12 Cars That Were All Over the Roads in the '90s You Probably Forgot About

The '90s were an interesting decade for the automotive business. While it may be hard to remember now, back then, sedans and sports cars dominated the industry. And it might sound shocking, but there was actually a time when something other than crossover SUVs was considered a smart money move for car owners.

However, times change. And as these 12 vehicles attest to, even once iconic cars can be completely forgotten. Here are some that we just don't see anymore.

Few sports cars represent the boxy automotive stylings of the '80s and '90s better than the Camaro IROC-Z. This American classic was the racing car of the IROC-Z series during the '90s.

However, this iconic muscle car's days were numbered after Chevrolet decided to cut ties with the International Race of Champions (IROC). If you talk to any Camaro gearhead, they will likely tell you that the IROC-Z is one of their favorite models.

The Aston Martin DB7 was one of the premier sports cars of the '90s. Its 3.2-L V6 engine, which was capable of unleashing 335 horsepower, was a big deal back then.

The DB7 was also as gorgeous as anything the famed British automaker had ever produced. However, the DB7's maintenance cost a fortune, and it had nagging reliability issues. It was discontinued in 2004 and replaced by the DB9.

Parent company Nissan intended for the Infiniti J30 to be an outstanding luxury sedan. The aim was for this car to be Japan's answer to Jaguar.

However, its body is more likely to make you think of a bar of soap than prestigious, elegant British automotive royalty. Ultimately, this sedan was unpopular with American buyers due to its weak V6 engine and cramped interior.

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The Lotus Esprit Turbo was a stylish and popular sports car in the '80s and had notable appearances in hit movies of that era, like the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only" and the romantic comedy "Pretty Woman."

However, the popularity of this sleek, 264 horsepower sports car waned in the '90s because it suffered from reliability issues, such as excessive oil leaks.

Before Ford dominated the automotive market with pickup trucks like the F-150, they attempted to expand their lineup with the Contour, which they hoped would be a success on both sides of the Atlantic.

While the Contour failed to deliver on its bestseller aspirations, it did lead to the sporty Mercury Cougar coupe, which some reviewers praised for its stylish design, handling, and braking.

However, when Ford decided to axe the Contour, other vehicles in its lineup went with it. As a result, the Mercury Cougar was only on the road for three model years.

General Motors wanted a vehicle that could compete against Europe's premium luxury brands in the '90s. So came to be the Cadillac Allante.

Sporting a formidable 4.1-L aluminum V8 engine capable of unleashing 170 horsepower and convertible and hardtop convertible trims, the Allante was a worthy effort.

However, these vehicles came out of the factory with substantial roof leaks, which ultimately hurt their popularity. In spite of GM's lofty aspirations for the Allante, this snazzy vehicle never successfully competed with the likes of Mercedes or Jaguar.

With its square trunk and its long, curved hood, the Chevrolet Corsica is about as '90s-looking as cars get. It first hit the road in 1987, and Chevrolet intended for it to be a rental car.

However, the Corsica eventually found its way onto dealership lots and became one of the best-selling cars in America despite receiving middling reviews.

Chevrolet discontinued this sedan in 1996 after shifting market demands and new safety standards rendered it obsolete. The automaker replaced it with the larger and more up-to-date Chevrolet Malibu in 1997.

General Motors attempted to use the name of the classic muscle car, the Cutlass 442, in order to sell this coupe as a performance vehicle.

However, that muscle car classic was a ferocious beast that made 500 lb-ft of torque, and the Cutlass Calais Quad 442 couldn't hold a candle to that output, even on its best day.

GM ultimately replaced this would-be performance vehicle with the uninspiring Acheiva SCX.

The Honda Civic del Sol was essentially the automaker's version of the Miata MX-5. The del Sol came with a removable targa panel, which was probably the most interesting thing about it.

Some reviewers thought that it paled in comparison to the Mazda Miata's performance capabilities, especially its excellent rear-wheel drive and convertible top that went all the way down.

In the end, the Civic del Sol failed to generate much fanfare. Similar vehicles were of superior quality and did the same things better.

Honda hoped to put a five-cylinder engine and a front-wheel-drive setup in a Honda Accord without calling it a Honda Accord. That's how the Acura Vigor came about.

Some reviewers criticized the Vigor for being boring, having a cramped interior, and having an inferior engine setup to Honda's better offerings of this era.

The Lincoln Mark VIII is what happened when the Ford Motor Company turned the Thunderbird into a boat on wheels. It's another comically round luxury vehicle from the '90s.

After six years of production, the model line was discontinued in 1998.

In the early '90s, Dodge unleashed the Stealth R/T. With its 3.0-L V6 engine capable of unleashing 300 horsepower, the Dodge Stealth R/T was the sports car of 1991.

Unfortunately for this slick-speed machine, the rest of the industry caught up and surpassed it with better sports cars as the decade progressed, causing Dodge to eventually discontinue it. The last production year was 1996.

In spite of these vehicles fading into history, some of them were actually quite historic at the time. For example, the Aston Martin DB7 came about because Ford purchased the famed British automaker in the '90s.

The Aston Martin DB7 was one of the Blue Oval's first new sports car designs of that era, and its astonishingly fast, super-smooth engine blew people away at that time.

And while these cars may be hard to find nowadays, stay on the lookout. Snagging an older model is a great way to save money on car insurance.