Unpopular opinion: The Cadillac Cimarron really wasn't that bad of a car, both looks wise and technologically. Most of the hatred it gets has to do with it being a badged-over Cavalier as the first compact car offering of GM's most premium brand. While in no means was it a great or revolutionary car, I just can't find myself loathing it as much as most others seem to do.
The Cimarron's biggest flaw wasn't even the fact that it was a Cavalier, rather its atrocious powertrain in its debut year, 1982, instantaneously tarnishing any reputation it would get. Though this engine only lasted one model year, the measly 82hp from the 1.8L I4 made the car feel slower than even a Chevette, doing 0-60 in over 22 seconds. This was corrected with the addition of a 2.8L V6 making a hearty 135hp, and a more responsive 2.2L I4. On the outside, it was a decent looking car, having a Cadillac-like grille, two-tone paint schemes, and gold badging, giving it a vaguely Italian feel; I'll even go as far as to say it looks somewhat like a Maserati Biturbo/228 from a distance. The interior was well-apportioned too, with standard leather seats and suede door trim, power-adjustable seats and steering wheel, digital instrument cluster, extra sound insulation, and a higher-quality audio system. Driving wise, it featured amenities not seen on other J-cars, like standard ABS, and a more stiff, sport-tuned suspension with upgraded shocks and larger sway bars. Reviewers found that the Cimarron, compared to the other J-cars, handled more responsively, had less body roll, and a quieter ride. Furthermore, it wasn't even that poorly selling of a car, and actually outsold the some of its less expensive rebadge-mates- the Skyhawk and Firenza- in certain years. In all, though it couldn't hide it's Cavalier roots, the Cimarron did feature a number of improvements and features to differentiate it.
Ultimately, the Cimarron was nothing more or less than a product of its time. In the early 1980s, Cadillac, like Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac, did not offer any truly bespoke products, rather more well-equipped or niche cars based on existing GM cars/platforms. The design and engineering team at Cadillac were under tight parameters and the J-car was Cadillac's only option to enter the compact segment. Though it would certainly disappoint when compared to it, it simply wouldn't be fair to expect that Cadillac's compact car offering at this time would be some kind of 3-Series rival, as especially as the two cars served different buyer profiles. I just think that the Cimarron's placement on nearly every "top 10 or 20 worst cars ever made" list, or some scathing review by a Youtube auto historian, isn't totally justified. The evidence that the Cimarron so severely tarnished Cadillac's reputation and "nearly killed Cadillac", according to reviewer Dan Neil, just isn't there. Rather, the Cimarron was an uninspiring, par-for-the-course car that didn't really have any notable impact on the Cadillac brand outside of the hyperbolic reviews it received.
