was tiny and basic. Add in some rust, and you’ve got a car people would rather forget about.
Kia Sephia
Kia’s first cars were simple and inexpensive. The Sephia’s reliability was hit-or-miss, and the interior was basic. Its styling feels very ‘90s now, and the car hasn’t aged gracefully. It’s more of a “do you remember?" kind of car today.
Isuzu Rodeo
Isuzu’s Rodeo was rugged in theory, but it had way too many mechanical problems. It was fine as a budget SUV then, but today it just feels outdated and unreliable. It’s not the kind of car you buy as your everyday drive.
Suzuki Sidekick
The Sidekick was a small, fun, off-road capable car that everyone loved in the ‘90s. Fast forward a few decades, and those tiny interiors and dated tech just don’t stand out anymore. Some fans do like its quirky charm, though, but not enough to keep it around.
1999 Mercury Cougar
The relaunch of the Mercury Cougar was sporty and sleek. But those cheap materials really hurt it. It didn’t impress or stand out on the road, and the styling hasn’t aged well. It’s more of a quirky ‘90s relic than anything else today.
Ford Taurus
The oval-shaped Taurus was more controversial than anything else. It had rounded styling and poor interior quality that didn’t wow anyone. The reliability may have been decent, but the design screams “‘90s style gone wrong.” Not many people seek this one out anymore.
Pontiac Bonneville
Pontiac’s Bonneville looked big and flashy. But it didn’t stay fresh for long. The electronics often acted up, and the interior felt cheap. Its design, too, had hits and misses. It was once a top sedan, but it reminds us that not all big ‘90s cars aged well.
First-Generation Nissan Altima
Nissan’s first-gen Altima was reliable but too plain. That ‘90s styling looked good back then, but today it just feels too old-fashioned. It hasn’t really stood the test of time, even though it had a steady performance and an okay interior.
1997 Chevy Malibu
The ‘97 version of the Chevy Malibu was practical but forgettable. They used cheap materials for the interior, and the styling didn’t stand out. Now, it just looks like any other mid-size car from the ‘90s that didn’t leave a lasting impression on anyone.
Dodge Intrepid
The Dodge Intrepid might have had modern cab-forward styling, but the cheap plastics and soft handling hurt its image over time. It had a pretty futuristic look for the ‘90s. But today, those same looks are more awkward and quirky than iconic.
Plymouth Neon
The Neon was tiny, cheap, and absolutely everywhere. But, like many other cars on this list, it had reliability and safety problems and just didn’t age well. It might have worked for budget buyers in the ‘90s, but today it just brings laughs.
Mazda Millenia
Ever heard of the Mazda Millenia? Don’t worry, not many people today have. It used to be a stylish and luxurious car in the ‘90s, but it’s pretty much forgotten today. Why? The repairs were costly, it looked awkward, and its reliability was hit-or-miss.
Chrysler Concorde
Chrysler’s Concorde had cheap materials and electronics that felt dated quickly. Yes, its bold styling suited the 90s, but now it just looks old-fashioned. It was once a flagship sedan that many consider a relic by today’s standards and styles.
Pontiac Aztek
It’s the weird styling that really made the Pontiac Aztek stand out in the ‘90s. The interior and build were fine, but the design was widely criticized. It’s iconic, yes, but that’s only because it had one of the strangest designs.
Toyota Paseo
Toyota’s Paseo was small, simple, and, um, slow. It looked sporty, but there was nothing sporty about its engine. Under the hood, it was basic, and the performance was nothing to write home about. It was only good for city driving in the ‘90s.
Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mitsubishi Mirage did its job as a budget car back in the ‘90s. It was cheap and reliable, and people loved it. But it didn’t have any charm that made it stand out as the years went by. Today, it reminds us that some ‘90s cars were practical but boring.
Eagle Talon
The Eagle Talon looked sporty and had a great design. But rust and cheap interiors have caused this car to be pretty much forgotten today. It was a fun idea in the ‘90s, but just didn’t live up to the hype it once had.
Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
The Cutlass Ciera was one of the safest family cars in the ‘90s. But it was very bland. The styling and interior looked dated even back then. And today it feels even older. It was reliable, sure, but it lacked the style and excitement that made it easy to forget.
Chevrolet Corsica
Chevy had a lot of great cars back in the ‘90s. The Corsica was one of them. Sadly, it wasn’t memorable. The styling was a bit too awkward, and the engine was basic. It was great for commuting, but it’s one of the most forgettable ‘90s cars today.
Buick Skylark
Buick tried to make a car that was comfortable and economical when it released the Skylark in the ‘90s. And yes, it was a comfortable ride. Today, however, it’s forgettable. There was nothing to make it really stand out, and it just hasn’t aged well.
Ford Contour
The Contour tried bold oval styling that was incredibly popular in the ‘90s. The glitchy electronics, however, aged really badly. Driving one today feels very ‘90s, and not in a good way. The design just didn’t hold up over time.
