13 ’90s Cars That Were Just Really Ugly
In the 1990s, we saw a massive change in automotive design, as the boxy cars of the 1980s were replaced by sleeker and more aerodynamic models.
That said, the 1990s also introduced some real design disasters the world could’ve done without.
We’ve dug up 13 cars from that era that aren’t necessarily bad, but they’re undoubtedly ugly!
Suzuki X-90
Suzuki has built many cool cars and motorcycles, but the X-90 is not one of them. We’re not sure what they were thinking when they came up with it. Apparently, Suzuki tried to make a new, fun car segment, but failed spectacularly.
It just fell between all the chairs, as it wasn’t a proper off-roader, it’s not a sports car, it’s not even practical. The only thing we can say with certainty is that it’s ugly! Top Gear even rated it as one of the worst cars of that era.
GM EV1
Today, EVs are everywhere, but that wasn’t the case when GM launched its EV1 and then proceeded to kill it — probably because, like Dr. Frankenstein, they were ashamed of what they’d created.
We get that they tried to make it as aerodynamic as possible, but that doesn’t mean it had to be hideous. Without a grille, the front end looks like a mouthless monster from a horror movie.
2nd-Gen Reliant Robin
Reliant sold the first-generation Robin three-wheeler from 1973 until 1981 and a second, even worse-looking generation from 1989 to 2001.
While it was never as prone to tipping over as various movies and TV shows suggested, it wasn’t a great car, either. It was ugly, though, with a design clearly inspired by a plastic doorstop.
Fiat Multipla
We have zero doubt that the Fiat Multipla was a practical vehicle, as it won several awards during its years on the market. There’s no denying the fact that it was hideous, though.
Its pre-facelift front fascia is bad enough, but the Multipla also lacks coherent design features and looks like it’s pieced together from different vehicles. It’s like the platypus of the car world.
Subaru SVX
Subaru’s first-gen Impreza WRX is one of the most iconic Japanese cars of the Golden Era, so it’s hard to understand how Subaru completely messed up another sports car from the same period.
The SVX’s front isn’t terrible, but the further back we look, the worse it gets. The doors, with their weird windows, are described by Subaru as an “aircraft-inspired glass-to-glass canopy.” Right! Then there’s the odd C-pillar and bumper designs, all the other swoops and angles… the SVX is nauseating to look at, and that, coupled with the outrageous price tag, meant Subaru barely sold any.
Ford Scorpio
In the 1980s and early 1990s, the Ford Scorpio was a popular executive-class car in Europe. It was even sold in the States as the Merkur Scorpio. Then, Ford decided to completely redesign it for its second generation, and it was a mess.
It received bulging-eye headlights, clearly inspired by Kermit the frog’s eyes, a full-width taillight that didn’t blend in with the rest of the styling, and tons of fake wood everywhere. To this day, Ford hasn’t revealed the name of the designer.
Lancia Ypsilon
The first-generation Lancia Ypsilon’s front-end looks like it was designed to look like Darth Vader’s helmet but with enough changes to avoid being sued for copyright infringement.
Unfortunately, the rear end looks much worse, with its oversized tailgate and pizza slice-inspired taillights — hey, it’s Italian! It’s beyond us how Italian carmakers can design the most beautiful cars ever and then produce this pile of dreary hideousness!
Pontiac Trans Sport
The Pontiac Aztek from the 2000s wasn’t the American carmaker’s first ugly car. Throughout the 1990s, they built the Trans Sport minivan, with the first-gen being sold from 1990 to 1996.
Its controversial design with a long front overhang led to its “Dustbuster” nickname, as it looked like a handheld vacuum. That tells us everything we need to know.
8th-Gen Buick Riviera
Looking at the 8th-gen Buick Riviera, we’d never guess it’s descended from some of the most breathtakingly gorgeous American cars ever made.
From a ¾ front angle, it kind of looks like a Jaguar XJS if you squint, but that illusion falls apart as soon as you open your eyes. The Riviera was bland when it was new, and it certainly didn’t age well. To make matters worse, it was supposed to be luxurious, but the interior had a cheap and plasticky look and feel.
3rd-Gen Ford Taurus
In 1996, Ford introduced the third-gen Ford Taurus, and the chief designer, Jack Telnack, likened its two better-looking predecessors’ designs to “a pair of slippers.” Looking at the then-new Taurus, it’s easy to see that the compass was Telnack’s favorite design tool, as everything had a circular shape.
Grille, headlights, roofline… everything was round, except for the rear end, which looked cheap and dreary. Needless to say, the model didn’t stay in production very long. Ford reduced its price in 1999 and introduced a new generation to replace it in 2000.
Subaru Impreza Casa Blanca
Looking at the Impreza Casa Blanca, it’s easy to think that it’s some kind of home-made conversion, or maybe something from Mitsuoka, the Japanese masters of automotive weirdness. But no, this is how the car looked straight from the factory.
Luckily, it was only available on the Japanese market, so the rest of the world didn’t have to look at it. It’s pretty much a standard Impreza wagon that, for reasons unknown, has been given a new front inspired by classic British luxury cars and a set of uglier taillights.
Pre-Facelift 6th-Gen Buick Skylark
In 1992, Buick introduced the sixth-gen Skylark, and to say it looked odd is an understatement. Its body looks like it was designed in the mid-1980s, as everything is flat and boxy. Then there’s the front end…
It had a very pointy grille and front bumper, which looked entirely out of place, but Buick said it was “reminiscent of the 1930s Buick Special.” That may be, but it still looks like botched plastic surgery. Surely, the Skylark is one of the few cars that are both hideous and forgettable.
Ferrari F512 M
We know, we know! Putting a Ferrari on a list of the ugliest cars is almost sacrilegious. Yes, there are uglier cars from the 1990s, but Ferrari should know better, and we hold them to a higher standard.
As an evolution of the Testarossa, they kept the worst ‘80s features, like the side strakes, and then they decided to replace the pop-up headlights and put a smiley face grille in the bumper. We know cars need some updates to sell, but no one can look at an F512 M parked next to a Testarossa and tell us Ferrari improved its design!
