Gadgets reviews 2025
The 90s: a decade of grunge, boy bands… and questionable automotive design choices. The 1990s gave us some incredible cars, but it also unleashed a few four-wheeled eyesores. For vintage car fans and gearheads alike, revisiting these design disasters shows just how far car design has actually come. Buckle up as we take you on a wild ride through the 13 ugliest cars that emerged from the ’90s and made us grateful for modern automotive aesthetics and the tried and true design motifs of the past.
13. 1996 Fiat Multipla (Exterior)
The 1996 Fiat Multipla stands as perhaps the most visually challenging vehicle of the 1990s. Its design featured an unfortunate combination of stacked headlights and a bulging windshield that made the car look like nothing else on the road – and not in a good way. The competent 1.6-liter gasoline and 1.9-liter diesel engines lived in a body that Top Gear once described as resembling “a cartoon car that had been drawn by a small child.” Despite its jarring appearance, which many consider among the most unattractive in automotive history, European families embraced its practicality. The Multipla proved that extraordinary functionality could overcome extraordinary aesthetics.
1996 Fiat Multipa (Interior)
Inside this aesthetic outlier, Fiat created a surprisingly clever six-seat layout that maximized every inch of space. The cabin’s functionality offered a stark contrast to the exterior’s visual challenges, though the avant-garde dashboard design continued the exterior’s theme of unconventional choices. While the elevated seating position and panoramic visibility impressed passengers, they couldn’t help but wonder if they were sitting in what looked like a modern art experiment gone wrong.
12. 1990 GM EV1 (Exterior)
The 1990 GM EV1‘s teardrop shape looked less like a car and more like an escaped prop from a low-budget sci-fi movie. Its grille-less front end and covered rear wheels created an unsettling appearance that made other cars from 1990 look positively conventional in comparison. While the design achieved an impressive drag coefficient and housed innovative electric technology, the EV1’s alien aesthetic proved too radical for mainstream American buyers who still dreamed of muscular sports cars and commanding SUVs.
1990 GM EV1 (Interior)
Inside the EV1’s peculiar shell, drivers faced a dashboard that resembled a 1980s vision of the future, complete with a digital instrument cluster that appeared lifted from a vintage video game. The cramped two-seat layout highlighted GM’s compromises, trading practicality for aerodynamics in a way that limited the car’s appeal beyond tech enthusiasts and early adopters. The interior’s stark minimalism and unconventional controls reminded occupants they were piloting an experiment rather than a refined production car, though it did preview many features we now take for granted in modern EVs.
11. 1991 Chevrolet Caprice (Exterior)
The 1991 Chevrolet Caprice’s redesign transformed a boxy American sedan into what many called “the whale” – a bloated, rounded shape that looked like it melted in the sun. Despite packing respectable V8 power with up to 245 horses from its 5.7-liter engine, the car’s bizarre proportions and awkward greenhouse made it stand out for all the wrong reasons. The Caprice’s attempt at aerodynamic styling resulted in massive rear fender skirts that made the car look like it was wearing an ill-fitting dress, creating one of the most questionable designs in Chevrolet’s history.
1991 Chevrolet Caprice (Interior)
Inside the Caprice’s whale-like exterior, Chevrolet created a cabin that matched the era’s idea of luxury with acres of cheap plastic and questionably tasteful velour upholstery. The dashboard stretched endlessly toward the windshield, creating a design that emphasized the car’s excessive girth rather than embracing its spaciousness. While police departments and taxi companies appreciated its durability and comfort, the interior’s dated design and materials reminded everyone this was Detroit’s interpretation of luxury at its most unimaginative.
10. 1992 Renault Twingo (Exterior)
The 1992 Renault Twingo arrived with a face only its designer could love, featuring oversized headlights and a gaping smile that made it look like an overly excited cartoon character. Its tall, bubble-like body resembled a washing machine on wheels, though this strange shape did maximize interior space in ways other small cars couldn’t match. Despite its quirky looks and modest 55-horsepower engine, this peculiar French box somehow charmed European buyers who seemed to overlook its resemblance to a happy frog.
1992 Renault Twingo (Interior)
Inside this oddball city car, Renault created a bizarrely spartan interior that looked like it was designed with leftover parts from a kitchen appliance factory. The centrally-mounted instrument cluster forced drivers to glance sideways to check their speed, while the sliding rear seats proved more practical than pretty in their basic plastic glory. While the Twingo’s interior innovations deserved praise for maximizing space, its budget materials and questionable ergonomics reminded everyone that function sometimes comes at the cost of refinement.
9. 1990 Chrysler Imperial (Exterior)
The 1990 Chrysler Imperial arrived as a puzzling mashup of outdated design choices, looking like a bloated New Yorker wearing its grandfather’s clothes. Its conservative styling felt dated even by 1990 standards, with a front end that seemed directly lifted from a 1980s parts bin and chrome trim that bordered on excessive. Despite Chrysler’s attempt at luxury with a smooth 3.3-liter V6, the Imperial’s boxy shape and formal roofline made it look like a stretched economy car trying to pass as a premium sedan.
1990 Chrysler Imperial (Interior)
By contrast, the interior wasn’t bad. Chrysler aimed to compete with luxury rivals like Cadillac and Lincoln by focusing on comfort and refinement in the Imperial. Its spacious interior provided ample legroom for passengers, while its suspension system ensured a smooth driving experience over long distances. Though it struggled to capture significant market share against its competitors, the interior of the Imperial demonstrated Chrysler’s commitment to offering premium vehicles with distinctive styling and advanced features during the early ’90s.
8. 1994 Ford Scorpio (Exterior)
The 1994 Ford Scorpio shocked the European market with what many consider one of the ugliest designs ever to wear a Ford badge, featuring bulging headlights that made it look like a surprised fish out of water. Its drooping rear end and confused mix of curves created a design so controversial that some markets struggled to sell units, despite decent engine options including a capable 2.9-liter V6. The wagon version somehow managed to look even more awkward, as if designers gave up halfway through and just stretched the already questionable sedan design without considering the visual consequences.
1994 Ford Scorpio (Interior)
The interior didn’t suffer the same fate. Ford positioned the Scorpio as an upscale alternative within its European lineup by equipping it with premium materials and advanced technology like anti-lock brakes and optional leather interiors. Its spacious cabin made it ideal for long journeys while maintaining excellent handling dynamics typical of European sedans. Although overshadowed by competitors like the BMW 5 Series or Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the Scorpio offered solid value for buyers prioritizing practicality over prestige.
7. 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo (Exterior)
The 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo arrived as one of the most disappointing revivals in automotive history, transforming a once-proud muscle car nameplate into what looked like an overinflated Lumina coupe. Despite offering a decent 210-horsepower engine in the Z34 trim, the car’s front-wheel-drive platform and bloated body lines betrayed its economy car roots, making it look like a rental car trying to wear a cheap tuxedo. The Monte Carlo’s bland design, with its forgettable face and uninspired profile, represented everything wrong with 1990s American car design – generic shapes that could’ve come from any manufacturer.
1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo (Interior)
Chevrolet aimed to appeal to both nostalgic buyers familiar with earlier Monte Carlo generations and younger drivers seeking an affordable coupe with modern amenities. The Z34 trim added performance-oriented touches such as sport-tuned suspension and unique exterior styling elements like dual exhaust tips. While some enthusiasts missed the rear-wheel-drive layout of earlier models, this iteration of the Monte Carlo successfully blended practicality with sporty appeal in a package suited for daily driving.
6. 1996 Saturn SW (Exterior)
The 1996 Saturn SW embodied everything awkward about 1990s American wagon design, with a profile that looked like someone stretched a Saturn sedan without considering the visual consequences. Its plastic body panels, while practical for avoiding dents, gave the car a cheap, toylike appearance that was amplified by its narrow stance and tall greenhouse. The anemic 1.9-liter engine options, topping out at just 124 horsepower, matched the car’s uninspired design – making it look and perform like a budget appliance rather than a desirable family vehicle.
1996 Saturn SW (Interior)
Saturn, a division of General Motors established in 1985, aimed to compete with Japanese imports by focusing on quality and customer satisfaction. The SW’s spacious interior and up to 49 cubic feet of cargo space made it versatile for daily errands or road trips. Its no-haggle pricing strategy and emphasis on reliability helped Saturn build a loyal customer base in the ’90s. While it may have lacked the refinement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, the SW’s practicality meant it still managed to earn a place in many American households.
5. 1996 Suzuki X-90 (Exterior)
The 1996 Suzuki X-90 was an automotive experiment that unfortunately created a Suzuki Sidekick that had been crushed in a trash compactor and topped with awkward T-tops. Its stubby proportions and tiny wheels made it resemble a Hot Wheels toy that somehow made it to production, while its meager 95-horsepower engine struggled to justify its sporty pretensions. The X-90’s confused design managed to miss the mark for both SUV and sports car lovers, creating what many consider one of the most peculiar vehicles ever sold in America.
1996 Suzuki X-90 (Interior)
Despite its compact size, the X-90 provided ample space for two passengers and a sizable trunk with a full-size spare tire. Suzuki’s reputation for rugged off-road vehicles like the Samurai influenced the development of the X-90. The X-90 still handled urban environments well but could also tackle light off-road trails. It’s production was, unsurprisingly, short-lived, but it’s bizarre appearance has managed to make it something of a collectors item to some enthusiasts.
4. 1995 Buick Riviera (Exterior)
The 1995 Buick Riviera arrived as one of the most polarizing designs of the 1990s, with a boat-like profile and bizarre oval rear window that made it look like a melted bar of soap. Despite packing a potent supercharged 3.8-liter V6, the car’s bloated proportions and awkward curves overshadowed its performance capabilities, creating what many consider the strangest-looking Riviera in the nameplate’s history. The front end’s attempt at sleekness clashed with its bulbous rear, resulting in a design that seemed to be pulling itself in two different stylistic directions at once.
1995 Buick Riviera (Interior)
The interior was a different story – spacious and boasting distinctive circular design elements across the dashboard, air vents, and instrument cluster. Buick positioned the Riviera as an upscale alternative to competitors like the Lincoln Mark VIII and Cadillac Eldorado. The car’s refined suspension system provided an excellent balance between comfort and performance, while premium materials enhanced its luxurious feel.
3. 1994 Ford Mustang (Exterior)
The 1994 Ford Mustang arrived with a controversial redesign that made the iconic pony car look like it had spent too much time in a sauna, with soft, rounded edges replacing the previous generation’s muscular lines. While the 5.0-liter V8 provided decent performance with 240 horsepower in Cobra form, the base model’s weak 145-horsepower V6 struggled to match the car’s sports car pretensions. The front end’s oval headlights and drooping nose created what many Mustang purists consider one of the least aggressive-looking generations, earning it the unflattering nickname “melted jellybean” among enthusiasts.
1994 Ford Mustang (Interior)
Ford ensured that this Mustang retained its iconic pony car identity while appealing to contemporary buyers with updated safety features like dual airbags and improved handling dynamics. The return of the grille-mounted pony emblem delighted enthusiasts who appreciated its nod to the original 1964 model. With strong sales exceeding 123,000 units in its debut year, the 1994 Mustang solidified its place as an enduring symbol of American performance.
2. 1992 Subaru SVX (Exterior)
The 1992 Subaru SVX landed in showrooms with its bizarre split window design that made passengers feel like they were sitting in a fighter jet cockpit, for better or for worse. Despite packing a capable 231-horsepower flat-six engine, the car’s strange proportions and aircraft-inspired greenhouse made it look more like an automotive design experiment than a serious grand tourer. The SVX’s complex window arrangement, while innovative for reducing wind noise, created a visual oddity that even Giugiaro’s prestigious design reputation couldn’t justify.
1992 Subaru SVX (Interior)
Subaru intended for the SVX to elevate its brand image by targeting luxury buyers seeking advanced engineering paired with reliability. Despite limited production—just over 24,000 units worldwide—the SVX showcased Subaru’s willingness to innovate (or try to) beyond practical sedans and wagons. Today, the vehicle has fans, owed in no small part to its unique windows.
1. 1994 Ferrari F512 M (Exterior)
The 1994 Ferrari F512 M marked the end of an era with a design that somehow managed to make the iconic Testarossa look outdated, replacing its predecessor’s sharp edges with rounded forms that diluted its visual impact. While its potent 440-horsepower flat-12 engine impressed, the car’s new fixed headlights and smoother body panels made it look more like an anonymous 1990s sports car than Ferrari’s flagship model. The F512 M’s attempt to modernize the Testarossa’s dramatic side strakes and wedge profile resulted in a design that lost some of the original’s arresting presence, even if it performed better aerodynamically.
1994 Ferrari F512 M (Interior)
Ferrari designed the F512 M as both a performance powerhouse and a collector’s dream car with limited production numbers adding exclusivity. As one of Ferrari’s last flat-12 models before transitioning to V12 engines in future designs, the F512 M holds historical significance within Ferrari’s storied lineup for being a bit of an ugly duckling on the outside that was still fun to drive.
