Best & Worst Looking New Cars of 2024: Expert Rankings

The Emotional Truth About Car Design

Car buying isn't just about practicality - aesthetics matter deeply. At Edmunds, we rigorously test vehicles for performance and functionality but rarely discuss styling. Why now? Because design sparks passion and debate like few other automotive elements. After analyzing our team's blind ratings of every new or redesigned 2024 model, clear winners and losers emerged. We discovered the Kia EV9 shattered expectations while the Tesla Cybertruck polarized like no other vehicle. These rankings reflect collective expert judgment from professionals who evaluate hundreds of vehicles annually. Whether you're shopping for head-turning beauty or avoiding visual offenses, our data-driven analysis provides trustworthy guidance.

Top 5 Best-Looking Vehicles of 2024

Land Cruiser's Heritage Revival

Scoring 3.7/5, Toyota's Land Cruiser revival impressed with its classic two-box silhouette. Our team noted its intentional downsizing echoes the beloved FJ Cruiser while maintaining commanding road presence. The base 1958 trim earns particular praise for retro round headlights that honor heritage. Design analysis confirms Toyota avoided mere nostalgia - the squared-off wheel arches and horizontal grille bars create a modern interpretation of off-road authenticity. Pro tip: Avoid the standard model's incongruous square headlights that disrupt the cohesive aesthetic.

Lexus GX: Premium Off-Road Presence

Edging out its Toyota cousin at 3.71/5, the Lexus GX succeeds through purposeful styling. As Senior Writer Brian Wong observed: "Its boxy, upright styling matches rugged capability while standing apart from Lexus's other SUVs." Our design assessment confirms the GX avoids current Lexus styling missteps. The restrained spindle grille evolution, three-dimensional lighting elements, and flush-mounted door handles create sophistication without sacrificing toughness. This exemplifies how premium brands can balance tradition and innovation.

Maserati GranTurismo's Sculpted Elegance

Defying criticism, Maserati's 3.8/5-rated GranTurismo delivers Italian artistry. The signature long hood, pronounced rear haunches, and minimalist character lines create timeless sportscar proportions. Unlike some competitors chasing aggressive angles, Maserati understands tension through subtlety. The rear three-quarter view particularly showcases this achievement - the tapered glasshouse flows into muscular fenders without visual clutter. This is coachbuilding philosophy adapted for electrification.

Mercedes-AMG GT's Proportional Mastery

Scoring 3.9/5, Mercedes' design chief Gordon Wagener calls this "peak automotive design" - and our experts agree. The critical achievement lies in maintaining classic GT proportions despite significant engineering changes. The extended hood accommodates new powertrains while the cab-rearward stance preserves dynamic visual balance. Controversially, some staff prefer pre-Panamericana grille models, but the consensus acknowledges this as a benchmark for modern grand touring aesthetics.

Kia EV9: Revolutionary Family SUV Design

The only vehicle breaking 4.0/5 (4.1 average), Kia's EV9 redefines three-row SUV aesthetics. As Vehicle Testing Manager Jonathan Elfalan noted: "It's distinctly Kia while being genuinely handsome." Our design teardown reveals three revolutionary elements:

• Cohesive futurism: Flush door handles, geometric lighting signatures, and sharp D-pillar create harmony
• Color versatility: Unlike many EVs, its surfaces interact dynamically with light in any hue
• Proportion innovation: The cab-forward design maximizes interior space without minivan awkwardness

Despite Shannon Lane's "Chevron car" critique, the consensus celebrates its bold departure from bland SUV conformity. This landmark design proves family vehicles needn't sacrifice visual daring for practicality.

5 Worst-Design Offenders of 2024

Chevrolet Silverado EV: Identity Crisis

Rated just 2.3/5, Chevy's electric pickup suffers from conflicting design languages. Our experts identified three key failures:

1. The Avalanche-inspired C-pillar clashes with contemporary front-end styling
2. Excessive curvature undermines truck masculinity
3. Grille deletion creates a "faceless" appearance
   Unlike Rivian's cohesive execution or Hummer's purposeful retro-futurism, this feels like committee-designed compromise. The visual confusion extends to details like mismatched lighting signatures that suggest unresolved design intent.

BMW 5 Series/i5: Lost Elegance

Scoring 2.2/5, BMW's critical sedan disappoints experts like Ryan Greger: "It makes a pig-nosed mockery of what a 5 Series should be." Our analysis pinpoints specific regressions:

• The steeply sloped hood creates front-wheel-drive visual proportions
• Overly complex surface sculpting generates shadow chaos
• Incoherent lighting elements lack brand continuity
  This represents a concerning departure from BMW's "Hofmeister kink" design principles that balanced athleticism and sophistication for decades.

Lexus TX: Premium Blandness

Tying the 5 Series at 2.2/5, Lexus's new SUV commits the sin of forgettability. The front fascia's oversized spindle grille collides with generic rear styling, while the profile mirrors the cheaper Toyota Grand Highlander. Most damning? Our experts struggled to recall its appearance hours after viewing. In luxury segments where design differentiation justifies premium pricing, this anonymity is fatal. The squinting headlights and disjointed character lines suggest rushed adaptation rather than considered creation.

BMW X2: Aggressive Overcompensation

With a dismal 1.8/5 average, the redesigned X2 exemplifies "over-design." Editors noted three critical missteps:

• The oversized kidney grille appears grafted from larger models
• Angry-eye headlights clash with the coupe-like silhouette
• Rear styling borrows unsuccessfully from Jaguar's I-Pace
  Where the previous model balanced sport and sophistication, this iteration prioritizes shock value over coherence. The visual tension between its compact dimensions and oversized elements creates uncomfortable dissonance.

Tesla Cybertruck: Polarizing Brutalism

The undisputed design villain at 1.3/5, Tesla's polygon provoked extreme reactions. 19 of 24 experts rated it "1" for these reasons:

• Function follows failure: Sharp angles create carwash incompatibility and bed access issues
• Material contradiction: Stainless steel shows every fingerprint while complicating repairs
• Contextual absurdity: Industrial aesthetics clash with suburban environments
  As Testing Manager Duncan Brady conceded: "Yes, it's ugly as sin, but successful as attention-grabbing novelty." This highlights the divide between viral notoriety and genuine design merit.

Design Principles for Smart Buyers

Why Professional Opinions Matter

Automotive designers spend thousands of hours perfecting proportions, but real-world evaluation reveals what works beyond studio lighting. Our methodology matters because:

• Collective expertise > individual bias
• Live interaction reveals material interactions
• Comparative context highlights relative success
  As Alistar Weaver noted about the EV9: "The mark of good design is working across color palettes." This underscores how experts assess versatility amateurs might miss.

Avoiding Design Regret: 3 Action Steps

1. Prioritize coherence: Does front/rear/side share design language? (Lexus TX fails this)
2. Consider longevity: Will angular trends feel dated in 5 years? (BMW X2 is vulnerable)
3. Evaluate function: Do aesthetics enhance or hinder usability? (Cybertruck's sharp edges create problems)

Recommended resources:

• The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman (understanding user-centered design)
• Automotive Design Pinterest boards (track evolving trends)
• Local cars & coffee events (see designs in natural light)

Beauty in the Eye of the Expert Beholder

Car design remains intensely subjective, but patterns emerge when professionals evaluate holistically. The Kia EV9's 4.1/5 score proves innovation resonates when executed cohesively, while the Cybertruck's 1.3 demonstrates that novelty alone can't compensate for visual chaos. Ultimately, these rankings provide valuable perspective beyond marketing hype.

Which controversial design do you passionately defend? Share your unpopular opinion below - we'll feature the most compelling arguments in future analysis.