There comes a time in every automaker’s production lifetime that they create an ugly car – whether it be a family sedan, sports coupe, or a mainstream crossover. It is inevitable that the carmaker will try some new controversial styling elements or an entirely new questionable design language.
When this happens, consumers are usually taken aback by these designs, with the critique that it is strikingly ugly and should not be in full-scale production – as is the case with the Hyundai Creta. Automakers normally adhere to these complaints and either change the design or decide that it’s too late and put the car into production – with the intention to rectify it with the first model refresh. The problem in many cases is that the automakers on the premium side of the spectrum sell these ugly cars in question at a way higher price than it should be sold.
In some cases – like with the BMW X6 – consumers just accept the production version, and it becomes one of the most popular models in the line-up. This leads to other manufacturers creating their own versions which also ends up selling by the thousands. Here are eight instances where car companies charged way too much for their ugly cars and got away with it.
8 BMW X6
The first-generation BMW X6 is the coupe version of the X5 ‘SAV’ (Sports Activity Vehicle) and is one of the ugliest designs for a mainstream vehicle. Where the X5 is an excellently proportioned and handsome automobile, the X6 is a bloated and over-styled mess of a design. This is for a base price of $57,000, when the equivalent X5 cost around $48,000.
BMW was one of the first manufacturers to build an SUV coupe – which strangely proved popular – so almost every other auto manufacturer has followed suit. Mercedes-Benz, Audi, VW, Genesis, and even Porsche has built their own versions in various sizes, but BMW still has the best of the bunch – even if every generation has been awful to look at.
7 Aston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda was the British marque’s foray into technologically advanced luxurious sedans. It helped the automaker avoid complete bankruptcy while simultaneously showcasing the company’s abilities. That being said, the Lagonda’s electronics alone cost four times more than the budget for the whole car, leading to the enormous $150,000 base price – in 1980!
The Lagonda showcased a new design language for the automaker – one which was not really adopted for any cars after it. The Lagonda was also considered to be a large executive sedan from the outside, yet the interior space warranted it only as a compact sedan, thanks to the terrible ergonomics. While ugly to look at, it is one of the best models in Aston Martin’s history.
6 Renault Avantime
The Renault Avantime was a car truly ‘ahead’ of its ‘time’ – hence the name. The idea behind the Avantime was that owners of the massively popular Renault Espace people carrier would still use their enormous car even after their children are out of the house, so Renault created a 2-door version.
The Avantime was a massive car, both on the interior and exterior, which had some more interesting styling compared to its family-orientated sibling. To accommodate the car’s huge size and 2-door layout, the door hinges were completely redesigned to feature a clever double bend system, offering enough room for entry and exit without needing more space than a normal car door. While the Avantime was an interesting car, it definitely was not worth the $43,000 base price – especially for a Renault.
5 Marcos Mantis M70
The Marcos Mantis was an obscure 1970s British sports car which retailed for around the equivalent of $18,000 in kit form, or $40,000 when already assembled. The was when a Rover P6 3500 with a V8 engine was available for over $27,000 in today’s money. In addition to the exorbitant price, the Marcos Mantis was incredibly ugly.
It was powered by a 2.5-liter straight-6 from a Rover 2.5PI and had a top speed of 120 mph. The Mantis M70 was a truly hideous car in every sense of the word, with terrible dimensions, small wheels, and a terrible silhouette.
4 Chevrolet HHR SS
The Chevrolet HHR followed the retro hot-rod-inspired look of some mid-2000s cars, such as the Chrysler PT-Cruiser and Plymouth Prowler. It was available as a 4-door people carrier or a 2-door panel van. All versions were front-wheel-drive only and the HHR SS was the only interesting model in the range.
The HHR SS was fitted with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged i4 as in the Chevy Cobalt SS Turbocharged, producing 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The HHR SS had a starting price of $25,000 in 2009 (around $33,000 today), which was higher than most of its rivals. The car, while interesting, was not particularly good-looking.
3 Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 is one of the most iconic cars, famous for its absolutely ludicrous fuel consumption. The H2 was also ridiculously expensive, starting at about $60,000 in 2009. This was much higher than even a BMW X5 of the time – a vehicle that was fancier, more comfortable, and had much better fuel consumption, even when fitted with a V8.
The Hummer H2 was cool though, featuring in many movies and television shows – most notably CSI: Miami. Today, the H2 can be found on the used car market with various modifications for under $20,000 but would cost more than that in fuel – especially at the current fuel price.
2 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT
The Chrysler PT Cruiser GT was a hot hatch version of the normal PT Cruiser, fitted with the 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 from the Dodge Neon SRT-4. The PT Cruiser GT produced around 220 hp, available with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.
The PT Cruiser GT started from around $29,000 in 2006, excluding shipping and any optional extras, which meant it could easily exceed $30,000 (around $42,000 in today’s money). The PT Cruiser was one of the worst designs to ever be put into mass production – certainly in the last 20 years. Versions in China were even available with a fake ‘Woody’ wrap on them.
1 Plymouth Prowler
The Plymouth Prowler was one of the coolest concepts of the late 1990s. It was a re-imagined and modernized hot rod that could be bought from factory. When the production car eventually reached dealerships, it was a huge letdown. Instead of a V8, the car could only have a V6, and the only transmission option was a 4-speed automatic.
The Prowler also had hideous styling, not helped by the US-regulation bumpers and the weird rear trunk. To top it off, the Prowler cost $38,000 in 1997 which went up to $43,000 by 2000. If the Prowler was sold today, it would cost a whopping $72,000! This is a brand new Porsche 718 Cayman S money – which is a better car in every single way.