There is a natural essence of rivalry when it comes to different automakers in the market for very obvious reasons. And as time goes by, the number of competing brands in the industry continues to grow. For established automakers like Toyota, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz, the playing field remains pretty much the same, just with more players.
Customers benefit a lot from this rivalry, especially when brands make attempts to reach out to prospective customers by designing better cars or simply by giving a better customer service experience.
However, there are times when car manufacturers find it necessary to come up with new and fresh ideas to sell their products. Though these ideas can contribute to positive outcomes, the results can sometimes be ridiculous and plain cringey just like these steering wheels.
10 2004 Saturn Ion
Saturn has long been out of business but the ION is one of the best cars Saturn produced from 2003 to 2007. It came with either a 2.2-liter four-cylinder or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Looking from the outside, this convenient five-seater doesn't look any more special than its competitors. It bears the typical early 2000's car shape but with a more bulbous nose.
The inside isn't so luxurious as well and simple is the best way to describe it. That is until you look at the steering wheel. The grey, rounded design somehow makes it simultaneously look incredibly dull and like a child's toy. Imagine staring at it every time you get in your car.
9 Aston Martin Lagonda
Steering wheel designs should focus on comfort and function before all the aesthetics. But in some cases, manufacturers try to make phenomenal feats by passing "strange" and "ugly" for "new" and "futuristic." This was more obvious in vehicles produced between the 1970s and 1990s when everyone is craving contemporary vehicles like the Aston Martin Lagonda.
Rather than the typical thick handles, the steering wheel in the Aston Martin Lagonda is thinner and is connected to the car via a plank-looking steering column. And if that isn't strangely futuristic enough, it also comes with an equally weird dash with flat buttons. Still, the Lagonda remains one of the finest cars crafted by Aston Martin.
8 Austin Allegro
There is a reason why most steering wheels are circular and it's not just about aesthetics. This particular shape makes it easy for drivers to maneuver the vehicle using hand-over-hand rotations. Most circular steering wheels are also made to leave a considerable amount of knee and leg space.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with the car that had one of the worst steering wheels of all time. Not only was the Austin Allegro one of the ugliest European cars of all time, it also had a massive, square-ish rim that troubled long-legged drivers. It was also too thin which made driving quite uncomfortable.
7 Citroen DS
Whenever driving, the driver's focus should always be on the road to stay safe. Phones and snacks while driving can even be strictly prohibited for legal reasons. But there are instances when your car alone makes focusing on the road hard to do like the Citroen DS.
The steering wheel in a Citroen DS is enough to distract you from the road because of how weird it looks. Instead of the usual center alignment of the steering wheel, the column seems to sit at the lower-left corner. Also, the rim is thinner than most standard steering wheels so it would take some time to get used to.
6 De Tomaso P72
Hypercars, supercars, and sportscars are a different breed of vehicles that come with extraordinary speeds paired with even more extraordinary styling. The De Tomaso Sometimes these designs hit a home run for being cool, modern, and fun. While sometimes, they're just best sent home like what happened to De Tomaso P72 's steering wheel.
Everything about the P72 screams 'fast car' including the massive vents. But the tradition of angled steering wheels belong to F1 cars for a reason. Plus, the futuristic steering wheel styling just doesn't match the classic gauges and the rest of the dash.
5 Lotus Evija
EVs have a different setup under the hood which gives them a slightly different look compared to how fuel-powered cars are designed. However, this does not necessarily entitle them to take the steering wheel from an arcade game, put it in an EV and call it a sports car.
Though the Lotus Evija's thick rims look comfy, the angled, rectangular shape of the steering wheel seems unnecessary and comes across as "trying to hard." There's also a lot of buttons on it that are better off on the dash.
4 Mercedes-Benz AMG One
If you're someone who hasn't gotten over the childhood stage of your life, you're bound the love the Mercedes Benz AMG One. It makes all your childhood car racing dreams come true thanks to the overall design and concept. Outside, the ONE poses a mean face and comes with Formula 1 technology under the hood.
But if you're looking for a daily driver, the steering wheel is enough to make you say "no." It comes with all sorts of buttons in different colors that can make a video game fun but makes a simple trip to the grocery store such a chore.
3 SEAT Ronda
The SEAT Ronda is a five-door family carrier that was first produced in 1982. Under the hood rides a 1.7-liter diesel engine with 54 hp - just right to move 4 people and some cargo. It carried a bulky, boxy appearance and was far from becoming anyone's dream car.
The distasteful ruins didn't end there, however. Because inside the steering wheel rim is some kind of box in the middle that made the whole thing look weird. The rim wasn't very comfortable as well as it was thinner and doesn't really have a plump, round shape.
2 Spyker C8
The Spyker C8 is a mean-looking machine in the most literal sense. It has slit headlights, an upside grin for grilles, and a low, wide body to top it all off. The C8 carries the same 4.2-liter V8 engine that sits in Audi cars.
But if you still think that's your type, wait until you get a look at the dash and steering wheel. It comes with classic-looking gauges that light up with an eerie green glow. The steering wheel, on the other hand, resembles those in pirate ships and comes with an absurdly thick rim.
1 Subaru XT
Subaru is a Japan-based brand that has been manufacturing cars since 1953. In the US, they remain one of the most recognized Japanese brands in the market. But even though they've always made fairly competitive vehicles, these weren't always fit for the American taste.
The XT, for example, was a good sedan in terms of reliability and power. Its steering wheel, however, completely missed the mark on aesthetics and ended up being one of ugliest steering wheels of all time. Instead of a plain, easy-to-use steering wheel, the one in the XT is shaped like a pistol and forms a right angle which is more than an eyesore.
NEXT: Worker Strike In Mexico Is Preventing 8,000 Ford Mustangs From Getting Steering Wheels