Is Hyundai making the best-looking vehicles for regular people? (Which can be trucks and SUVs and crossovers, etc. Anything outside the most expensive and/or mission-focused performance vehicles out there.) I think it might be Hyundai. Between the current lineup of H-cars and the premium Genesis models, I find the models that most frequently make me say, “that’s a great-looking car” are Hyundai products. But, to be fair, I do often confuse “most looking” with “great-looking.” As in, if it appears the designer designed their balls off (a phrase I like to think designers use), then I tend to like it. Case in point: the Ioniq 6 in the topshot. That car is designed.
Make no mistake, I appreciate cars with a less heavy-handed look as well. I think all of the Tesla models, with one huge stainless-steel exception, are good-looking cars. I wouldn’t call them minimalist, but they are unbusy and nicely proportioned, and look smoothly muscled to me. And also old, sadly. Ain’t broke, don’t fix, I suppose, but I’d love to see Tesla do something new – just not the new thing Tesla actually did. But if you like it, great!
What about the European brands? I have to say, I can’t even picture the latest from, say, Renault, Skoda, and Peugeot. But they may well be the prettiest!
You tell me.
Volvo. Still.
5 years ago it would have been Mazda as well but I don’t like the styling on the CX90, CX50, and new CX5 that much. The 3 sedan is still *chef’s kiss*.
Fords look quite nice if we ignore the Expedition. Can we ignore the Expedition?
Hyundai/Kia subscribe to the “throw shit at the wall, rapid fire, and see what sticks” ethos and I find their styling clumsy and hyperactive with a few successes sprinkled in. It’s ADHD on wheels.
Why do people care so much how cars look? Let form follow function. I wonder what a sedan or suv would be like if the focus were on safety, ergonomics, fuel economy, and performance. What would be the impact on cost. I would be happy with a checker cab form-factor with up to date everything.
hmmmm. one answer and one answer only.
Morgan.
For my tastes, it’s Hyundai subsidiary Kia. Provided you like the cyberpunk/Blade Runner ethos (which I do), there’s a fantastic variation-on-theme coherence across their lineup that even Hyundai doesn’t have, and – to my eyes – is executed much cleaner than Hyundai’s general overstyling.
My problem is this. You can make a great looking car. But if that great looking car is in turn a bad product I no longer see your car as looking as “good” anymore. That is the case for me with Hyundai/Kia. Sure- interesting looking, even thought provoking. But given that all three people I know who own or have owned these brands have and had major issues? Nope. Now to me they just look cheap.
Mazda for sure, the electric GM cars have grown on me as well as the small chevy SUVs
The Genesis sedans and Range Rover are the best right now imo
We’re on GM EV two. First was a Chevy Volt, the other an Equinox EV. NEITHER have had issues and the Volt went on well past 200,000 miles.
Genesis for certain.
Mazda too.
I’m also partial to SEATs and Skodas – they have clean styling and are more interesting than VWs.
Renault – particularly the Clio and Twingo.
I was going to say Volvo, but they don’t seem to build actual cars anymore.
Nio: ET7 and ET9
BTD: The Seal, Han, Denza Z9 GT and Yangwang U7 in particular.
For ultra-luxury: Bentley, despite the new headlamps.
Other than the Porsche 911 – the German “luxury” brands are selling garbage designs. I wouldn’t select a new Mercedes, BMW or Audi at all.
Polestar, Volvo, Mazda, Genesis are probably the most consistent. Hyundai and Kia have some good designs, but also some big misses at the same time. Most of the German makers have lost their way.
I still think the 2026 Chevrolet Trax LS without the roof rails is a great looking small wagon for $23K
2026 Trax LS
They do look pretty good. GM Korea seems to provide some really cool small vehicle options. And for cheap.
Its Buick stablemate has my eye – I love the sleek hint of sex appeal, almost like Buick is mindful of what it was like as a division back in the early postwar time.
Off the top of my head… Volvo. Mazda. Genesis.
Biased, because we just bought a ’26 4Runner, but I think Toyota actually has some pretty good designs going right now. Also, it’s helped because they actually have some good colors to go with the design. I think the 4Runner, RAV4, Crown Signia, [GR] Corolla hatchback all look like great regular cars.
Gotta agree with Hyundai. The Santa Fe is a great-looking vehicle, and the Ioniq series is crisply designed without being overly busy.
Kia also has some good-looking cars, particularly the K4, K5, and EV6. The Telluride is tough-looking without making it look like you’re compensating for something.
I guess the Koreans are having a moment. Good for them!
Also worth mentioning is Chrysler. Yes, they only have one vehicle, but that one vehicle is a very graceful minivan. Technically batting 1.000!
The Koreans let their designers have fun with every model, instead of forcing every car to conform to a bland brand language. So they’ve got that going for them.