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13 of the Ugliest Cars in Automotive History

There is no objective ugliest car ever made, but these 13 models recur in editorial and reader lists for their unusual proportions, distinctive details and divisive styling.
Entry871 Date Time5 min MechanicCarCody Team
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There is no objective answer to “What is the ugliest car ever made?” The models below are a considered selection, not a definitive worldwide ranking: they recur in different editorial lists, including TIME’s The 50 Worst Cars of All Time, ADAC’s subjectively chosen gallery, and reader-nominated lists from Autocosmos México and Fast Car. Their styling ranges from awkward proportions to unusual lighting and rear-end details. A few also show why appearance is only one part of a car’s story.

How this list approaches “ugliest”

Ugly is a matter of taste, and the lists that popularized these cars do not use a shared scoring system. TIME framed its collection as the worst cars; ADAC explicitly said its gallery was subjectively selected by its editorial team and Facebook community; Fast Car invited Facebook fans to nominate vehicles. The cars here are therefore notable for their visual reputations and historical context, not because any survey proved they were the 13 ugliest cars ever made.

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The Fiat Multipla, Pontiac Aztek, SsangYong Rodius, AMC Gremlin and AMC Pacer appear across multiple lists, making them a defensible shortlist rather than an objectively established top five. The remaining choices broaden the range of design decisions that have drawn criticism.

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13 cars with hard-to-ignore styling

1. Fiat Multipla

The first-generation Multipla is often singled out for its unusual face: six lights arranged in two levels, with a raised crease below the windscreen that makes the front seem to have a second brow. ADAC says Fiat revised the styling three years after launch. TIME, Autocosmos México and Fast Car also include the model, though not every list treats it as the same kind of “worst” car.

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2. Pontiac Aztek

The Aztek’s sharply divided front and bulky, multi-level body made it an easy target. TIME’s 2001 entry, written by critic Dan Neil, argues that the looks obscured a useful, competent crossover. ADAC gives a 2001–2005 build period and notes the model’s later association with Breaking Bad; that is ADAC’s stated period, not a claim about every market’s sales dates. The Aztek was not sold in Germany, according to ADAC. Autocosmos México and Fast Car also feature it.

3. SsangYong Rodius (also called Stavic in some markets)

The Rodius is a large seven-seater whose rear styling is especially divisive. ADAC points to the oddly shaped rear window and spoiler, which seem to sit apart from the rest of the body. ADAC gives 2004–2013 as its build period, while Autocosmos México and Fast Car also select the vehicle. Naming and model years varied by market, so that period should not be read as a universal date range for every version sold as Rodius or Stavic.

4. AMC Gremlin

The Gremlin’s short, abruptly cut-off rear gives it a distinctive silhouette: the body seems to end before its proportions have resolved. TIME includes the 1970 model in its worst-cars list. But the design also served a business purpose. MotorTrend reported in 2020 that the Gremlin cost two-thirds as much as most small cars and was inexpensive for AMC to develop; it became a sales success by the company’s modest standards. A polarizing shape and a practical commercial outcome can coexist.

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5. AMC Pacer

The Pacer’s broad cabin and rounded, bulbous outline make it one of the most recognizable candidates in this category. Autocosmos México and Fast Car include it among their selections. Its place here reflects that recurring reputation; the sources cited for this list do not establish a model-specific chronology or provide enough historical detail for a more precise account.

6. Subaru Libero

The Libero’s tall, compact van shape prioritizes interior room over conventional proportions. ADAC describes the European-market model as 3.53 metres long and says it could accommodate six people. That compact footprint and people-carrying role are a reminder that an unconventional-looking vehicle may be designed around a clear practical goal.

7. Daihatsu Materia

The Materia’s upright, box-like body and blunt front give it a look closer to a small urban van than a typical hatchback. It appears in ADAC’s selection. Its squared-off shape is conspicuous, but the fact of inclusion is not a verdict on its usefulness or engineering.

8. Suzuki Vitara X-90

The X-90 combined a small two-door SUV body with a removable roof and a high-riding stance. That mix of sports-car-like cabin and utility-vehicle proportions is unusual enough to divide opinion. ADAC includes it among its awkward-looking models.

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9. Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

Turning a crossover into a convertible changes the visual balance that made the original body shape work: a high-sided vehicle loses its fixed roof, leaving a large, open cabin within bulky proportions. The Murano CrossCabriolet appears on ADAC’s list of unusual designs.

10. Mitsuoka Orochi

The Orochi’s low nose, sculpted curves and prominent headlamp shapes give it an unmistakably exotic but unconventional appearance. ADAC includes the Japanese sports car in its gallery. Its divisive styling is a matter of taste, not evidence of poor performance or quality.

11. Honda Accord Crosstour

The Crosstour’s raised ride height and long, sloping rear combined the visual cues of a sedan and a crossover. That compromise produced a silhouette unlike either category’s familiar shape. Autocosmos México includes it among its candidates.

12. Buick Riviera (1970)

The 1970 Riviera’s dramatic rear treatment is its most immediately striking feature: the tail is sharply tapered into a boat-like form, set against a long, formal front end. Autocosmos México names it among cars with looks that have aged controversially.

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13. Ford Scorpio

The Scorpio’s large, rounded body and distinctive oval front lamps make it hard to mistake for a conventional European executive car. It appears in ADAC’s selection. As with the other entries, a place on an opinion-led list says more about the design’s reception than it does about the car’s capability.

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Why the “ugliest car” lists disagree

Different editors and audiences notice different things: a strange face, an awkward silhouette, a rear that seems disconnected from the body, or simply a design that has aged poorly. TIME’s list includes 50 vehicles, while ADAC, Autocosmos México and Fast Car select different pools of candidates. Beyond the five recurring names, other cars cited by these outlets include the Buick Riviera, Ford Thunderbird and Porsche 914 (all 1970 in the cited candidate list), Saab Sonett III, Subaru GL Coupe, Leyland P76, Austin Princess ADO71, Plymouth Prowler and others.

Lists like these can be entertaining and useful starting points for design history, but their placements are editorial judgments and reader nominations—not a population survey or a measured beauty score. Nor does an ugly reputation settle whether a car was practical, affordable or commercially successful: the Libero was described by ADAC as able to carry six people in a 3.53-metre body, and the Gremlin succeeded by AMC’s own modest standards.

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