The 12 Ugliest Cars In The World
Fun facts about cars aren’t always about the quickest supercar or the most expensive auction vehicle. Sometimes these quirky bits center on more subjective things like looks. With this in mind, we’ll explore some of the ugliest cars ever to leave an automobile factory. And to give equal and notorious billing, we’ll split these fun facts about cars equally among ill-thinking domestic and foreign automakers.
Fun Facts About Cars: Ugly American Automobiles
AMC Pacer (1975-1979)
When there were four major American auto manufacturers, plucky American Motors Corporation almost always took a back seat to its larger and better-funded rivals (Chrysler, Ford, and GM). To compete, AMC didn’t hesitate to take risks; thus, cars like the Pacer hit the market. Its jelly-bean styling was a head-turner, but not in a good way. The Pacer’s compact and bulbous appearance came when Detroit still produced land barges the size of today’s Chevy Suburban. Despite cabin space that matched much larger vehicles, buyers couldn’t get over the Pacer’s unusual looks.
Chevrolet Lumina APV (1989-1996)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Lumina_APV#/media/File:1994-1996_Chevrolet_Lumina_APV.jpg)Give automakers credit for trying to make a sexy minivan, but the Chevy Lumina isn’t one of those efforts. An elongated body and angular front end led to the Lumina being called a rolling Dust Buster for an appearance similar to Black & Decker’s handheld vacuum. To make matters worse, the Pontiac Trans Sport shared a near-identical profile.
Chevrolet SSR (2003-2006)
2004 Chevrolet SSRby Riley– CC BY 2.0
Sorry, Chevy, you’ve got a second vehicle on our ugly car list. Chevrolet launched the SSR pickup truck to capitalize on the retro vehicle trend of the early 21st century. Taking inspiration from the Chevy trucks of the 1950s, designers included pronounced front fenders with individual round headlights, but that’s where the similarities stopped. To further complicate matters, the SSR came with a retractable convertible top, giving the truck an identity crisis in appearance and function. The bizarre experiment only lasted a few years and never sold well.
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Ford Edsel (1958-1960)
Ford Edsel Corsair Convertible 1958 by Arend– CC BY 2.0
In the pantheon of bad car styling, one vehicle arguably stands above the rest, the Edsel. Named for Henry Ford’s son, the company launched the Edsel brand as a separate division of Ford. But, with front-end styling called the automotive equivalent of a mouth sucking a lemon, the effort turned into a monumental failure, costing the company the modern equivalent of more than $2 billion. Edsel cars lasted only three years.
Pontiac Aztek (2001-2005)
On paper, the Pontiac Aztek should have been a home run. The idea was a sporty, rugged-looking crossover with a styling approach separate from other General Motors products. In one respect, this came true as the ungainly Aztek certainly stood out on its own. However, the weirdly stacked front-end lighting bisected by horizontal body lines gave this Pontiac an awkward look made worse by a dominating nose-like grille. Further notoriety came from the Aztec being the regular ride of Walter White in Breaking Bad.
Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar (1974-1977)
Long before the idea of beautiful electric vehicles lived the Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar, a stubby commuter car offering battery-electric driving with up to six horsepower. Its looks could be compared to a small Zamboni machine or something a parking meter attendant might drive. Proving that there’s a customer for just about anything, more than 4,400 units of the Florida-built car got sold during the energy crisis years. This post-war EV sales record was eventually eclipsed by Tesla in 2011.
Fun Facts About Cars: Ugly Foreign Vehicles
Fiat Multipla (1998-2003)
Fiat Multipla by Corvettec6r– CC BY-SA 4.0
It’s hard to accurately describe the front end of the six-seat Fiat Multipla other than it being one part duck and one part multi-eyed insect. It’s easy to imagine this design coming from the mind of a five-year-old. A tall greenhouse also added to the Multipla’s odd appearance. On the plus side, the car’s bizarre configuration provided ample interior room, but practicality can’t overcome first impressions. Mercifully and wisely, Fiat restyled the Multipla in 2004 to give this family hauler a more traditional look.
Nissan Cube (2009-2014)
Nissan Cube by Tennen-Gas– CC BY-SA 3.0
Humans have an instinctive fondness for symmetry, so it’s no surprise that the Nissan Cube proved unsettling for some. The wrap-around, one-piece-looking side and rear glass elements undoubtedly appeared distinctive in the design studio, but the lack of a balance proved to be a turn-off. The more conventional first-generation Cube was offered in Japan, while the odd second-generation reached the U.S. and other countries. The Cube was Nissan’s attempt at taking on Toyota’s plain-looking Scion xB, another tiny five-seat hatchback.
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Nissan Juke (2011-2017)
2016 Nissan Jukeby DieselFordMondeo– CC BY-SA 4.0
Not to pick on Nissan, but a second vehicle from the Japanese automaker gets called out for dubious looks. The Nissan Juke has a face that only a mother could love. Between the lower headlights and upper accent lighting, it’s difficult to know what’s going on with the front end. A weirdly-shaped body compounds the challenging looks of this compact crossover.
Reliant Robin (1973-1981)
2001 Reliant Robin by Vauxford– CC BY-SA 4.0
With a glance, the first-generation Reliant Robin appears like just another compact European hatchback from the 1970s. But, a more studied look reveals something missing, a front wheel. The Robin’s three-wheel setup gives the car a very unusual profile, mainly because there are no wheel wells in the front fenders. Fans of the original Top Gear series will remember the UK-built Reliant receiving ignoble treatment on multiple episodes.
SsangYong Rodius (2004-2013)
SsangYong Rodius by Overlaet”)– CC BY-SA 3.0
If ever there was a car most likely to elicit a “what were they thinking” comment, it’s the first generation of the SsangYong Rodius. SsangYong, a Korean automaker, has never been known for styling excellence, but this weird crossover takes the cake. One might forgive the unusual grille as an ode to Mercedes-Benz (there’s a Mercedes engine under the hood), but the wedged-shaped rear hatchback area can only lead to one question, “Why?” The second-generation Rodius had more conventional looks.
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Subaru Tribeca (2006-2007)
Subaru Tribeca by Rudolf Stricker
Tack on an ugly front end to a relatively normal body, and you’ll still have an ugly car. A case in point is the initial years of the Subaru Tribeca crossover. Its unusually-shaped center grille is reminiscent of the Ford Edsel, despite the designer seeking to introduce elements from the parent company’s aircraft roots. Thankfully, the company quickly introduced a less controversial version of the Tribeca for the 2008 model year.
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