Look, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Well, usually. But then there are those cars that make you wonder if the design team was having a collective fever dream. We’ve all seen them—the ones that make you do a double-take for all the wrong reasons. Honestly, some of these vehicles are so spectacularly weird they’ve circled all the way back to being iconic.
We aren't just talking about a boring sedan with a bad paint job. We are talking about the ugliest cars top 10 list that defined (and sometimes destroyed) eras of automotive history. These are the machines that violated every rule of symmetry and logic.
1. Fiat Multipla (1998–2004)
If you ask anyone about the ugliest car ever made, this is usually the first name out of their mouth. It looks like a car that sat on top of another car and they just fused together. Designed by Roberto Giolito, the Multipla had this bizarre "muffin top" where the windows meet the body.
The craziest part? It was actually a genius piece of engineering. It had three-abreast seating in both the front and back, meaning it could fit six people despite being shorter than a modern Ford Fiesta. It’s the ultimate "don’t judge a book by its cover" vehicle, but man, that cover was rough. It had high-beam lights right under the windshield like a second set of eyes. Creepy.
2. Pontiac Aztek (2001–2005)
Before Walter White made it a meth-cook's chariot in Breaking Bad, the Aztek was the laughingstock of Detroit. It was a victim of "design by committee." GM wanted it to do everything—be an SUV, a minivan, and a camper all at once.
The result? A plastic-clad mess with a double-deck nose that looked like it was wearing a mask. The wheel arches were too small for the body, making it look like a bodybuilder who skipped leg day. Interestingly, young buyers are starting to snap these up now for the "ironic" cool factor. Go figure.
3. SsangYong Rodius (2004–2013)
The designers said they wanted this to look like a luxury yacht. Instead, it looked like a van that had a conservatory glued onto the back. It’s humongous, awkward, and has a rear window setup that defies any known laws of aesthetics.
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In the UK, journalists were brutal, often calling it the "Odious Rodius." It was meant to be a premium MPV, but it ended up looking more like a DIY project gone wrong. It’s proof that just because you can add more glass to a car doesn’t mean you should.
4. Nissan S-Cargo (1989–1991)
You have to give Nissan credit here—they knew exactly what they were doing. The S-Cargo was part of their "Pike Factory" series, and the name is a literal pun on the French word for snail (escargot). It looks like a snail. It really does.
It’s small, round, and has a massive, upright windshield. While it's technically "ugly" by traditional standards, it has a cult following today. It’s so unashamedly dorky that it’s almost impossible to hate. Basically, it’s the pug of the car world.
5. Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar (1974–1977)
Long before Tesla made EVs sexy, we had the CitiCar. It looks like a slice of orange cheese on wheels. It’s a tiny, wedge-shaped electric box that was built during the fuel crisis of the 70s.
With a top speed of maybe 30 mph if you had a tailwind, it wasn't winning any races. The flat, diagonal front was purely functional, meant to be cheap to produce. It’s a fascinating piece of history, but you wouldn’t want to be seen picking up a date in one.
6. Aston Martin Lagonda (1976–1990)
This one is controversial because some people think it’s a masterpiece of "folded paper" design. Others think it looks like a very expensive, very flat doorstop. It’s over 17 feet long but barely 4 feet tall.
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The Lagonda was meant to be the future. It had a digital dashboard back when digital meant "broken every other Tuesday." The pop-up headlights and the razor-thin grille gave it a villainous vibe, but the proportions were just... off. It’s a wedge that didn’t know when to stop.
7. Plymouth Prowler (1997–2002)
Chrysler tried to build a factory hot rod, and they almost got it right. The front end with those cycle-style fenders looks cool from certain angles, but then you see those huge black plastic bumpers they had to add to meet safety regs.
It looked like a sleek purple cat that had been forced to wear a retainer. Plus, it only came with a V6 and a 4-speed automatic, which is basically a crime for a car that looks like a dragster. It’s a visual clash between the 1930s and the 1990s that never quite settled its differences.
8. Lancia Thesis (2001–2009)
Lancia used to make some of the most beautiful cars in the world. Then they made the Thesis. It was meant to be a high-end luxury sedan for Italian politicians, but the front end looked like it was melting.
The tiny, diamond-shaped headlights were spaced too far apart, giving the car a permanently surprised expression. The interior was actually world-class, filled with wood and magnesium, but you had to get past that face first. It’s the automotive equivalent of a bespoke suit paired with clown shoes.
9. Covini C6W (2004–2016)
Six wheels. Why? Because Ferruccio Covini thought it would provide better grip and braking. While he might have been right from an engineering standpoint, he didn't do the car any favors in the looks department.
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It looks like a normal supercar that’s undergoing a strange mitosis. Having four wheels up front just messes with your brain. It’s technically impressive—powered by an Audi V8—but it’s a visual nightmare that feels like it belongs in a low-budget sci-fi movie from the 80s.
10. AMC Pacer (1975–1980)
The "Flying Fishbowl." That was the nickname for the Pacer because of its enormous glass area. It was wider than a Cadillac but shorter than a compact car.
The weirdest detail? The passenger door was four inches longer than the driver’s door to make it easier for people to get into the back seat. It’s bulbous, asymmetrical, and looks like it was designed by someone who really loved rounded edges but forgot how to stop drawing them.
Why These "Ugly" Cars Actually Matter
It’s easy to poke fun at these designs, but many of them were bold risks. The Fiat Multipla’s packaging was revolutionary. The CitiCar paved the way for the EVs we drive today. Even the Aztek was a precursor to the modern crossover craze that dominates the market now.
Actionable Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Check the Market: If you’re looking for a future classic, cars like the Pontiac Aztek and AMC Pacer are actually rising in value. Their "ugliness" has become a selling point for collectors who want something unique.
- Visit a Museum: Places like the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville specialize in "weird" cars. Seeing a Multipla or a S-Cargo in person often changes your perspective on the design.
- Research Design History: Look into the "Pike Factory" at Nissan or the work of Marcello Gandini. Understanding why these shapes happened—whether due to safety laws or experimental aerodynamics—makes them much more interesting than a standard Toyota Camry.
Sometimes, being memorable is better than being pretty. These cars might not win a beauty pageant, but they’ll never be forgotten.