This Japanese car manufacturer has been around for decades. It was first called Toyoda, named after its founder Sakichi Toyoda. Years later, they changed the name to Toyota because in Japanese strokes you need only eight letters to write it, and eight is considered a lucky number in the Japanese culture.
And Toyota was very lucky indeed. It’s the tenth-largest company in the world by revenue and the second biggest car manufacturer after Volkswagen. They produce over 10 million cars per year, leading in sales of hybrid electric cars. The Toyota Corolla alone had 40 million sales, making it the world’s best-selling car ever. That shouldn’t be surprising, anyway. Toyotas are known for their reliability and efficiency.
But, they have never been known for their looks. There’s even a saying: “there’s ugly and then there’s Toyota ugly,” and if you read this article, you’ll understand why. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 ugliest Toyotas to ever exist, and one that’s quite satisfactory.
16 1979 Toyota CX-80
We have to thank Toyota for the fact that the CX-80 never reached production. The CX-80 was a concept car shown at the 1979 Tokyo Motor Show. While you have to appreciate their creativity and individuality, the car itself looks extremely clumsy and weird. Designed to look futuristic and efficient, it actually looks like a confused robotic duck.
15 1984 Toyota Van
Okay, honestly, what in the world were Toyota designers thinking? Yes, vans are not known for being appealing, but do they have to look this ugly? The 1984 Van was used to move passengers around Tokyo and was known as a “city van.” However, when it arrived in the US, there were already better vans such as the Dodge Caravan or Plymouth Voyage, and so the 1984 Van completely failed.
14 2009 Toyota Venza
We aren’t sure which category Venza belongs to. Is it a station wagon, a crossover, or an SUV? While the Venza has been praised for its functionality and practicality, it’s shamed worldwide for its looks. The front is way too long and bulky; meanwhile, the rear is way too wide. Although the 2009 model enjoyed the most success, the other years were quite slow in sales, and Toyota had to discontinue the Venza.
13 1994 Toyota RAV4
This is not the worst looking SUV out there, but far from being the best one. Designed to appeal to women, the 1994 RAV4 is the car equivalent of a fish tank. However, this car is known for being robust and economical. “Ugliness” is very subjective. So, who knows, you might even find the 1994 RAV cool.
12 2004 Toyota Yaris Verso
Thanks to Toyota for sparing the US buyers from the Yaris Verso. We’re sorry for anyone overseas who had to look at this strange creature. Oh, where do we begin? It looks like a Popemobile. It has weird proportions, unnecessarily long doors and it’s too boxy. Not to mention the fact that it’s slow. It takes 12.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. It’s a shame, really, because according to most users, it was quite reliable and compact.
11 2010 Toyota Prius
You’d think that Toyota learned their lesson with their ugly looking cars, but the 2010 Prius shows us the opposite. While Toyota engineers might not focus on looks as much, as they do on practicality, it’s hard to ignore how bad the 2010 Prius looks. Top Speed called it “a double-chinned angry puppy that wants to eat your face,” and were they wrong? Nope. The trend continues with the newer models as well, and the Prius is still as detested as ever.
10 1999 Toyota Echo
To make up for its weird looks, the ’99 Toyota Echo was quite cheap and affordable. But couldn’t they at least try to shape that piece of metal more pleasingly? It's not only the design that's problematic but acceleration seems to be quite a challenge for this car, as well. It certainly hasn’t aged well, and if you own one - our condolences.
9 2004 Toyota Hilux
This one definitely wasn’t designed to be a pretty car. It’s a pick-up truck, after all. When driving such a car, you would at least hope to be safe. Well, that wasn’t the case with the 2004 Hilux. In many cases, the airbag would deactivate when turning the steering wheel into a certain position. Not to mention their bad reputation: terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Boko Haram seem to like the Hilux a lot.
8 1995 Toyota Mega Cruiser
The 1995 Mega Cruiser was probably designed to terrify people. And it does. With its gigantic size and bulky shape, it sure sparks fear. Its styling is quite similar to the Hummer H1, and that’s not a pretty car either. No wonder that very few Mega Cruisers have been sold to the public and most of them went to the Japanese Army.
7 1995 Toyota Cavalier
In November 1993, Toyota signed a deal with General Motors. Part of the deal required Toyota to sell GM cars rebadged as Toyotas. One of those unfortunates was the Toyota/Chevrolet Cavalier. It ended up being a terrible-looking car. The design of the headlights makes the car look tired, sad, and unwilling to drive you anywhere.
6 1990 Toyota Sera
Ugliness is not always a bad thing. It’s certainly unconventional and different. It doesn’t look normal. Well, at first sight, the 1990 Toyota Sera might seem normal. However, when you see its doors go up, you will understand why it looks so weird. Rumors say that the 1990 Sera was an inspiration for Gordon Murray, designer of the McLaren F1.
5 2016 Toyota Mirai
Many people consider the Mirai to be one of the ugliest cars in production nowadays. And we have to admit, it’s comically ugly. Starting from the awkward proportions in the front to the hideous rear, it looks like a car from a very bad sci-fi movie. Only Toyota is talented enough to create a futuristic hydrogen fuel cell power plant and stick it into an ugly creature such as the Mirai.
4 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
You would expect that a convertible would look fun to drive, or not boring at the very least. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stand with the 2008 Solara. It’s so out of proportion: the wheel wells appear too small for the size of the car, and the back is too plain. It doesn’t look sporty or practical. That’s what happens when you combine sporty styling with a Camry.
3 2004 Toyota Scion xB
The Scion xB was built for the US market as a compact car. It was supposed to appeal to the hip and young community of the US. Nonetheless, it looks like a box on wheels. The bold front end and the short side windows make the xB unbearable to drive. Not to mention that the ride is noisy and bumpy.
2 2001 Toyota Pod
The Toyota Pod looks ridiculous and out of this planet, yet its weirdness doesn't end there. It also changes colors according to its mood. You might notice the tail: it wags when it’s happy. We aren’t joking. The 2001 Pod was a concept car designed by Toyota in collaboration with Sony. According to Toyota, “it’s not just a car.” Well, it’s definitely not a pretty one either.
1 Toyota 2000GT
No, the 2000GT is definitely not ugly. While some will find the unique and expressive front headlights a bit unusual, the 2000GT to this day remains one of the most beautiful cars ever produced. Its exotic look is shaped by the muscular front fenders, the smooth profile, and the low roofline. You might best recognize it from the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Today it’s only sold at auctions, easily fetching $1 million, making it a true Toyota icon.