Some cars are so ugly that they turn heads—but somehow, that didn’t stop them from selling like crazy.
Whether it was clever marketing, a loyal fanbase, or just being in the right place at the right time, these visually unfortunate vehicles still found their way into millions of driveways. Here are 10 of the ugliest cars that were actually popular.
1. Pontiac Aztek
The Pontiac Aztek is the undisputed king of ugly cars. Its bizarre, angular design, awkward rear end, and plastic-clad body made it look like a rejected Transformer.
Yet, thanks to its rugged versatility, early crossover appeal, and a boost from Breaking Bad, it found a cult following. GM sold over 100,000 Azteks, proving that sometimes, ugly doesn’t matter.
2. Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke looks like someone stacked a frog on top of another frog. Its weirdly high-mounted headlights, bubbly curves, and compact body made it one of the strangest-looking crossovers ever.
But somehow, it worked—people loved its quirky charm, and Nissan sold over a million Jukes worldwide.
3. Fiat Multipla
The Fiat Multipla looks like someone stuck a second windshield on top of the first one. With its bulging headlights, frumpy proportions, and strange extra-wide shape, it’s an assault on the eyes.
Yet, it was actually incredibly practical, seating six people in two rows of three, and had a devoted following in Europe. Ugly? Yes. Beloved? Also yes.
4. Toyota Prius (2004–2009)
The second-generation Toyota Prius looked like an overgrown doorstop. Its awkward wedge shape, tiny wheels, and bland design weren’t exactly thrilling.
But thanks to hybrid hype, reliability, and insane fuel economy, Toyota sold millions of them, making it the most successful hybrid ever.
5. Honda Element
The Honda Element looked like someone designed it using only a ruler. With its boxy shape, plastic fenders, and clamshell doors, it wasn’t winning any beauty contests.
But it was spacious, pet-friendly, and ridiculously practical, which made it a hit with outdoor lovers and young buyers.
6. Chrysler PT Cruiser
The PT Cruiser was supposed to be retro-cool, but it just looked awkward and bulbous. Its oversized front end, weird stance, and over-the-top styling screamed “trying too hard.”
Despite this, it was a massive success, with over 1.3 million sold. For a few years in the early 2000s, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing one.
7. Chevrolet HHR
The Chevy HHR was basically GM’s response to the PT Cruiser, and somehow, it was even uglier. It had a weird hunchback shape, tiny windows, and a front end that looked like an old delivery truck.
Yet, Chevy sold hundreds of thousands of them because, well… people really liked weird retro wagons in the 2000s.
8. Tesla Cybertruck
The Tesla Cybertruck looks like something an 8-year-old drew in Microsoft Paint. With its blocky, unfinished design and weird proportions, it barely looks real.
Yet, Tesla received over a million pre-orders, proving that even the strangest designs can find success.
Read More: The Unexpected Costs of Owning an Electric Car in 2025
9. Subaru B9 Tribeca
The Subaru B9 Tribeca had one of the weirdest front grilles ever. It looked like an angry fish gasping for air.
Despite its polarizing looks, Subaru still managed to sell tens of thousands before eventually redesigning it into something… less weird.
Read More: 10 Trucks So Tough They Might Outlive You
10. AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer looked like a fishbowl on wheels—because it basically was. It had weirdly large windows, a bizarre shape, and an awkward stance.
Yet, it was popular in the ‘70s, and thanks to Wayne’s World, it gained a second life as a beloved pop culture icon.
Read More: 10 Wild (But Realistic) Predictions for the Next 50 Years of Automotive Tech
