1990 Volkswagen Corrado
The 1990 Corrado is technically a coupe, but it looks more like a sporty hatchback to us. It’s this awkward combination of styles that just doesn’t land, even if the car is actually quite thrilling to drive thanks to its VR6 engine.
1992 Ford Taurus SHO
The ‘92 SHO was actually the Taurus’s second generation, which brought with it an updated design. How were its new looks received? Not well, unfortunately, but they belied a powerful Yamaha V6 that gave it plenty of juice and a helluva lot of kick.
1990 Buick Reatta
A luxury coupe that clearly had the right idea when it came to design, the Buick Reatta featured sleek lines and a clean aesthetic, but its awkward proportions (and tacky pop-up headlights) made it difficult to love. Still, it was an agile ride in spite of this, and super fun to drive.
1992 Subaru SVX
At the very least, the ‘92 SVX from Subaru was unique. Featuring an unheard-of window-within-a-window design, the SVX’s looks were… polarizing, to say the least, but that didn’t stop it from being an excellent performer, especially on the highway.
1990 Geo Metro LSi Convertible
A rare sight even in those days, the 1990 Geo Metro LSi Convertible was an odd-looking duck, micro-sized and cutesy but not in a good way. Its small size did have one benefit, however: it made the car extremely light, easy to handle, and fun to drive.
1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT (Base/SL)
Plenty of retro cars had a tendency to be overdesigned, and the ‘91 3000GT from Mitsubishi was no different. It was all too busy, with fake vents and far too many lines, but the twin-turbo VR-4 version had fantastic all-wheel drive with active aerodynamic capabilities.
1997 Plymouth Prowler
Depending on who you ask, the ‘97 Prowler is either the coolest thing Plymouth has made, or the stupidest. We fall into the latter category - the Prowler’s hot-rod-inspired design read more like cosplay than something that was authentically made, but its lightweight body gave it plenty of zip.
1999 Pontiac Aztek
Before the Aztek hit the roads in 2000, it was shown as a concept vehicle in 1999, a version which, unfortunately, wasn’t any more attractive than the model that was eventually released. Nevertheless, its interior was extremely comfortable, and the vehicle overall provided a fantastic and practical driving experience.
1990 Alfa Romeo 164
It hurts to include an Alfa on this list, especially one designed by Pininfarina, but it goes to show that even the greats are capable of mistakes. The 164 was decidedly un-Italian, boxy rather than sleek, but underneath it all was a smooth V6 and smooth European handling.
1991 Saturn SC2
Panels, panels, panels - the ‘91 Saturn SC2 was obsessed with them. Of course, this was intentional - the extra panels made the vehicle extremely durable and dent-resistant, even if they took away from its aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the SC2 was surprisingly preppy for its class, boasting light and responsive handling that made it extremely enjoyable.
1993 Ford Probe GT
The ‘93 Probe GT from Ford actually shared a platform with Mazda, which was a great boon for the vehicle’s handling and performance. Unfortunately, its looks were a different matter, with jelly-bean-like proportions that did it no justice.
1991 Nissan NX2000
Over the years, Nissan has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation - they've never been afraid to push the envelope in terms of design, so we’re willing to give a pass to the NX2000, an awkwardly proportioned vehicle with frog-like headlight and a rumpy rear.
1991 Chevrolet Lumina Z34
Chevrolet is more than capable of releasing beautiful cars, so the ‘91 Lumina (and its Z34 trim) is even more baffling. It’s not that it’s ugly - it’s just completely bland and soulless. Still, its DOHC V6 and sporty suspension were excellent.
1990 Saab 900
Saab was never known for its consummate sense of style, so the fact that the 900 appears here shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. It was boxy, lacking grace, and had a tall, upright stance that seemed to be at odds with its overall style. That said, its turbocharged variants handled extremely well, and the car was better than most at handling colder climates.
1996 Suzuki X-90
You might look at the X-90 and call it quirky - we call it stupid. The combination of SUV and T-Top had never been tried before, and the X-90 ensured that it would never be tried again. But for such a “whimsical” vehicle, it was surprisingly rugged and off-road-ready.
1990 Toyota Sera
The Sera, like some of the other cars on this list, was really a victim of innovation. Its greenhouse design (which featured windows all around and butterfly doors) offered supreme visibility at the cost of aesthetic appeal, but it was otherwise a responsive, lightweight, and reliable vehicle.
1993 Chrysler Concorde
One of the first vehicles from Chrysler’s LH platform, the ‘93 Concorde was almost luxurious, with smooth, refined handling that was completely at odds with its “cabin-forward” design, which made it appear clunky. Its proportions were awkward, to say the least.
1992 Renault Twingo
The ‘92 Twingo was successful in terms of what Renault wanted to achieve (i.e., a small car with plenty of interior space and a tiny footprint). Aesthetically, however, it was a complete failure, a frog-shaped thing that we wouldn’t want to be seen driving.
1990 Hyundai Scoupe
You want the "Scoupe", we’ll give it to you: the 1990 Scoupe from Hyundai sucked, at least in terms of looks. It resembled a cheap knock-off of more popular coupes of the day, even if its turbo-charged version made for an admittedly fun and nimble ride.
1990 Daihatsu Charade GTti
The 1990 Daihatsu Charade GTti actually has quite a lot going for it - it was the first mass-produced vehicle with an engine capable of pumping 100hp per liter, and had go-kart-like handling that made it loads of fun. Unfortunately, you wouldn’t get any of that from its looks, which were… well, rather ugly.
1992 Mazda MX-3
An “econo sports coupe”, the ‘92 MX3 offered sporty performance and handling at an affordable price, and was an immensely popular project car. We wouldn’t be surprised if part of those projects included overhauling its design, which featured an ill-proportioned rear and a strange profile.
1992 Oldsmobile Achieva SCX
A rare sight even when it was released and still being actively driven, the ‘92 Achieva SCX was supposed to be the “elite”-level trim of the Achieva, but its tacky name ended up perfectly matching its tacky looks.
1992 Honda Del Sol
The ‘92 Del Sol is actually something of a cult classic, beloved for its sporty handling and affordable price. Unfortunately, its convertible Targa-top (a defining feature of the vehicle) really looks like it’s from the 90s, and not in a charming way.
1996 Peugeot 406 Coupe
Unfortunately, the 1996 Peugeot 406 Coupe is the second Pininfarina-designed vehicle to make our list. It’s not so much ugly as it is bland and conservative (considering the name attached to it), though it’s also fairly balanced and comfortable to drive.
1995 Volvo 850 T-5R
“Limited edition” vehicles tend to look better than their base counterparts, but the same couldn’t be said for the ‘95 Volvo 850 T-5R, a brick-shaped thing that undermined its rather engaging performance.
1997 Isuzu VehiCROSS
One thing we will say about the ‘97 VehiCROSS is that it’s certainly unique. Unfortunately, its resemblance to the box Buzz Lightyear comes in doesn’t do it any favors, even though its off-road capabilities are fantastic.
1991 Chevy Caprice 9C1
This one’s a special vehicle: the ‘91 Caprice 9C1 was actually a cop car. Unfortunately, it completely lacked presence and aggression, though its V8 gave it undeniable power.
1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD
For a vehicle that has the name “Eagle Talon” attached to it, this 1990 vehicle is decidedly… rinky-dink. It’s sleek in some places, angular in others, and rather plasticky to behold, but it does have rally-esque performance capabilities.
1992 Rover 200 Coupe
Nicknamed the Tomcat, the ‘92 Rover 200 Coupe was intended to give the Rover brand some much-needed performance and style. It succeeded in one of those areas, at least, but it was very bulky, and its appearance didn’t match the way it handled itself on the road.
1991 Toyota Previa Supercharged
We’re aware that some of the vehicles on this list can be attractive from certain angles and under certain lighting conditions, but the ‘91 Previa from Toyota is hideous no matter how you look at it - an egg-shaped minivan that looked like the front-end of a London train!
1993 Fiat Coupe
Unlike the previous entry, the ‘93 Fiat Coupe had a lot going for it in terms of aesthetics. Its appearance on this list mostly comes down to the mismatch between its sleek curves and sharp lines.
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
Like many 90s cars, the ‘97 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP’s main failing was its overdesigned appearance, and its plasticky sheen didn’t help either. Still, it was a supercharged ride that was a helluva lot of fun.
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T
The only “spirit” this vehicle embodied was the spirit of 80s sedans. The ‘91 Dodge Spirit R/T looked like it arrived a decade too late. At least its turbocharged engine actually matched its own time.
1992 Acura Vigor
The ‘92 Acura Vigor was a victim of '90s sedan blandness. It was boxy, with a long nose, and rather boring to look at, but its performance was a completely different story.
1995 Mazda Millenia S
Believe it or not, our last entry - the 1995 Mazda Millenia S - was actually a luxury vehicle, but you couldn’t tell as much from its cheap-looking exterior, which was decidedly lacking in The Sauce. Its performance, however, managed to live up to the luxury standards of the time.
