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The 7 Best-Looking Family Cars And The 7 Ugliest Designs

Klarecon

2025-08-14 22:11:48

The 7 Best-Looking Family Cars And The 7 Ugliest Designs — Crédit: Dietmar Rabich/commons.wikimedia.org

It’s one thing to build a practical family vehicle, but it takes real vision to make it beautiful. These days, families want more than just safety features and cargo space. They want a car that stands out, feels refined, and makes everyday driving a little more exciting. Moreover, in a world full of smart tech and polished interiors, there’s no reason for their car to be an eyesore. While some automakers deliver stunning, well-balanced designs, others release vehicles that are oddly shaped and feel more like design experiments gone wrong. We’ve compiled several examples from both extremes: the seven family cars that absolutely nail the look and the seven that leave us scratching our heads. Let’s start with the seven best-looking rides.

Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride commands attention with a bold front fascia and striking LED lighting. A sculpted side profile adds premium appeal, while refined materials and a clean, modern dash decorate the cabin. Color and trim combinations complete the upscale, rugged vibe that makes this SUV a standout in any lineup.

Mazda CX-90

There’s a graceful power to the Mazda CX-90’s silhouette, shaped by the brand’s signature Kodo design. Its sleek front end—complete with narrow headlights and a crisp grille—feels athletic and refined. Additionally, chrome touches and a long hood improve the look, while its wheel choices maintain a well-grounded, luxurious stance.

Volvo V90 Cross Country

With its long, wagon-style body and raised ride height, the Volvo V90 Cross Country effortlessly blends class and capability. Signature Thor’s Hammer headlights give it a crisp Scandinavian edge. Around the back, the clean tailgate keeps things simple, letting the elegant shape speak for itself.

Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

The Palisade Calligraphy doesn’t just try to look upscale—it delivers. A bold, cascading grille and sleek LED lighting establish the presence, and chrome accents add polish to its strong profile. Blending family practicality with an unexpected level of refinement, its design feels confident from every angle.

Audi Q7

Audi's Q7 brings sophistication to the SUV segment with its sharp lines and angular grille, which command attention. LED matrix headlights give it a sleek, high-tech edge and subtle fender flares add just enough muscle. It’s all perfectly proportioned for a look that’s both modern and timeless.

Peugeot 5008

Sharp and futuristic, the Peugeot 5008 doesn’t blend into the crowd. Claw-style headlights and an angular front give it a real attitude, while the floating roof design adds a sense of motion. Moreover, its strong side lines and a sleek rear LED light bar pull the entire look into a cohesive, modern form.

Toyota Sienna XSE

The Toyota Sienna XSE rewrites the minivan playbook with sporty cues that work. A bold front bumper, mesh grille, and sleek side contours bring surprising energy to the shape. Plus, with a black roof, dark wheels, and clean horizontal taillights, this van looks more street-smart than a soccer mom. Now, let’s consider seven family cars with about the ugliest designs.

BMW X1 (2024)

BMW’s 2024 X1 struggles with proportions that just don’t add up. An oversized kidney grille overwhelms the front, and narrow headlights make the face feel off-balance. Also, flat side panels and a bulky rear give the entire vehicle a clunky, unfinished presence that falls short of the brand’s usual precision.

Honda Odyssey

Once a segment leader in style, the Honda Odyssey now looks oddly pieced together. Its angular rear quarter panel clashes with otherwise smooth lines. The disconnected front headlights and grille don’t help, either. Overall, the design feels bulky and dated next to more refined competitors.

Chevrolet Traverse

Chevrolet’s Traverse appears to have skipped the design phase. The car’s overly wide front lacks detail, the side panels feel flat and uninspired, and the generic grille leaves no strong impression. Even around the back, the bland taillights fail to deliver any sort of identity.

Subaru Ascent

The Subaru Ascent falls short with a shape that feels safer than stylish. This car’s rear leaves little to remember. The mismatched grille and headlight pairing only add to the confusion. Plus, its rounded front lacks definition, and the soft sculpting along the sides gives it a bloated appearance.

Nissan Pathfinder

Design-wise, the Nissan Pathfinder feels like it’s trying too hard but not quite succeeding. Competing curves and jagged edges create visual noise rather than cohesion. A thick, awkward C-pillar interrupts the flow, and the over-styled front grille does nothing to unify the look. It all feels unnecessarily busy.

Chrysler Pacifica

While practical inside, the Chrysler Pacifica’s exterior appears stuck in a design era that has long passed. The side profile stays safe to a fault, while the rear lights add nothing new. An overly rounded front fascia lacks sharpness, and the grille shape feels strangely out of step with modern aesthetics.

Toyota Highlander

The Highlander tries to look bold but ends up feeling unbalanced. The car’s proportions are off, with a high beltline and a rear that looks pinched. Its large, aggressive front grille overpowers the face. Finally, the awkwardly shaped tail lights emphasize the lack of harmony in the overall design.