Car design is always a matter of opinion. One person’s dream car might be another person’s eyesore. Still, there are a handful of vehicles that have earned a reputation for their unusual styling, awkward proportions, or downright baffling design choices.
Some of these cars sold surprisingly well, while others disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived. Whether they were ahead of their time or missed the mark, these 20 models are often mentioned whenever people talk about the ugliest cars ever made.
PT Cruiser
The Chrysler PT Cruiser tried to blend modern engineering with 1930s-inspired styling, but the result divided opinions from the start. Its rounded body, tall roof, and bulky shape gave it a look that many people never warmed to.
Even so, buyers initially loved it. Sales were strong during its early years before interest faded, and production ended in 2010. Today, it’s remembered just as much for its unusual appearance as anything else.
Reliant Robin
The Reliant Robin became famous long after production began, thanks in part to its appearances on television. Its three-wheel layout made it look different from almost every other car on the road.
Its unusual design allowed owners in the UK to drive it with a motorcycle license, helping boost its popularity. Even with that practical advantage, few people would call it attractive.
Nissan S-Cargo
The Nissan S-Cargo borrowed its name from the French word for snail, and once you see it, the connection makes perfect sense. Its rounded roof and curved body gave it a shell-like appearance unlike any delivery van before or since.
Built for Nissan’s Pike Factory lineup, the S-Cargo focused on personality over style. Only a limited number were produced, making it one of the stranger collectibles from the late 1980s.
Plymouth Prowler
The Plymouth Prowler looked like a classic hot rod from a distance, but many people felt something was off about the final design. The exposed front wheels were eye-catching, yet the oversized bumpers and long nose made the proportions seem awkward.
It looked fast, but its V6 engine didn’t quite deliver the performance many buyers expected from such an aggressive design.
CitiCar
The CitiCar was one of America’s earliest mass-produced electric vehicles, arriving during the fuel crisis of the 1970s. Its wedge-shaped body looked more like a science project than a family car.
With modest performance and a boxy appearance, the CitiCar never appealed to drivers looking for style. Still, it remains an interesting piece of electric vehicle history.
Aurora
The 1957 Aurora was built around safety rather than appearance. Its designer packed it with ideas that were well ahead of their time, including a center-mounted driver’s seat and safety-focused features.
Unfortunately, the bulky body and awkward styling drew plenty of criticism. Mechanical problems also kept the project from ever becoming a production success.
Fiat Multipla
Few cars appear on “ugliest car” lists more often than the Fiat Multipla. Its unusual two-level front end and oversized headlights gave it a face that many people compared to an insect.
The cabin was surprisingly practical with seating for six, but most buyers couldn’t get past the exterior.
Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke was built to stand out, and it certainly accomplished that. Split headlights, high-mounted turn signals, and rounded body lines gave it a look unlike any other crossover.
Some drivers appreciated its playful styling, while others thought it looked more like a cartoon character than a real vehicle.
Lincoln MKT
The Lincoln MKT tried to combine luxury with practicality, but its styling never caught on. The rounded rear, sloping roofline, and oversized front grille created a shape that many buyers found awkward.
Sales stayed low throughout its production run, making it one of Lincoln’s less memorable models.
Chevrolet SSR
The Chevrolet SSR tried to be a pickup truck, convertible, and sports car all at once. That unusual combination made it hard to categorize and even harder to love.
Its retro styling attracted attention, but many buyers couldn’t decide exactly what the SSR was supposed to be.
Pontiac Aztek
The Pontiac Aztek has become one of the most famous design flops in automotive history. Its sharp angles, split front end, and bulky rear gave it a look that never appealed to most buyers.
Ironically, its role in Breaking Bad gave it a second life, making it far more recognizable today than it was when new.
BMW Isetta
The BMW Isetta looked more like a bubble than a traditional automobile. Its tiny size and front-opening door made it one of the most recognizable microcars ever built.
It wasn’t designed to win beauty contests. It was built to offer inexpensive transportation during a time when many people needed affordable mobility.
Nissan Cube
The Nissan Cube embraced its boxy design from every angle. The nearly square body, asymmetrical rear window, and unusual side-opening hatch gave it a personality all its own.
Some owners loved its roomy interior and quirky styling, while others never understood the appeal.
Pontiac Trans Sport
Nicknamed the “Dustbuster,” the Pontiac Trans Sport earned comparisons to a handheld vacuum cleaner because of its long, pointed nose.
Its futuristic concept car inspired plenty of excitement, but the production version lost much of that appeal while keeping the unusual shape.
Suzuki X-90
The Suzuki X-90 was one of the strangest vehicles of the 1990s. Part SUV, part coupe, and part convertible, it blended several styles without fully committing to any of them.
Its tiny rear end and unusual proportions made it one of Suzuki’s most memorable experiments.
Sbarro Autobau
The Sbarro Autobau concept looked like something pulled straight from a comic book. Large air intakes, exaggerated curves, and dramatic bodywork gave it an appearance that split opinions immediately.
While the Ferrari-sourced V12 attracted attention, the styling became the biggest talking point.
Tata Magic Iris
The Tata Magic Iris was built for crowded city streets where compact transportation matters more than appearance. Its tiny size and upright body helped it squeeze through traffic with ease.
Outside of that purpose, though, many people thought it looked more like a toy than a passenger vehicle.
AMC Gremlin
The AMC Gremlin remains one of America’s most recognizable oddball cars. Its sharply cut-off rear end gave it proportions unlike almost anything else on the road.
While it offered affordable transportation during the 1970s, its appearance has made it a regular feature on lists of unusual automotive designs.
Aston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda showed that even luxury brands can produce divisive designs. Its long, wedge-shaped body looked futuristic when it debuted, but opinions have remained split ever since.
Inside, the digital dashboard and modern technology were years ahead of many competitors.
SsangYong Rodius
The SsangYong Rodius is often mentioned whenever people discuss awkward-looking minivans. Its tall roof, unusual rear styling, and mismatched proportions gave it a shape that many buyers struggled to appreciate.
The roomy interior made it practical for large families, but its appearance overshadowed nearly everything else about the vehicle.
