8 Good Car Designs Gone Bad

 

                    

By Jeff Perez             

The world is filled with gorgeous cars — the likes of which can be seen from here to Tokyo. But what about the other side of the spectrum? What about all the cars that somehow got worse looking as they got older?

One of our readers gave us the idea to list 10 good car designs gone bad. So, here they are:

Dodge Charger

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It was only a few weeks back that the Dodge Charger made its world debut before New York. But it’s clear to see that there was some miscommunication in the design department. The front and back end are now more reminiscent of the Dart, yet the side panels and wheels still remind us of past Chargers.

It’s just feels like a mish mash of old and new.

Chevrolet Camaro

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When Chevy revamped its iconic Camaro nameplate in 2008, it was plain to see that the legendary muscle car was back — and packing some good looks to go with all that power. But lately, it seems like Chevy has been confused about the direction in which to take it.

The front end stays aggressive, while the headlights narrow, but the long, square taillights in the backend don’t seem to fit in with the new car’s personality.

Mini Hardtop

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Oh, what can we say about Mini? If we’re being blunt, it’s been getting bigger and bulkier and uglier every year since it was introduced way back when in 1959. And it’s definitely putting on some weight.

But to be fair, it isn’t a completely hideous thing to look at. It’s mostly symmetrical and has a unique personality, which we love. But we just can’t help but think it will never live up to the style of the classic, or even previous generations.

FIat 500L

Hands-down, this is the ugliest car of 2014. Where it went wrong though — we have no idea.

While the standard 500 is a cute and comfortable little hatch, with its larger-than-life personality, the 500L mashes together 500 cuteness with Fiat Panda off-roadiness. It’s mostly just a Frankenstein monster aimed at the American market.

Toyota 4Runner

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Not to say that the previous generation Toyota 4Runner was a looker, but it was at least it was a little more subtle than this.

 A new face and edgy new panels can’t make this aging off-roader any more appealing in the looks department. We can attest to its off-road capabilities first hand, but we can’t ignore those ghastly looks.

Jeep Cherokee

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Jeep enthusiasts, back me on this. The original Cherokee XJ was a no-nonsense off-roader, with boxy good looks, and enough to keep people coming back for more.

 But the new Cherokee’s polarizing headlights just make us all cringe. Let’s just hope it performs better than it looks.

Ford F-150

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Laying claim as the best-selling truck on the planet (at one point or another), Ford went in a new direction for 2015 with an aluminum-base, and a hell of an ugly face that seems too small to fit on its bloated body. We’ll stick with the muscular and handsome 2014 version, thank you very much.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

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At one point in time, the Genesis Coupe was one of the hottest selling sportscars around. Not only for its affordable price and drivability, but for its gorgeous sportscar, JDM looks.

But a few years back we saw Hyundai go with a whole new look, one that would prove nearly fatal for the beloved sportscar. Sales dropped, and the Genesis soon became overshadowed by better looking, better performing sportscars. Let’s just hope they get back to the basics for the next gen.