Badge Engineering - How many can one vehicle wear?

[Pizzaeatingking]

Like many of you are I'm a bit nerdy with cars and in this case vans too. For a while now I've been amazed at how long the Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer/Fiat Ducato have been sold for, first released in 2006 it's now 20 years old and while it's had a few facelifts it is still the same van underneath, each model is the same aside from the badges too (which isn't anything new).

After the Stellantis merger the van also became the Vauxhall Movano, ironically replacing the original Movano (itself shared with the Renault Master) which was released in 2010 so 4 years newer than the PAS designed van. Today I spotted another version, it's now a Toyota Proace Max too! Lastly, we have Iveco's latest electric van, a eSuper Jolly, same van but electric only. I make that 6 different badges stuck to the front of the same van in the UK alone, not only that but they're all, as far as I can see still available brand new. That original PSA designed van is certainly being squeezed for every penny!

Can anyone else thing of any other vehicles that have been sold as different models as many times?

[vikingaero]

Suzuki Carry/Daihatsu Hijet/Piaggio Porter/Honda Acty/Mitsubishi Something or other/Subaru Sambar/Nissan Something Else/Bedford Rascal.

[BigGingerBob]

I hate these vans.
Hideous

[TomTheTyke]

As a BL/Rover fan my mind goes to the ADO16 which, in 1965, you could (to be fair somewhat inefficiently) have as:

Austin
Morris
MG
Riley
Wolseley
Vanden Plas

My grandad had an Austin 1100 new and kept it until it needed scrapping due to rust, which may not have been as long as you’d hope…

[595Heaven]

Renault 5
Alpine A290
Nissan Micra
Ford Fiesta

[samoht]

The reason the Vauxhall Frontera was so crap was that it was an old Isuzu pickup with a car body thrown on top. Like many notorious criminals, it went by a wide variety of aliases:

Isuzu Amigo
Isuzu Mystery Utility Wizard (Japan)
Isuzu Cameo (Thailand)
Isuzu Frontier (South Africa)
Isuzu Rodeo
Isuzu Vega (Thailand)
Chevrolet Frontera (Egypt)
Chevrolet Rodeo
Holden Frontera
Honda Jazz
Honda Passport
Opel Frontera
Vauxhall Frontera

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_MU)

[C69]

Pizzaeatingking said:

Like many of you are I'm a bit nerdy with cars and in this case vans too. For a while now I've been amazed at how long the Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer/Fiat Ducato have been sold for, first released in 2006 it's now 20 years old and while it's had a few facelifts it is still the same van underneath, each model is the same aside from the badges too (which isn't anything new).

There's the Ram Promaster version for North America, too.

[Quattr04.]

595Heaven said:

Renault 5
Alpine A290
Nissan Micra
Ford Fiesta

That’s not the same though it’s a different body, you could also say any VAG platform shared car in that case, OP means stuff like the aygo, c1, 107, the same car with a different badge

[Rich1973]

The Ram Promaster should have a honourable mention in the juvenile things that make you snigger thread

[WPA]

Lancia Delta / Saab 600
Land Rover Discovery / Honda Crossroad

[CaptainScarlet1967]

Pizzaeatingking said:

Can anyone else thing of any other vehicles that have been sold as different models as many times?

I'm struggling to think of anything that tops 20 years for badge engineering, or even anything that is an identical vehicle with no differences on the skin other than the badge.

The first vehicles that came to mind were the Ford Galaxy, Seat Alhambra and VW Sharan, but they all look different on the front and rear.

There was also the Peugeot 607 and Citroen C8. Again, different looks.

I remembered the Dodge Dart with its Charger-esque rear, which was otherwise a Chinese Fiat. Different headlights

Most recent that may actually be a steal in terms of value for money are the Toyota Corolla and Rav4, re-badged as Suzukis, that are almost identical in appearance.

Edit: luxury segment badge engineering - I've seen online and in person some pretty sloppy efforts by Nissan in the North American market in the past few decades, where they've stuck Infiniti badges on things like Primeras and Muranos. Certainly a case of just buying a badge. That said, I can't say I particularly 'rate' Infinitis, certainly not in the same way I would Lexii (Lexuses).

Edited by CaptainScarlet1967 on Tuesday 17th February 23:15

[Decky_Q]

Quattr04. said:

595Heaven said:

Renault 5
Alpine A290
Nissan Micra
Ford Fiesta

That s not the same though it s a different body, you could also say any VAG platform shared car in that case, OP means stuff like the aygo, c1, 107, the same car with a different badge

Ford fiesta was sold as mazda 121,
Micra as a datsun cherry,
Not sure on the alpine

[LJF_97]

It's bad for the consumer in reality. There is very little choice in the commercial vehicle market.

The transit custom and transporter are now the same vehicle as well.

Not sure why you buy the MAN TG or VW Crafter, same vehicle again.

[Clad-Hach]

WPA said:

Lancia Delta / Saab 600

I had to go and look that one up, I never knew it existed.

[LJF_97]

CaptainScarlet1967 said:

Pizzaeatingking said:

Can anyone else thing of any other vehicles that have been sold as different models as many times?

I'm struggling to think of anything that tops 20 years for badge engineering, or even anything that is an identical vehicle with no differences on the skin other than the badge.

The first vehicles that came to mind were the Ford Galaxy, Seat Alhambra and VW Sharan, but they all look different on the front and rear.

There was also the Peugeot 607 and Citroen C8. Again, different looks.

I remembered the Dodge Dart with its Charger-esque rear, which was otherwise a Chinese Fiat. Different headlights

Most recent that may actually be a steal in terms of value for money are the Toyota Corolla and Rav4, re-badged as Suzukis, that are almost identical in appearance.

The Yaris has also been sold as a Suzuki as well.

[RedLightGreenLight]

Fiat 124 Spider vs Mazda MX5 vs Mazda Miata vs Abarth 124 Spider… albeit the Abarth has a different tuned engine

[LJF_97]

595Heaven said:

Renault 5
Alpine A290
Nissan Micra
Ford Fiesta

I didn't even know about the Alpine. Just configured one online, £37,000

[biggbn]

samoht said:

The reason the Vauxhall Frontera was so crap was that it was an old Isuzu pickup with a car body thrown on top. Like many notorious criminals, it went by a wide variety of aliases:

Isuzu Amigo
Isuzu Mystery Utility Wizard (Japan)
Isuzu Cameo (Thailand)
Isuzu Frontier (South Africa)
Isuzu Rodeo
Isuzu Vega (Thailand)
Chevrolet Frontera (Egypt)
Chevrolet Rodeo
Holden Frontera
Honda Jazz
Honda Passport
Opel Frontera
Vauxhall Frontera

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_MU)

Loved my Frontera!! SWB 2.8tdi. It was immaculate and a bloody brilliant car for trundling around it. Would love another.

[king arthur]

Sticking with vans you could also have had the same van as a Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert, Fiat Scudo or Toyota Pro Ace and now Vauxhall Vivaro. Or the Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Vauxhall Combo - not sure if the Fiat Doblo is also now a rebadged one of these?

[WPA]

Ford Galaxy, SEAT Alhambra and Volkswagen Sharan