Perhaps in a fit of pre-holiday whimsy, the folks at Goodwood Road & Racing in the UK had Ethan Jupp compile a list of “Ten of the ugliest road cars ever.”
“There’s a lot of debate when it comes to the way cars look,” he wrote. “Looks are subjective and it’s all a matter of opinion, of course, but some cars are all but objectively bad looking, aren’t they? Here are some of our candidates for the ugliest road cars ever.”
Note that he used the word “some,” indicating there are many more that did not make this particular list.
But here are the 10 that did:
Lamborghini Veneno
McLaren Sena
Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series
Hispano Suiza Carmen
Fiat Multipla
Pontiac Aztek
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Ssangyong Rodius
Nissan Juke
Honda Civic (FK8)
Yes, the first four listed are modern supercars, and for most people, it’s their speed not the details of their design that makes them objects to be coveted.
“To our minds, everyday cars have somewhat more of an excuse (for being ugly)” Jupp wrote. “They’re beholden to practicalities, corporate identities and aren’t first and foremost, objects of desire. Which is what supercars are supposed to be.
“So what, pray tell, is the point in an ugly supercar? The reasons, the proprietors of such machines will tell you, are two-fold: visual drama, and a function-over-form ethos.”
So what is ugly about this quartet? He notes that the Venemo has “not a single angle that appeals, not a whisper of attraction. It’s all pointless, gratuitous vulgarity, ordinarily the preserve of the aftermarket.”
Of the Hispano, he writes that “If Batman were a drunk Russian Oligarch, this would be his Batmobile.”
So what of the so-called everyday cars that made the list?
Of the Multipla, Jupp writes that its design was inspired by “the chest of an overweight middle-age man with his shirt off.” He notes that the Aztek is the icon of ugliness. He points out that the PT Cruiser was designed during the same period as the Aztek (as were a few other vehicles that easily could make an Ugly 10 list).
He calls the Juke “over-styled, oddly-proportioned, dumpy and depressing,” adding, however, that nonetheless, it has been a marketing success with a million bought worldwide.
He admits to being “a big cruel” including the recent version of the Civic, which he says is an excellent car, “but the fact is that apart from the Juke… there’s no better poster child for one of the ugliest tropes of car design from the last decade or so: over-styling.”
Which brings us to this: Jupp’s list is compiled through the eyes of someone who lives on the other side of the Atlantic; you’re unlikely ever to see a Fiat Multipla or Ssangyong Rodius on an American road, or, for that matter, a Hispano Suiza Carmen.
So what do you think are the ugliest cars you’ve ever seen? We open the Comments section below to your responses.
I think if your up close to the Juke and study it’s lines the design is uniquely eye appealing.
I agree with this. There are things on the Juke that are redeeming for sure
I completely agree about the Juje..I’ll take the over styling any day lol.
1961 Plymouth. Couldn’t believe my father bought it.
Just about all the 1961 Chrysler cars were ugly, but the Plymouth looked like it was made with left over parts…
they were so unique that even if they were ugly, they had character
Tesla Cyber Truck.
Ugliest POS I have ever seen.
I would say unequivocally either the Model 3 or Model Y Teslas are some of the most unappealing looking cars ever created. Tesla’s in general are pretty unattractive styling wise, but those two are especially horrid. There’s absolutely zero good angles on either of those cars anywhere. They are 360° of awful
Any Citroen. The Ami was particularly peculiar and odd.
Any Trabant or early (1980s or earlier) Skoda.
Come to think of it, a 1957 Hong Qi. A Chinese Mao Tse-Dung era feeble imitation of a Western limousine. Saw one in Shanghai. Could not stop staring!
the car that columbo drives is pretty ugly also. that peugeot 403
Come on, it was not that bad.
4 Door pick-up trucks, hands down. They’re hideous. Look like they were designed by a kid in kindergarten.
Any 80s GM car!!
I would have to go with the 2nd generation Cadillac Sevilles with the warped trunk, circa early ’80’s!
I would disagree with the Pontiac Aztek, Chrysler PT Cruiser, and Juke being ugly – I like all 3 – the Aztek to me had appeal before they added the awful side cladding – it reminded me of a SciFi car – adventurous
The PT Cruiser.is cool. My addition to the ugly list is the Studebaker Avanti. Looks like a frog. Hideous. ~S
K-cars of the 80s were uniquely repugnant and tinny…anything Edsel qualifies, too.
1957 Plymouth Suburban Station Wagon, sickish green color
Bob E.
There is nothing uglier than the face of a new Lexus!!!
I have to agree with you there Frank. They all look like cartoon cars drawn by the creators of Pokemon.
Oh, no- squint just a little and every Lexus has the face of the alien Predator, only missing the small external teeth.
At least if you’re driving one you can’t see the face!
3rd generation Chrysler Sebring 2008 to 2010- the front end looks bulky and heavy and the grills on the hood-what the heck was up with those!? Thankfully the design cleaned up tremendously by the time they rolled out the platform as the 200 in 2011 – 2014. I still have my 200 convertible and LOVE it!
Nissan Cube, should be # 1 on ugly car list just above Nissan Juke
If the Venemo is ugly, then so is the current generation Corvette. They look like they were designed by the same person.
Correction: Veneno
Any G.M. models with the side cladding…like Grand am, also the aztek…
I guess I like ugly cars and beautiful women! I’ll take a Lambo Veneno and AMG Black series anyday !
At lease spell SENNA right.