The 1990s was a time of great music, iconic fashion, and some truly unforgettable cars. But not all memories are good ones, especially when it comes to the automotive screwups of the decade. The ’90s had its fair share of cars that might make you wonder, “What were they thinking?”
We’re taking a look at some of the most questionable car designs that rolled off the production lines in the ’90s. Get ready, because this ride is about to be as bumpy as the upholstery on a 1995 Lancia Ypsilon!
1996 Saturn SW
Ever wonder what happens when a corporate giant tries to innovate from within but cuts corners? Let me paint the picture with the 1996 Saturn SW. Initially part of GM’s big plan, Saturn was supposed to be a game-changer.
Fast forward a few years, and with $5 billion invested, the magic was fading. By the mid-90s, with Saturn models aging and the brand’s logic fading, GM opted for a budget facelift rather than a full overhaul. The result? The SW wagon inherited doors from the sedan, making it look like a project slapped together during a budget crunch.
It’s no surprise that sales weren’t just unimpressive—they pretty much plummeted post-redesign.
1996 Suzuki X-90
Suzuki had a good run with the Sidekick, then rolled the dice on the X-90, aiming for cute but landing on catastrophe. If you ever spot one, take a lap around it. You’ll see it manages the rare feat of looking awkward from every conceivable angle. Critics likened it to a Barbie car, prompting a swift denial from Barbie’s camp—yep, it’s that unattractive.
But the looks weren’t even its biggest letdown. With no back seat, negligible trunk space, and zero off-road capability, the X-90 was practically useless.
1995 Lancia Ypsilon
Imagine a car that tried to check off every ‘no’ on the design list, and you’ve got the 1995 Lancia Ypsilon. If the designer had just given it that pinched, chinless face, that would’ve been enough, right?
But no, there’s more—the oddly sloping beltline that just feels off. And those lines, highlighted with black plastic, could’ve been the end of it. Then throw in the cheese-wedge taillights under an oversized tailgate, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the least appealing Lancias ever made.
Each design choice alone might have been bearable, but together, they scream a resounding “oy vey.”
1996 Ford Taurus
The original Taurus set benchmarks with its sleek, futuristic design. So, what did Ford do for an encore? They rounded everything. Round headlights, round grille, round roof, round rear window—like a car designed with a compass.
Revealed at the 1995 Detroit Auto Show, this Taurus likely had folks wondering if they’d accidentally walked into a geometry class. If the goal was to revolutionize, it certainly did—just not in the way they hoped. Let’s just say it might have left quite a few people feeling a bit queasy.
1995 Buick Riviera
When you hear “Buick Riviera,” you might expect something luxurious, right? Well, the 1995 model could leave you scratching your head.
It had its moments, like the sleek lines on the C-pillar and trunk, which could almost be called graceful from the right angle. But then there’s the front end, inspired by—of all things—a Beluga whale. Not exactly what you’d expect on a luxury coupe.
Inside, it didn’t get much better with an interior that screamed budget cuts more than elegance. Powered only by a V-6 in a world where V-8s signified luxury, this Riviera sadly cemented Buick’s reputation as a brand not quite ready to shed its old-fashioned image.
1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
This car took a nameplate, known for its flair and style, and turned it into something… well, completely forgettable. It’s like the design team got the memo to “Restyle the Monte Carlo” and read it as “Remove all style from the Monte Carlo.”
By repurposing the already uninspiring Lumina into a two-door Monte Carlo, GM essentially stripped away any semblance of the uniqueness that once defined it. The result? A car that promised nothing more than to blend into the background, fulfilling the prophecy of its bland, boring redesign to a T.
1994 Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang was a car famous for its sharp, aggressive lines. So imagine how bummed people were when the ’94 model came out sporting a look that’s about as intimidating as a bowl of pudding. Ford seemed to know they’d missed the mark too, running ads that compared this model to the ’64 classic, but all that did was remind everyone how far off the mark they were.
The only throwback feature? An ancient live rear axle. It took a decade of enduring this design error before the glorious revival with the 2005 Mustang, which finally brought back some of that original spirit.
1994 Ford Scorpio
The 1994 Ford Scorpio was a car that managed to turn heads for all the wrong reasons. With its bulging-eye headlights and a taillight that looked like it slid off the trunk, the Scorpio was a sight for sore eyes.
Inside, you’d find an ocean of fake wood trim—enough to make you think they were chopping down plastic trees. The design flopped so hard that Ford still keeps the designer’s name under wraps.
After five years of losing ground to the Opel Omega (which Americans knew as the Cadillac Catera), Ford not only pulled the plug on the Scorpio but also bowed out of the executive car class altogether.
1992 Subaru SVX
When you think sports car, you picture sleek lines and manual shifting, right? Well, meet the Subaru SVX, a car that seemed to miss the memo on what makes a sports car… sporty.
From the front, it looks okay, but as you move along to the doors and onto the quarter panels, things get increasingly bizarre. The design features like the weird crease and the clumsily done C-pillar make you wonder if someone was experimenting with design software for the first time. And that bumper seam looks like they forgot where to hide it. T
The real kicker is that even with its hefty price tag, Subaru managed to lose money on every SVX sold.
1994 Ferrari F512 M
Ever looked at something and wondered, “What were they thinking?” That’s the 1994 Ferrari F512 M for you. This car makes you question if someone saw the classic Ferrari Testarossa and decided it wasn’t quite eye-catching enough—in the worst way possible.
The F512 M took a design icon and gave it a makeover nobody asked for. With changes that led to more cringes than cheers, it’s hard not to ponder what fate awaits the designer who took too many liberties with this one.
1991 Chevrolet Caprice
Chevy’s idea was to reinvent the Caprice, but it seems like their method involved pumping the old model full of air. The result? A car that not only resembled the Goodyear Blimp but handled like it too.
This Caprice kept all the old 1970s mechanics, appealing mainly to a clientele of old timers and police fleets. And let’s just say, there’s a reason cops preferred these to the Crown Vics—it’s easier to catch a criminal when they’re bent over laughing at your ride.
1992 Renault Twingo
With the 1992 Renault Twingo, the designer aimed for a happy front that smiles back at you, but it turned out more like it saw its own reflection and couldn’t believe its eyes. Inside, the Twingo didn’t quit with the quirks—the instrument panel sat smack in the middle of the dashboard, supposedly to save costs for varying drive orientations.
Funny thing is, they didn’t even sell it in markets that needed the alternate setup. So, what was the point?
And the seats? They were wrapped in what you’d probably pick for a toddler’s gift, not a car’s interior. Plus, with an antenna awkwardly sticking out of the driver’s side mirror, it’s like they designed it just to dare you to snap it off on a bad day.
1990 Chevrolet Lumina
You know when you’re deep into a project and you realize you’ve forgotten something big? That’s pretty much the story behind the Chevrolet Lumina. While its GM siblings—the Olds Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Buick Regal—each had a distinct vibe (futuristic, sporty, and, well, regal), the Lumina ended up looking like the odd one out.
Picture this: the designers, high on their success, suddenly remember they’ve got another car to design. And just like that, you got the Lumina—a car as memorable as a napkin doodle.
1990 Chrysler Imperial
The Chrysler Imperial kind of looks like it was designed for your grandpa’s grandpa. This car tried so hard to mimic the Cadillac DeVille’s look that it ended up feeling like a bad cover band. It wasn’t just the dated style or the hidden headlights that missed the mark. It had a giant seam where the car was stretched to mimic luxury but ended up looking more like a mid-life crisis.
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