Prius named one of the Fifty Ugliest Cars of the Past Fifty Years

[ericbecky]

Well, the Prius has again made another list.
This time as one of BusinessWeek's Fifty Ugliest Cars of the Past Fifty Years.
It states that the Prius "...has all the style of a soybean."

Interstingly, they identify the Prius as being introduced in 1997 and show a photo of a Gen II?

Here's the BusinessWeek blurb about the Prius: Fifty Ugliest Cars of the Past Fifty Years

[1SMUGLEX]

Those idiots forgot the fact its actually useful and its aerodynamic and people LIKE the shape. I found it maybe odd but not ugly.

[oxnardprof]

I guess they forgot to include the latest Honda Insight.

Also, there is a Mercedes Benz hatchback that looks quite similar to the Prius, at least from the rear.

I imagine some people like the look of soybeans.

[dogfriend]

Where did those wheels come from on the Prius?


When I first saw the 2nd gen Prius, I thought it was kinda ugly - after owning it almost 3 years I think it is a great looking car.

[Shawn Clark]

Eh, BusinessWeek. They aren't exactly the sharpest pencils in the box. It's not like they've done a particularly good job of covering things they are supposed to actually be knowledgeable about (same as the WSJ and other financial media.) This is just a political statement by the entrenched business conservatives. I would suggest the publication stick to what it knows...but I can't figure out what that would be.

There are several good functional designs that are not super ugly on that list. They even have the New Beetle in there. While I'm not a VW fan, I thought the car did a good job of modernizing a classic look.

The good news is that you can reportedly buy Business Week for $1. Not an individual magazine, the whole enterprise. The American Spectator : Out of Business Week

[RobH]

In Business Week's great wisdom the following cars are on the top 50 ugly list:

BMW 7 Series
Ferrari Enzo
Chevrolet El Camino
Bricklin SV1
DeLorean DMC-12
Plymouth Prowler
VW New Beetle
PT Cruiser

It would seem that any vehicle that makes a statement gets on the ugly list. Or if it's French, Italian, or any not-3-boxes design. Strangely missing from their list is Saab, while they complain about a Volvo.

It's hard to even identify a rationale for their picks. They don't like different, and they don't even like gussied up mainstream vehicles. I wonder if the author drives a Nash Rambler that he bought new?

[radioprius1]

Originally Posted by RobH

In Business Week's great wisdom the following cars are on the top 50 ugly list:

BMW 7 Series
Ferrari Enzo
Chevrolet El Camino
Bricklin SV1
DeLorean DMC-12
Plymouth Prowler
VW New Beetle
PT Cruiser

It would seem that any vehicle that makes a statement gets on the ugly list. Or if it's French, Italian, or any not-3-boxes design. Strangely missing from their list is Saab, while they complain about a Volvo.

It's hard to even identify a rationale for their picks. They don't like different, and they don't even like gussied up mainstream vehicles. I wonder if the author drives a Nash Rambler that he bought new?

I agree 100% with you. I couldn't believe they had the Ferrari in there, or the Escalade, or any of the cars you listed. Just a stupid, stupid article by a lame author.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Originally Posted by ericbecky

Well, the Prius has again made another list.
This time as one of BusinessWeek's Fifty Ugliest Cars of the Past Fifty Years.

Thanks to NewsWeek, everyone who is waiting for a Prius just saw their wait time drop. Everyone else can wait for the Volt.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by dogfriend

Where did those wheels come from on the Prius?


When I first saw the 2nd gen Prius, I thought it was kinda ugly - after owning it almost 3 years I think it is a great looking car.

I had exactly the same reaction.

Tom

[yadax3]

The first time I saw a Gen II Prius I loved it, even before I knew it was a hybrid and a Toyota. I still like the pointed front end on the Gen II better than the front end on the Gen III. To each his own I guess.