While most cars aim for timeless appeal and inoffensive design, some vehicles veer wildly off course, achieving notoriety for all the wrong reasons. We’re not celebrating automotive beauty queens here; instead, we’re diving headfirst into the world of tragically Ugly Cars, those design mishaps forever etched in our memories as eyesores on wheels. Buckle up as we present 100 of the automotive industry’s most visually challenged creations, presented in no particular order, each a testament to how spectacularly car styling can go wrong.
2010 Porsche Panamera: Admittedly, the Panamera has evolved into a more handsome machine over the years, but the original iteration was, to put it mildly, aesthetically challenged. That sloping roofline, while perhaps maximizing headroom for rear passengers, resulted in a disproportionate, hunchbacked silhouette. It was a Porsche that seemed to apologize for its own existence with its ungainly form.
2010 Toyota Prius: Often hailed as the poster child of eco-consciousness, the 2010 Prius unfortunately also became a symbol of automotive blandness. Its design seemed to prioritize aerodynamic efficiency at the expense of any visual excitement. Resembling a “polliwog of green piety,” as it was aptly described, the Prius’s styling was as uninspired as its driving experience was perceived to be by enthusiasts. Efficiency, in this case, came at the heavy price of aesthetic boredom, cementing its place among ugly cars.
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser: The PT Cruiser attempted to blend retro styling with modern practicality, but the result was a confusing mishmash of design cues. Imagine 1940s styling elements awkwardly grafted onto the body of a front-wheel-drive station wagon. This Chrysler creation became a textbook example of “retro done wrong,” proving that nostalgia, when poorly executed, can lead to some truly ugly cars.
2011 Nissan Leaf: Nissan’s foray into the electric vehicle market with the 2011 Leaf was technologically forward-thinking, but its styling seemed stuck in a bubble. Conceived as an “advanced all-electric car cleverly disguised as a bubble gum bubble with door handles,” the Leaf lacked the visual appeal to match its innovative powertrain. Its overly rounded shape and prominent headlights contributed to its inclusion in any list of ugly cars, raising questions about whether the future of automotive design had to be quite so…uninteresting.
1959 Buick Electra 225: The 1950s were a decade of flamboyant automotive design, and the 1959 Buick Electra 225 took excess to an extreme. It was a chaotic clash of styling clichés, where “all the 1950s styling clichés fight each other to the death on a relentlessly tasteless car.” Those massive tailfins, sharp enough to “slice ham,” became a symbol of over-the-top design gone wrong, making the Electra 225 a prime example of ugly cars from a bygone era.
1973 Austin Allegro: The Austin Allegro is often cited as a symbol of British automotive design at its most awkward. So peculiar was its styling that it “could have been French,” yet it was the unfortunate creation of British Leyland. The Allegro’s ungainly shape and infamous square steering wheel became icons of “English decline,” solidifying its place as one of the most memorably ugly cars to emerge from the UK.
1959 Ford Anglia: Taking the worst aspects of late 1950s American styling and shrinking them onto a small British Ford was a recipe for disaster, and the 1959 Ford Anglia was the result. “Everything that was wrong with American styling of the late 1950s is even worse on a tiny British Ford,” critics lamented. The awkwardly sloping roofline, seemingly “dying of embarrassment at the rear window,” cemented the Anglia’s status as one of the truly ugly cars of its time.
1990 Chrysler Imperial: The once-prestigious Imperial nameplate was tarnished in 1990 when Chrysler resurrected it on a stretched, front-wheel-drive K-car chassis. Adding insult to injury was a “ridiculous nose” that completed the transformation of the Imperial into a shadow of its former self. This iteration of the Imperial was a car that “begged to be abandoned in the desert even before its lease was up,” a testament to its design failure and its ignominious place among ugly cars.
1975 Ford Granada: The Ford Granada attempted to mimic the sophisticated styling of a Mercedes-Benz, but the imitation fell drastically short. Perched atop an “old, disposable Falcon chassis,” the Granada was a “hideous imitation Mercedes” that was “clumsy in every way.” Despite its initial sales success, the Granada quickly faded into obscurity, remembered today primarily as one of the less appealing and ugly cars of the 1970s.
1957 Trabant: The Trabant, a product of East Germany, was more than just an ugly car; it was a symbol of automotive misery. In a country where “East Germany wasn’t busy screwing up everything else, it forced its citizens to buy this rattling bucket of ugly misery.” Styled with such disregard for precision that “no two body panels ever aligned with each other,” the Trabant was a rolling testament to poor design and a deserving member of any ugly cars list.
1958 Ford Thunderbird: The transformation of the Ford Thunderbird from a “classy and classic two-seater” into a “bizarre four-seater” in 1958 was seen by many as an aesthetic downgrade. While it sold remarkably well, the larger Thunderbird was considered a design “atrocity,” especially when juxtaposed with the technological advancements of the era, like the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik. This Thunderbird marked a stylistic low point, earning its place among ugly cars.
1990 Chrysler LeBaron Landau: Another K-car derivative, the Chrysler LeBaron Landau, attempted to add a touch of luxury to the mundane Plymouth Acclaim. The result was a “stupid grille and ridiculous vinyl half-roof” that only served to make the rear window smaller and the overall design more awkward. The LeBaron Landau became a symbol of automotive mediocrity and questionable styling choices, solidifying its position in the pantheon of ugly cars.
1973 Oldsmobile Omega: The Oldsmobile Omega was essentially a Chevrolet Nova “uglified with a split waterfall grille.” This unnecessary and “unattractive” styling exercise demonstrated a “contempt GM had for its own customers,” according to critics. The Omega served as an example of how badge engineering could go terribly wrong, resulting in one of the more forgettable and ugly cars of the early 1970s.
1959 Ford Fairlane: The 1957 Ford Fairlane was considered reasonably attractive, but by 1959, it had “disintegrated under the weight of a flat nose, dopey fins and a dorky roof.” The result was described as a “Kleenex box on tiny whitewalls,” a far cry from its more stylish predecessor. This design misstep relegated the 1959 Fairlane to the ranks of ugly cars.
2007 Jeep Compass: The concept of a front-wheel-drive Jeep was controversial from the start, and the 2007 Jeep Compass did little to quell those concerns with its styling. The “evil idea of basing a Jeep on a front-drive chassis becomes an utterly heinous and wimpy reality” in the Compass. “Ill-proportioned, absurdly detailed and cheap-looking,” the Compass even made the similarly conceived Jeep Patriot “look almost rugged” by comparison, cementing its status as one of the ugliest cars to bear the Jeep name.
1977 Dodge Charger: The Dodge Charger, once a symbol of American muscle, underwent a drastic transformation in 1977, losing its aggressive edge in favor of a more “leisurely” aesthetic. The “once muscular and exciting Charger is issued a double-knit leisure suit and ordered to battle Chevy’s Monte Carlo.” This design shift seemed to signal a lack of direction for Chrysler, leading critics to wonder, “Why didn’t Chrysler just announce that it wanted to go bankrupt?” The 1977 Charger became a symbol of the Malaise era and a contender for ugly cars lists.
1961 Checker Marathon: While undeniably “brutally bulky and achingly archaic,” the Checker Marathon’s design was ultimately secondary to its function. Its “sheer ruggedness and utility made it a legendary cab.” The Marathon proved that “sometimes ugly doesn’t matter” when a vehicle excels in its intended purpose. However, its aesthetic shortcomings still qualify it for a mention among ugly cars, albeit with an asterisk.
1986 Hyundai Excel: Hyundai’s entry into the US market with the Excel was marked by a car that was undeniably affordable but also undeniably unattractive. The Excel was a “haphazard collection of cast-off Mitsubishi parts in a $4,995 plain nasty wrapper.” Despite its uninspired design, the Excel marked the beginning of Hyundai’s journey to becoming a major automotive player, a surprising success story for one of the initially ugly cars in its lineup.
1977 Chrysler LeBaron: Taking the poorly executed Plymouth Volare and attempting to elevate it to “luxury duty” resulted in the 1977 Chrysler LeBaron. Absurdly padded and questionably assembled, the LeBaron was a design misstep, highlighted by the peculiar detail that “the headlights are on upside down!” This LeBaron became another example of Chrysler’s struggles in the late 1970s and a noteworthy entry among ugly cars.
1971 Mercury Cougar: The once “nimble Cougar” bloated into an “overstyled mess” by 1971. Massive chrome bumpers and excessive ornamentation turned the Cougar into a caricature of its former self. The “massive rear bumper threatened to consume the planet’s entire supply of chrome,” a testament to the design excesses of the era and the Cougar’s unfortunate transformation into one of the ugly cars of the early 1970s.
1976 Jaguar XJ-S: Tasked with succeeding the iconic E-Type, the Jaguar XJ-S took a sharp stylistic turn towards the “personal luxury coupe” segment, resulting in a design that was a departure from Jaguar’s sporting heritage. The XJ-S was described as “Jag’s version of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo,” featuring a “massive flying buttress roof” culminating in taillights that resembled “red plastic salad tongs.” This stylistic shift, while commercially successful, placed the XJ-S in the debatable territory of ugly cars for some Jaguar purists.
1965 Rambler Marlin: AMC’s attempt to move upscale with the Rambler Marlin backfired spectacularly in the styling department. Taking the “boring American” sedan and adding a “tapered fastback roof” produced a car that could “only be called dorky.” The Marlin became a symbol of AMC’s design struggles and a textbook example of how not to create an appealing fastback, solidifying its place among ugly cars.
2013 GMC Terrain Denali: The GMC Terrain, already “awful” in its standard brick-like form, was made even worse in its Denali trim. “Covering it in shiny plastic to create the Denali edition only makes it worse. Design by building blocks,” critics noted. The Denali treatment amplified the Terrain’s boxy and unrefined aesthetic, making it a prominent example of modern ugly cars.
1972 Ford Thunderbird: Stretching the Ford Thunderbird to a full “214 inches of utterly goofy sheetmetal” in 1972 resulted in a design monstrosity. The “mega-bird” was essentially a “Lincoln Mark IV drained of any style.” This oversized and ungainly Thunderbird became a symbol of automotive bloat and a clear contender for ugly cars lists.
1986 Cadillac Eldorado: The 1986 Cadillac Eldorado represented a “dwarf-spec generation” of Cadillac’s once-grand front-wheel-drive coupe. Its shrunken proportions and uninspired styling rendered it incapable of even being “pimped out,” a harsh indictment of its aesthetic failings. This Eldorado marked a low point for Cadillac design and firmly placed itself among ugly cars.
1959 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88: The 1959 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 was a symphony of bizarre design choices. “Every square inch more bizarre than the square inch next to it,” it was “extravagantly tasteless, but somehow dull and forlorn, too.” The Dynamic 88 embodied the excesses of 1950s styling at its most chaotic and least appealing, making it a quintessential example of ugly cars from that era.
2009 Nissan Cube: The Nissan Cube aimed for “cute” but landed squarely in “weird.” “Determined to be cute, it turns out to just be weird and affected. And weirdly affected, too.” Its asymmetrical rear window and boxy proportions became polarizing design elements, with many finding the Cube simply bizarre and unattractive, securing its place among modern ugly cars.
2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca: Subaru’s reputation for unconventional design reached new heights (or lows) with the 2006 B9 Tribeca. Subaru’s “legendary oddness, swollen up in size and then cursed by a Venusian nose and a Martian tail” resulted in a truly alien-looking SUV. The B9 Tribeca became a poster child for automotive design gone astray and a frequent inclusion in ugly cars lists.
1980 Oldsmobile Omega: The Oldsmobile Omega, part of GM’s ill-fated X-car platform, was “awful in its own special way.” Mixing a “ridiculous grille with a dumpy body,” the 1980 Omega “announced its awfulness” to the world. It became another example of GM’s design missteps in the late 1970s and early 1980s and a worthy addition to any compilation of ugly cars.
1978 Volvo 262C: Volvo’s attempt to create a more stylish coupe by having Bertone “squash the roof” of the 260 series resulted in the 1978 Volvo 262C. The outcome was “laughably unstylish and hopelessly boxy,” failing to achieve the intended elegance. The 262C became an example of a design collaboration gone wrong and another contender for ugly cars lists.
1971 Plymouth Cricket: The Plymouth Cricket was a rebadged Hillman Avenger, a British car already known for its dowdy appearance. Adding a “new grille and whitewalls for America” did little to improve its aesthetics. The Cricket was “ugly in the least interesting way possible,” failing to even achieve a memorable level of ugliness, yet still qualifying as one of the ugly cars of its era.
1958 Lincoln Continental: The 1958 Lincoln Continental represented automotive over-styling at its most extreme. “Relentlessly overstyled from its massive and winged front bumper, slanted and stacked headlights, speared and scalloped flanks and overhanging roof,” it was simply “hideous.” The Continental became a symbol of 1950s design excess and a prominent example of ugly cars from that decade.
1982 Chrysler LeBaron: The 1982 Chrysler LeBaron took the K-car platform and attempted to dress it up with “formal grille, dopey vinyl roof and two-tone paint.” The result was an “eye-fried” aesthetic that failed to disguise its humble origins. “At least the original K didn’t pretend to be anything except ordinary,” critics noted, highlighting the LeBaron’s unsuccessful attempt at stylistic elevation and its place among ugly cars.
1975 AMC Pacer: The AMC Pacer, with its distinctive “fishbowl” styling, became a legendary example of automotive oddity. “It was too wide, too short and agonizingly bulbous,” creating a truly unique and often derided silhouette. The Pacer’s unconventional design ensured its place in automotive history, not for beauty, but for its unforgettable ugliness, making it a staple on ugly cars lists.
2000 Hyundai Tiburon: Hyundai’s quest for automotive respectability took a detour with the second-generation Tiburon coupe. Its “oversculpted” design was likened to “gum stuck to the bottom of your boot,” a harsh but evocative description of its unappealing lines. The Tiburon became a setback in Hyundai’s design evolution and a representative of turn-of-the-millennium ugly cars.
1983 Chrysler Executive Limousine: The idea of stretching a K-car into a limousine was questionable from the outset, and the 1983 Chrysler Executive Limousine proved the point. “At some point someone inside Chrysler thought it was a good idea to build a stretched K-car limousine. They were wrong.” This limousine became a symbol of automotive absurdity and a definite contender for ugly cars lists.
1965 Renault 16: The Renault 16 embodied the quirky and unconventional nature of French car design. “Everything a weird French car should be, including arbitrarily sculpted and awkwardly perched atop skinny tires,” the Renault 16 embraced its oddness. While perhaps possessing a certain Gallic charm for some, its unconventional aesthetics also placed it in the realm of ugly cars for others.
2011 Nissan Juke: The Nissan Juke embraced peculiarity with open arms, resulting in a design that was either loved or loathed. It “has at least six headlights and fenders that seem tacked on as an afterthought. It’s proudly peculiar and unpretty.” The Juke’s polarizing styling ensured its place in discussions about ugly cars and cemented its reputation as a vehicle that dared to be different, even if that difference wasn’t always aesthetically pleasing.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: The Chevrolet Malibu Maxx was a “half-hearted effort at a long-wheelbase station wagon” that resulted in a design that was neither wagon nor hatchback, just awkward. It ended up “looking like a stack of saltines,” a bland and uninspired aesthetic that failed to excite. The Malibu Maxx became a symbol of missed design opportunities and a forgettable entry among ugly cars.
1974 Bricklin SV-1: The Bricklin SV-1 was plagued by quality issues, and its styling didn’t help matters. Its “wavy, thick fiberglass body with gullwing doors that never closed tightly” gave it a perpetually unfinished look. It “looked like it was falling apart even as it was being assembled,” making it both unreliable and unattractive, a double whammy in the world of ugly cars.
1991 Chevrolet Caprice: The 1991 Chevrolet Caprice was often likened to a “marine mammal stuck on four wheels.” Its bulbous shape and ungainly proportions made it an aesthetic low point for the Caprice nameplate. It was “redeemed only slightly when it was given a more powerful V8 as the 1994 Impala SS,” suggesting that performance could somewhat compensate for its visual shortcomings, but not erase its place among ugly cars.
1996 Ford Taurus: The “oval” design theme of the 1996 Ford Taurus backfired spectacularly. This “disastrously lousy” redesign “practically killed the Taurus altogether.” It became “the car you hated to rent,” a symbol of automotive design failure and a prominent example of 1990s ugly cars.
2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo: The 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s design seemed to be in a state of perpetual meltdown. “A car whose skin seemed to be melting off of it. It featured a cacophony of styling cues fighting for attention.” Even “NASCAR-themed special editions only made it look worse,” highlighting the fundamental design flaws of this Monte Carlo generation and its place among ugly cars.
1992 Buick Skylark: The 1992 Buick Skylark attempted to blend a “wedge-shaped grille with a standard economy car,” a stylistic mismatch that resulted in an awkward design. “GS models included hideous lower body molding,” further exacerbating its aesthetic issues. The Skylark became another example of GM’s design struggles in the 1990s and a forgettable entry among ugly cars.
1989 Chevrolet Corsica Hatchback: Adding a hatchback to the Chevrolet Corsica sedan was an exercise in awkwardness. “A fifth door awkwardly grafted onto the existing and boring midsize sedan” created a visual Frankenstein. “Think of it as Boris Karloff’s head planted atop Bela Lugosi’s body,” a vivid description of its mismatched proportions and its status as one of the more ungainly ugly cars.
2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV: The Mitsubishi i-MiEV was envisioned as a futuristic city car, but its design ended up looking more like a “misery module.” An “egg that can’t be cracked open and scrambled for breakfast,” the i-MiEV became a symbol of underwhelming electric car design and a frequent entry in ugly cars discussions.
1974 AMC Matador Coupe: The AMC Matador Coupe was a “flabby and goggle-eyed attempt to breathe life into AMC’s midsize car.” Its bulbous styling was generally considered unattractive, although it “looked good racing in NASCAR,” a rare instance where a car’s racing livery improved its aesthetics, but not enough to remove it from the list of ugly cars for road use.
1957 Rambler Cross Country: The Rambler Cross Country wagon was the epitome of uncool. “Always the car for nerds who wanted the world to know they were nerds,” it lacked any semblance of style. It got “psychedelic when haphazardly converted to a wagon,” further solidifying its image as one of the least desirable and ugly cars of the 1950s.
1956 Nash Ambassador Super: At the height of the Cold War, the 1956 Nash Ambassador Super was so bizarrely styled that it “could have been Russian.” It was “undiplomatically awful-looking,” an automotive design anomaly that stood out even in the flamboyant 1950s, making it a notable example of ugly cars.
1949 Airway: The Airway was a short-lived and obscure vehicle with a truly bizarre design. A “rear-engine, 10-horsepower obscurity with the tiniest wheels ever put on a road car,” it was “basically a go-kart with an aluminum body.” Its unconventional and diminutive proportions made it a curious and undeniably ugly car.
1980 Cadillac Seville: The 1980 Cadillac Seville’s attempt to revive 1930s styling themes fell flat. A “misbegotten attempt to revive the styling themes of the 1930s,” it featured the “ugliest trunklid around until Chris Bangle started working for BMW.” This Seville became a symbol of Cadillac design missteps and a prominent example of early 1980s ugly cars.
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass: Adding “four-door fastback styling on a car no one wanted to see become a fastback” resulted in the 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass. It “looked stupid and sold in disastrously small numbers,” proving that not every design trend translates well to every car, and in this case, it resulted in one of the uglier cars of the late 1970s.
1973 Datsun B-210: The Datsun B-210 was the embodiment of “what a truly cheap car looked like in the 1970s.” “Late versions with big bumpers were particularly heinous,” further detracting from its already basic and uninspired design. The B-210 became a symbol of budget automotive aesthetics and a representative of 1970s ugly cars.
1982 Cadillac Cimarron: The Cadillac Cimarron was a thinly veiled Chevrolet Cavalier, “tarted up to pass as a BMW competitor.” “Laughably stupid-looking,” it was an embarrassing attempt at badge engineering that fooled no one. Despite its aesthetic shortcomings and lack of Cadillac refinement, it “somehow stayed in production for seven years,” a testament to questionable marketing decisions and its enduring legacy as one of the most ridiculed and ugly cars ever to bear the Cadillac name.
1980 Ford Thunderbird: The 1980 Ford Thunderbird’s attempt to apply “big car styling to a downsized, boxy coupe” resulted in a design that was neither big nor stylish. “Actual boxes weren’t as boxy as this foul fowl,” critics quipped. This Thunderbird became a symbol of design confusion and a prominent example of early 1980s ugly cars.
2010 BMW 5 Series GT: The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo was an “oversize five-door that besmirches the 5 Series’ legacy with a dopey, high-riding tail.” It was seen as a misstep for BMW design, suggesting that “if BMW has lost its way, it’s cars like this that are leading it astray.” The 5 Series GT became a controversial model and a frequent inclusion in discussions about ugly cars, particularly within the context of BMW’s design evolution.
1961 Plymouth Valiant: The 1961 Plymouth Valiant took the “excessive and geeky styling mistakes of bigger early 1960s Chrysler products” and condensed them into a “more compact and convenient size.” This miniaturization of questionable design elements did little to improve the Valiant’s aesthetics, solidifying its place among ugly cars of the early 1960s.
1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2: Built for NASCAR racing, the Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 featured a “silly pointed prow up front and a huge rear window.” It was both “ugly and it didn’t win much either,” a double blow for a car intended for both style and performance. The Grand Prix 2+2 became a symbol of misguided design and underachieving performance, earning its spot among ugly cars.
2008 BMW X6: The BMW X6 was conceived as a “crossover coupe,” but many saw it as an aesthetic misstep. “Think of it as an X5 with a fastback roof and without all that pesky utility. It looks like a Bavarian cockroach.” The X6’s sloping roofline and SUV proportions created a controversial silhouette that divided opinions and earned it a place in discussions about ugly cars, particularly within the luxury SUV segment.
1974 Ford Mustang II: The Ford Mustang II, while commercially successful, is often criticized for its styling. “Every traditional Mustang styling cue exaggerated to the point of visual agony,” it became “the one Mustang worthy of contempt” for many Mustang enthusiasts. The Mustang II’s design represented a departure from the original Mustang’s sleekness and is often cited as one of the less appealing and ugly cars to bear the Mustang name.
1961 Renault 4: The Renault 4 was a utilitarian vehicle that prioritized function over form. “Think of it as the 2CV without the charm, whimsy or promise of simplicity. It was a willfully obtuse design that remained in production for 32 years.” Its deliberately basic and unadorned design, while practical, also placed it in the category of ugly cars for many observers.
1959 Dodge Coronet: The 1959 Dodge Coronet was a chaotic collection of styling elements. “Every surface on the car seems to be headed in a different direction. The big-mouth grille seems ready to suck in all the ocean’s plankton.” Its disjointed design and overly aggressive front end made it a prime example of late 1950s automotive excess gone wrong and a clear contender for ugly cars lists.
1996 Suzuki X90: The Suzuki X90 was a truly unique and often ridiculed vehicle. “The only vehicle ever built that looks better with a giant can of Red Bull bolted atop it,” the X90’s diminutive size, T-tops, and truck-like styling created a bizarre combination. Its unconventional design ensured its place in automotive history and on lists of ugly cars.
2002 Lexus SC 430: The Lexus SC 430 convertible was often criticized for its bathtub-like styling. “Turn a bathtub upside down, cut a chunk out of its floor to make it a convertible, install a Lexus powertrain and, voilà, you have the SC 430.” Its rounded and bulky proportions made it a frequent target of automotive design criticism and a notable example of early 2000s ugly cars.
1970 AMC Gremlin: The AMC Gremlin was a desperate attempt to create a subcompact car by “chopping up the Hornet compact.” “Pure butchery that looks like it was done with a rusty cleaver,” the Gremlin’s abruptly truncated rear end became its defining and often derided feature. The Gremlin became a symbol of automotive cost-cutting and design compromises, earning its place among ugly cars.
1980 Lincoln Mark VI: The downsized Lincoln Mark VI was a stylistic disaster. The “shrunken Mark VI two-door was hideous, but the four-door sedan was hideous and atrocious. Every bad idea Ford ever had about styling in one car.” This generation of the Mark VI represented a low point for Lincoln design and a prominent example of early 1980s ugly cars.
2003 Saturn Ion Sedan: The Saturn Ion Sedan’s design was often described as haphazard and generic. “Apparently designed by jumping into a pile of Legos and seeing which pieces stuck together. And yet it was strangely generic and anonymous, too.” Its plastic body panels and uninspired styling made it a forgettable and often criticized entry in the compact sedan segment and a member of the ugly cars club.
1985 Pontiac Grand Am: The 1985 Pontiac Grand Am was “covered in cheesy plastic cladding,” a design trend of the era that has not aged well. Its “shrunken-head coupe and sedan” proportions and excessive plastic trim became symbols of 1980s automotive design excesses. “It was the beginning of the end” for Pontiac’s design direction, and the Grand Am became a representative of ugly cars from that decade.
1961 Citroen Ami: The Citroen Ami was a masterclass in “utter aesthetic aggression.” “It dares buyers not to love it. It is, in other words, the quintessential French car.” Its unapologetically unconventional design was polarizing and deliberately challenged traditional notions of automotive beauty, making it a quintessential example of French automotive eccentricity and a frequent inclusion in ugly cars lists.
1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser: The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser was a showcase of 1950s automotive gimmicks. It “features a ridiculous front bumper, radio antennas shooting forward from the roof, silly side trim and a rear window that goes down. What’s not to love/hate?” Its over-the-top styling and abundance of unnecessary features made it a quintessential example of 1950s design excess and a prominent member of the ugly cars hall of fame.
1958 Subaru 360: The Subaru 360 was a tiny and unconventional car with a design to match. “It looks sort of like concrete that’s been left to harden in a wheelbarrow, only less comfortable.” Its diminutive size and awkward proportions made it an unusual and often derided vehicle, earning it a place among ugly cars.
1947 Davis D-2 Divan: The Davis D-2 Divan was a short-lived and bizarre three-wheeled vehicle. A “ludicrous three-wheeler that featured four-across seating,” it was a design anomaly that thankfully did not last. “Mercifully, the company went out of business just as production was ramping up,” saving the world from further examples of this truly ugly car.
1985 Oldsmobile Calais: The Oldsmobile Calais was “malevolently ill-proportioned,” making it “the ugliest of the GM N-platform stepsisters.” It was described as “a car for buyers who had given up on living,” a harsh indictment of its depressing aesthetics. The Calais became a symbol of automotive design malaise and a clear contender for ugly cars lists.
1959 Daimler SP250: The Daimler SP250 attempted to be an eccentric British sports car, but its styling was eccentric in all the wrong ways. “British sports cars are supposed to be eccentric and this one is eccentric in five-dozen ways. Its fish-lips grille is at war with the sparrowhawk tailfins.” Its disjointed and clashing design elements made it a bizarre and often cited example of ugly cars.
1948 Citroen 2CV: The Citroen 2CV, despite its “ramshackle assembly of corrugated tin,” possesses a certain quirky charm. “Yes, the deux chevaux is a ramshackle assembly of corrugated tin. It’s ugly in all the best ways possible. And sometimes, ugly is perfect.” The 2CV’s ugliness is arguably part of its appeal, a testament to functional design over pure aesthetics, and a reminder that even ugly cars can be iconic.
1982 Lincoln Continental: The 1982 Lincoln Continental represented a significant downgrade from previous generations. The “Continental tumbles down onto Ford’s pedestrian Fox platform and gets stuck with the 1980 Seville’s styling.” This combination of uninspired styling and a less-than-luxurious platform resulted in a Continental that was a shadow of its former self and a member of the ugly cars club.
2004 Kia Amanti: The Kia Amanti attempted to project an air of formality, but the result was simply awkward. “Bolt upright and almost silly in its formality. The grille looks like a sewer grate.” Its ungainly proportions and uninspired styling made it a forgettable and often derided entry in the full-size sedan segment and a member of the ugly cars list.
1971 Subaru Leone: The Subaru Leone was the epitome of agricultural-looking automobiles. “There are more comfortable-looking riding lawnmowers. It’s positively agricultural.” Its boxy and utilitarian design, while perhaps functional, lacked any aesthetic appeal, solidifying its place among ugly cars.
1978 Subaru Brat: The Subaru Brat, with its whimsical name, was a “strange pickup built off the Leone.” “It’s the sort of car that announces your economic marginalization,” suggesting that its design was as unrefined as its target market might have been perceived. The Brat’s unconventional styling and pickup bed jump seats made it a unique but often unattractive vehicle and a member of the ugly cars family.
1974 AMC Matador: The 1974 AMC Matador sedan’s redesign to accommodate new bumper regulations resulted in a “big schnoz” that ruined its once-innocuous styling. “To deal with new bumper regulations, AMC puts a big schnoz on the once-innocuous Matador sedan. Even cops were embarrassed to drive them.” The Matador’s unfortunate facelift turned it into a symbol of ungainly automotive design and a clear contender for ugly cars lists.
2010 Lincoln MKT: The Lincoln MKT was a “thick-hipped, big-nosed and oddly misshapen” crossover wagon. “A Lincoln station wagon straining to be taken for a crossover … and no one cares.” Its ungainly proportions and awkward styling made it a sales disappointment and a frequent target of design criticism, earning it a spot among modern ugly cars.
1974 Ford Torino Elite: The Ford Torino Elite was a “desperate attempt to compete with Chevy’s Monte Carlo.” It was “really a Mercury Cougar with a vast and ugly nose,” suggesting that it was a cobbled-together effort with little original design merit. The Torino Elite became a symbol of automotive badge engineering gone wrong and a forgettable entry among 1970s ugly cars.
1958 Packard Hawk: The 1958 Packard Hawk was a sad attempt to revive the dying Packard brand. “Unwilling to let Packard die a dignified death, its name is slapped onto a particularly awful version of the Studebaker Hawk. Inexcusable.” Its ungainly styling and blatant rebadging made it a symbol of Packard’s decline and an unfortunate example of late 1950s ugly cars.
1976 Aston Martin Lagonda: The Aston Martin Lagonda was a radical departure from Aston Martin’s traditional styling, embracing a stark, angular aesthetic. “Styled by William Townes apparently using a single straight edge and a box cutter. Crude modernism.” Its sharply creased lines and boxy proportions were polarizing, with some praising its bold originality and others deriding its unconventional ugliness, making it a debatable but often cited example of ugly cars.
2009 Ferrari California: The Ferrari California was criticized for being “overstyled and butt-heavy,” lacking the sleek elegance typically associated with Ferraris. “It’s the least Ferrari-like of all Ferraris. A soft-bodied cruiser from an otherwise hard-core builder.” The California’s design was seen as a misstep for Ferrari and a departure from its performance-focused aesthetic, leading some to include it in lists of ugly cars, particularly within the context of Ferrari’s design legacy.
1956 Tatra 603: The Tatra 603 was a Czechoslovakian car with a decidedly unusual design. “It’s yet one more communist atrocity. This Czechoslovakian freak used a rear-mounted, air-cooled V8, which helps explain the ridiculous appearance. But it doesn’t excuse it.” Its rear-engine layout and unconventional styling resulted in a car that was both technically interesting and aesthetically challenging, earning it a place among ugly cars.
1961 Dodge Dart: The 1961 Dodge Dart was part of Dodge’s dramatic and often criticized styling direction for that year. “The big Dodges for ’61 get concave grilles and overwrought front fenders to go with their goofball tailfins.” Its over-the-top styling and clashing design elements made it a prominent example of early 1960s automotive design excess and a contender for ugly cars lists.
1961 Plymouth Fury: The 1961 Plymouth Fury was considered even more aesthetically challenged than its Dodge counterpart. “Even worse than the ’61 Dodges were the ’61 Plymouths with a front end that looked literally insane.” Its aggressively styled front end and disjointed design made it a particularly jarring example of early 1960s automotive styling and a clear member of the ugly cars club.
1960 Plymouth Fury: The 1960 Plymouth Fury continued the brand’s trend of controversial styling. “The ’59 Caddy had the biggest fins, but it was the ’60 Fury that had the ugliest. Not that the front end was tolerable either.” Its massive tailfins and awkward front end made it a prominent example of late 1950s and early 1960s automotive design excess and a frequent inclusion in ugly cars lists.
1976 Rolls-Royce Camargue: The Rolls-Royce Camargue was a surprising design misstep from the usually elegant marque. “Pininfarina proves that with a little provocation it can design a clumsy and ridiculous coupe. It’s a Rolls-Royce that looks like a Fiat.” Its boxy and uninspired styling was a significant departure from Rolls-Royce’s traditional elegance and a shocking example of even luxury brands producing ugly cars.
2002 BMW 7 Series: The 2002 BMW 7 Series, designed under the direction of Chris Bangle, was highly controversial for its styling, particularly its “Bangle Butt” trunk design. “Chris Bangle bungles BMW’s flagship sedan with a complex front end and a hideous tail bump trunklid. It’s a first-order screwup.” This 7 Series became a symbol of polarizing automotive design and a prominent example of modern ugly cars, sparking intense debate about BMW’s design direction.
1976 Bristol Blenheim: The Bristol Blenheim’s design was often described as amateurish and uninspired. “What a 13-year-old British schoolboy would draw in study hall. That is, if he weren’t very bright and couldn’t really draw.” Its simplistic and unrefined styling made it a curious and often derided entry in the luxury car market and a member of the ugly cars club.
1958 Edsel: The 1958 Edsel is perhaps the most famous example of automotive failure, and its styling played a significant role in its demise. “As a car it was no worse than a Ford or Mercury. But it was so hideous that the market rejected it and it’s been synonymous with failure ever since.” The Edsel’s infamous “horse-collar” grille and overall ungainly design made it a symbol of automotive hubris and a legendary example of ugly cars.
1974 Datsun F10: The Datsun F10 was a masterclass in uninspired and unattractive design. “Nissan worked hard to make sure each component on this disaster was as ugly as possible. And then it turned out to be even worse-looking than the sum of all its parts.” Its boxy shape, awkward proportions, and generally unpleasant aesthetics made it a quintessential example of 1970s ugly cars.
1998 Fiat Multipla: The Fiat Multipla is often cited as one of the ugliest cars ever produced. “It looks as if it escaped from Neptune, bounced around the solar system hitting asteroids, and then melted while entering the Earth’s atmosphere.” Its bizarre two-tiered headlight arrangement and overall ungainly proportions made it a truly unforgettable and universally derided example of ugly cars.
2001 Pontiac Aztek: The Pontiac Aztek is perhaps the most infamous example of modern automotive ugliness. “A good idea ruined when forced onto a minivan chassis. If there are any executives left at GM who signed off on this, there is no justice in the universe.” Its bulky plastic cladding, awkward proportions, and generally disjointed design made it a critical and commercial failure and a poster child for ugly cars.
1985 Cadillac DeVille: The 1985 Cadillac DeVille represented a significant styling downgrade for Cadillac. “Squashed, squared and indistinguishable from an Olds or Buick. This is the car that announced GM didn’t care about Cadillac anymore.” Its generic and uninspired design signaled a decline in Cadillac’s design leadership and made it a symbol of 1980s automotive blandness and a member of the ugly cars club.
2010 Acura ZDX: The Acura ZDX was an “insanity manifested as a spacey-looking five-door thingamajig.” “Utterly pointless and it looks it, too.” Its sloping roofline and unconventional crossover coupe shape made it a polarizing design and a sales disappointment. The ZDX became a symbol of misguided automotive experimentation and a frequent inclusion in ugly cars discussions.
1977 Lincoln Versailles: The Lincoln Versailles was a rushed and poorly executed attempt to compete with the Cadillac Seville. “A rushed response to the original Cadillac Seville, it was a Ford Granada with a janky Continental kit. A 1979 face-lift changed the roof profile, but made the car even uglier.” Its blatant rebadging and uninspired styling made it a symbol of automotive corner-cutting and a forgettable and ugly car from the late 1970s.
2024 Tesla Cybertruck: The Tesla Cybertruck, Elon Musk’s futuristic pickup, has generated significant controversy for its radical and angular design. “Yes, the truck that Elon built deserves a place on this list. A brutalist triangle on wheels that rusts when it rains. What a marvel.” Its sharp angles, stainless steel exterior, and overall unconventional aesthetic have made it a polarizing vehicle, with many considering it to be one of the ugliest cars ever produced, while others admire its bold and futuristic design.
These 100 vehicles represent just a fraction of the automotive design missteps throughout history. They serve as a reminder that not all cars can be winners in the beauty pageant of automotive design, and sometimes, the pursuit of innovation or cost-cutting can lead to creations that are, well, just plain ugly cars.
