There's more to a car than just the looks and a powerful engine. A comfortable car means different things to different people, for some it's a spacious interior and for others, it's the sturdy seats. Inventions such as air-pressure tires and shock absorbers were meant to help improve the comfort of cars, and they did, but there was still room for more improvements.

In the 21st century, most cars are a thrill to drive; you can comfortably go on a road trip from coast to coast and still look forward to doing it again. However, instead of looking at the most comfortable (and affordable) vehicles around, we'll be looking at the worst of the worst instead. These are the ten most uncomfortable cars you will ever drive.

10 VW New Beetle

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The VW New Beetle has been around for over four generations until 2018 when the Beetle’s production was finally called off. The New VW Beetle had a compact interior that felt squeezed and claustrophobic. You would probably wish it was a little bit bigger, maybe the size of the VW Golf, which it's based on.

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The VW Beetle also does not handle as well as a VW Golf. It delivers too much understeer with a power steering wheel that does not deliver great feedback either.

9 2008 Hyundai i20

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The 2008 Hyundai i20 is a neat-looking four-seater hatchback. The i20 is a great city car and can maneuver the busy city ways with ease. The size ironically is also the i20's greatest weakness. The car was meant for short city rides and just that.

RELATED: 2020 Hyundai i20 Spy Shots, Renders Hint At Euro Model Refresh

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The interior of the i20 feels squeezed and legroom in the back seats was barely enough for an adult to comfortably fit. With the interior upholstery using cheap padding, this made for very uncomfortable rides in the i20.

8 1996 Ford Ka

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Preceded by expectations of being an attractive and economical city car, the 1996 Ford Ka was quick to assert that it was yet another uncomfortable and rigid car from Ford.

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The first generation of the Ford Ka was infamous for its claustrophobic interior, primarily in the back seat. The front seat experience was no better, particularly for taller drivers. Headroom in the Ford Ka was almost non-existent and even the cute looks of the Ford Ka could not make up for how cramped and stiff it was.

7 2004 Fiat Panda

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For a small compact car, the Fiat Panda offers the best value for money. It has a handsome look accompanied by a capable chassis but that might be all it has to offer.

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This SUV-hatchback crossover-looking car is adorable on the outside. The inside, however, is not so pleasant to be in. The small interior makes the Fiat Panda feel light and fragile, like driving a box, and no one wants to drive a box. The engine is also not powerful and acceleration feels dragged and slow in comparison to other cars on the road.

6 2004 Nissan Note

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The 2004 Nissan Note is an economical city car. While most car owners desire sturdy seats, stiff seats, on the other hand, make for an uncomfortable experience.

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Nissan went with the latter and, as a result, driving long distances in the 2004 Nissan Note is quite an uphill task that would probably end with trips to your chiropractor.

The interior, which is largely covered in cheap plastic, also makes the Nissan Note a very unpleasant car to be in over extended durations. If you were looking for a comfortable car on a budget and you came across the 2004 Nissan Note, just keep looking.

5 Toyota Yaris Mk2

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Toyota has always taken pride in itself for its reliable cars. Over the decades, Toyota has time and again successfully incorporated style and comfort in their cars. This was, however, not the case with the Toyota Yaris Mk2.

RELATED: All-New Toyota Yaris GR Is What Rally Dreams Are Made Of

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The Mk2 is a five-seater hatchback with a small interior and an even smaller engine. Filled to capacity, the Mk2 interior feels too confined with just enough space to seat, but not to move around freely. Traveling long distances without comfortable seats becomes unpleasant and uncomfortable, particularly for the passengers at the back.

4 2005 Citroen C1

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In an endeavor to make an affordable city car, Citroen came up with the Citroen C1. This good-looking and stylish car had a tight and cheaply built interior that was only big enough to carry about two bags of shopping.

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It was a very fuel-efficient car but at what cost? The Citroen C1 had no power whatsoever, you could tell this when maneuvering hills. Even on a flat surface, the acceleration and transmission of the C1 were too slow. The C1 also lacked basic features such as rollable windows, spacious back seats, and an adjustable steering wheel. It was just not a pleasant car to be in.

3 2011 Ford Focus

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The 2011 Ford Focus was a head-turner. The stunning looks of the Focus reflected a well-engineered automobile. The Focus drove well and had responsive handling. The engine also generated enough power to make the Ford Focus feel fast.

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The Focus is, however, not the most reliable car, often experiencing transmission issues, some of which led to lawsuits. Even though the Focus has a spacious interior with enough space at the back, the upholstery was known to be itchy and this could be unsettling.

2 2004 Kia Picanto

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This city car from Kia was well received by users. Most owners were satisfied with it as an errand car in the city. It was fuel-efficient and the size worked to its advantage on the busy city streets. On the highways though, the Picanto was out of place.

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The handling at high speeds was very poor and the car did not feel very stable making it a scary ride. The suspension on the Picanto also felt jittery on rough roads and very bumpy on country roads.

1 1997 Dodge Viper SRT

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The Dodge Viper SRT is notorious for its naturally-aspirated 8-liter V10 engine. The V10 engine makes it one of the noisiest and most uncomfortable cars to drive over long distances.

RELATED: 15 Of The Sickest Photos Of The Dodge Viper SRT

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As if the noise is not enough, this kei Car-sized engine also generates a lot of heat. The squeezed interior and the cheap black leather take up most of this heat, and the inside of the car gets unbearably hot.

Driving the 1997 Dodge Viper SRT over long distances can be quite a chore, but even with all these flaws, the Dodge Viper is still an iconic car that most enthusiasts would be thrilled to own.

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