1989 Nissan S-Cargo
The S-Cargo’s name was a clever play on words by Nissan’s Pike Factory: firstly, S-Cargo stands for “Small Cargo”, exactly what the vehicle was intended for; secondly, it’s phonetically identical to “escargot”, the French word for “snail”, which is exactly what this vehicle resembles, and why we miss it so much.
1992 Renault Twingo
From one French delicacy to another, the ‘92 Twingo resembled a frog instead of a snail, and was renowned for its unique appearance and abundance of cargo space. It was actually a pretty reliable city driver, despite its oddball aesthetic, and is remembered fondly today.
1990 Toyota Sera
The 90s were a time when automotive manufacturers were looking more and more towards the future… with results of varying degrees of success. Fortunately for Toyota, the Sera was a hit thanks to its butterfly doors and unique all-glass canopy, even if its performance left something to be desired.
1998 Fiat Multipla
The Multipla survived all the way until 2010, an impressive feat considering its less-than-stellar reputation when it was released in 1998. Considered to be one of the ugliest cars ever made, the Multipla was certainly unique in appearance, and we’re willing to bet that many people were secretly enamored by it.
1997 Plymouth Prowler
Although many manufacturers looked towards the future in the 90s, some still kept their gaze firmly on the past. The Prowler was a retro-styled hot rod unlike any other vehicle released during that decade. Though its performance couldn’t match its aesthetic appeal, most people will agree that it’s an exceptionally cool car.
1997 Isuzu VehiCROSS
Also released in 1997 was the Isuzu VehiCROSS, a compact SUV with off-road capabilities few other vehicles in its class could match. Though polarizing at the time, it has since become a rare collector’s item due to its unique looks and relative exclusivity compared to other SUVs from that decade.
1992 Mazda AZ-1
In Japan, kei cars tend to be limited by the strict regulations imposed on size and engine, but the 1992 Mazda AZ-1 didn’t seem to get the memo. It was a blisteringly impressive performer given its kei car status, and its gullwing doors only enhanced its appeal.
1991 Subaru SVX
The SVX was a luxury grand tourer that Subaru first showed off in 1989. When it was released two years later, it wasn’t the resounding success Subaru had hoped for, but many were still taken with its futuristic looks and unique “window within a window” design.
1989 BMW Z1
One of the rarest vehicles on this list, production of the 1989 BMW Z1 was limited to a mere 8,000 units. Its best feature was its retractable doors, which slid down into the sills, as well as its detachable body panels. Its distinctive looks would later influence the Z3 and Z4.
1999 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Released just before the turn of the millennium and marketed through 2010, the PT Cruiser was something of a love letter to the cars of the 30s - one which not everyone was exactly keen to read. Still, in a decade full of “unique” and “quirky” vehicles, the PT Cruiser managed to stand out, which was no small feat.
1996 Daihatsu Midget II
As far as cars go, we’re not even sure if the Midget II is big enough to be considered one. It’s certainly appropriately named, however, and despite its toyetic dimensions, it made for a great urban delivery vehicle.
1989 Citroën XM
Despite being marketed and developed as a futuristic executive vehicle, not everyone could agree that the 1989 Citroën XM belonged in that category due to its… unusual styling. Despite that, it sold relatively well, at least initially, and is remembered fondly today.
1996 Ford Ka
We’re not sure the American Ford would have wanted their brand name attached to this odd little duck of a vehicle, but when it comes to Ford of Europe, anything goes. The Ka introduced its “radical” New Edge design scheme, with bubbly features and tight proportions.
1995 Suzuki X-90
The 1995 Suzuki X-90 dared to ask the question in a time when no one else would: what would happen if a coupe had a baby with an SUV? The answer was… not to everyone’s tastes, but it’s hard to deny that the experiment produced an interesting result.
1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV
Where most vehicles featured steel, the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV featured plastic. Designed to be a futuristic, space-age minivan, it bore more resemblance to something older: the dustbuster.
1999 Renault Avantime
Whereas the Suzuki X-90 was a coupe-SUV crossbreed, the 1999 Renault Avantime was a strange mix of coupe and minivan. Called a “Coupespace”, it had the style of a coupe with the comfort of a minivan. The word “style” is used loosely here, of course, but it was definitely a quirky machine.
2004 Peugeot 1007
Now, we may be cheating here with this one, but although the Peugeot 1007 was released in 2004, its design was extremely 90s-coded. It was unveiled as a concept during that decade, and its unique powersliding doors on such a small frame are an idea that could have only originated back then.
1991 Honda Beat
Another kei car, the 1991 Honda Beat, is actually plenty stylish for a vehicle of its size. It was a two-seater roadster with the attitude and charisma of a much larger vehicle, which makes sense when you consider that it was designed by the legendary Pininfarina.
1999 Toyota Will Vi
From the front, the 1999 Toyota Will Vi looks pretty run-of-the-mill as far as '90s Japanese vehicles go. It’s when you look at it from the side that you realize just how odd it is, with an orange slice-shaped rear and bizarre styling that no manufacturer would dare to implement today.
1989 Ford Probe
Believe it or not, but the 1989 Ford Probe - developed in collaboration with Mazda - was originally intended to replace the Mustang. Thankfully, these plans never came to fruition, but the resulting vehicle was still very cool with its sleek styling and aerodynamic design.
1997 Mitsubishi Pajero Junior Flying Pug
Say what you will about those '90s cars, but many of them were very aptly named. The 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero Junior Flying Pug actually looked like a pug with its British-style front end and tiny body. It’s a true collector’s item today since only 139 examples were ever produced.
1990 Geo Metro Convertible
Based on the Suzuki Cultus, the Geo Metro was an American car with kei-like qualities, not least of which included its tiny body. Its underpowered engine made it a hilarious and spectacular failure. And we love it.
1994 Nissan Rasheen
Designed as something of a retro throwback, the 1994 Nissan Rasheen was less of a serious homage so much as it was a toy come to life. Despite this, it was surprisingly rugged, with fairly impressive off-road capabilities.
1996 Lotus Elise S1
Upon first glance, the 1996 Lotus Elise S1 could easily be the best-looking vehicle on this list. What makes it quirky are its internal components—or lack thereof. For such a grand-looking vehicle, the omission of AC, power-steering, and insulation feels like a stunningly asinine oversight - but that’s just the sort of thing manufacturers could get away with in the 90s.
1995 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin
Marketed, produced, and ultimately discontinued all in the span of one year, the 1995 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin was so named for its multicolored body. Only 264 units were ever made, making it a rare oddity today.
1998 Smart City-Coupe Concept
What eventually became the much-maligned Smart ForTwo originated as this 1998 concept vehicle developed by Mercedes-Benz and… Swatch? As far as collaborations go, this was certainly an unlikely pairing, but the results they produced were at least very interesting.
1991 Honda Prelude
As far as quirkiness goes, the 1991 Honda Prelude is more stylish than it is odd, but the pop-up headlights and low-profile dash give it some extra visual interest. Really, it’s probably one of the better-looking cars on this list, and was a decent performer as well.
1994 Ford Scorpio Mk2
The 1994 Ford Scorpio Mk2 was a sad vehicle. No, really - doesn’t its droopy-eyed design make it look totally morose for what is supposed to be a luxury sedan? It was so sad, in fact, that its sales numbers began to take on a depressing countenance all their own before production finally ceased in 1998.
1989 Alfa Romeo SZ
Designed to redefine Alfa’s image in the 90s, the SZ eventually garnered a different title altogether: Il Monstro - The Monster. Its aggressive styling was controversial, though not totally without merit, and its brutalist aesthetics were certainly unique for the brand at the time.
1995 Toyota Mega Cruiser
Hulking and monstrous in size, the 1995 Toyota Mega Cruiser was Japan’s version of the Hummer, and as such was primarily produced for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. However, some civilians managed to get their hands on it. One thing’s certain: you won’t see any other vehicle in Japan like this today.
1993 Mitsuoka Viewt
One of the few (if not the only) nameplates on this list to still be in use today comes from an automaker you’ve likely never heard of. The Mitsuoka Viewt is Nissan’s answer to the British Jaguar Mk2 from the 60s, and is one you could feasibly get your hands on today.
1994 Opel Tigra
The 1994 Opel Tigra looks fairly nondescript from the front - it’s a fairly standard, serious-looking coupe. In the back, however, it gets more playful, as though two very different designers were forced to work together on the group project.
1997 Suzuki Wagon R Wide
The 1997 Suzuki Wagon R Wide was slightly wider than what was typically allowed for kei cars, but make no mistake, it was still a diminutive-looking vehicle that somewhat resembled a loaf of bread on wheels.
1996 Hyundai Tiburon
The Tiburon was developed to establish Hyundai as a serious manufacturer of sports cars - or rather, sports-adjacent. It was by no means a stellar performer, but its derivative, sporty styling made it like cheap candy for automobile enthusiasts.
1996 Proton Tiara
Built in Malaysia, the 1996 Proton Tiara was essentially just a rebadged Citroën AX, a French vehicle with tropical flavor. Flimsy, lightweight, and underpowered, it represented the sort of cheap economy cars you just don’t see anymore today.
