The 90s was a unique era for cars that many people can look back fondly on. There were tons of rides that were completely overhauled and more than a few models that reached an entirely new level of popularity during the decade. While there may be no one out there claiming that the 90s was the peak era for cars, there are still tons of fans of what the decade was able to bring to the table, which has led to many popular models being held in high esteem.
While there was a lot to like about the cars from the decade, there were also some misfires that have taken plenty of heat over time. Some of these models were ripped apart by people upon their release, but they aren’t nearly as bad as people remember.
Today, we are going to take a look back at some hated cars from the 90s that are better than people remember.
15. 1996 Chevy Cavalier
via gmauthority.com
The Chevy Cavalier had its ups and downs over the years, and there are plenty of people that weren’t fans of the 1996 edition of the ride. Sure, it was no Mustang, but this car did get the job done for people needing a ride to get them from one place to the next.
14. 1993 Honda Civic
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At this point, it is weird to think of a Honda Civic that most people don’t love, but the truth is that the Civic took some time to become the beloved model that it is today. The 1993 Honda Civic may not have had a ton of horsepower, but the ride was solid.
13. 1992 Mazda Miata
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There have been a ton of fantastic Miata models over the years, but hardcore fans have voiced their displeasure with a few of them. The earlier Miatas of the 90s tend to get ragged on, particularly the 1992 Mazda Miata. However, this mainly stems from them being compared to other Miata models.
12. 1993 Chevy Lumina
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Do people even remember these cars? It seems like time has forgotten all about them, but to be fair, they were not the worst rides on the market. Sure, Chevy did have better options at the time, but the 1993 Chevy Lumina got decent mpg while having some power to it.
11. 1994 Volvo 850
via carthrottle.com
Volvo has been around for years, and they have made some exceptional vehicles throughout their history. In the 90s, the company released the 1994 Volvo 850, and some people weren’t too impressed with the car, finding it lackluster. However, the complaints came from the car being a different offering from Volvo.
10. 1992 Geo Metro
via cargurus.com
Younger people may not remember a time when Geos were commonplace on the road, as the company has disappeared over time. The Geo Metro was one of the more common sights to see, and the 1992 Geo Metro has taken some flack over time. However, this car could get the job done.
9. 1994 Buick Century
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The Buick Century had a number of generations to its name that people were more than happy to get their hands on over the years. However, it would be done away with in the 2000s. The 1994 Buick Century was part of the fifth generation of Centurys and was a good car.
8. 1991 Acura Legend
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From 1985 to 1995, the Acura Legend was a fixture in the Acura family, but it has been off the streets for some time now. The 1991 Acura Legend just did not get the love that the company was hoping for. The car, however, had over 200 horsepower under the hood.
7. 1994 Ford Mustang
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It is no surprise to see the 1994 Ford Mustang on this list, as it remains a car that has divided fans for years. It was a drastic change from what people had grown accustomed to, and while it has its haters, this Mustang was a whole lot to like about it.
6. 1992 Ford Taurus
via ericrobertnolan.com
Ford has had some blunders over the years, but the 1993 Ford Taurus gets some unnecessary hate from consumers. Considering that this ride could get nearly 30 mpg on the freeway, it was far more efficient than people give it credit for. It’s not the best Taurus, but it’s not terrible.
5. 1991 Geo Prizm
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Given that the 1991 Geo Prizm ride carries the Geo name, it makes sense that it has plenty of detractors and has depreciated in value in a major way over the years. To be fair, Geos were never going to be mind-blowing cars, but they served their purpose for people on a budget.
4. 1993 BMW 525I
via bringatrailer.com
There seems to be a divide on this ride, as some people love it while others find it to be exceptionally overrated. With little grey area, let’s focus on the detractors. Sure, this wasn’t the perfect BMW, but this car was able to check off a ton of important boxes for consumers.
3. 1999 Pontiac Grand Am
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Pontiac may not be cranking out rides anymore, but people still appreciate what the company brought to the table for so many years. The 1999 Pontiac Grand Am may not be the most popular Pontiac of all time, but there were a few people that saw its value when it debuted.
2. 1996 SAAB 900 Cabrio
via auto-database.com
Maybe it’s the fact that this car was featured on Seinfeld that people grew comfortable with criticizing it, but in all actuality, this was a fantastic car. SAAB has made some fantastic cars over the years, and the 1996 SAAB 900 Cabrio is no exception to this. If only people appreciated it more.
1. 1999 Porsche 996
via pca.org
This is one of the most infamous Porsche models of all time, and so many people have dumped on it. Sure, it did have some issues that people just could not get over. However, this was a solid Porsche that people need to stop piling on. Seriously, it’s been long enough.
