6 Minutes
End of year design roundup: the cars that divided opinion
As 2025 winds down, much of the automotive conversation centers on progress: electrification, new platforms, and improved safety. But car design still sparks emotion, and not always positive. This year brought production models that left enthusiasts and casual observers scratching their heads. Below I highlight several new cars that, for one reason or another, became the targets of design criticism — from regional oddities to global statement pieces.
What counts as "ugly" in a car?
Beauty is subjective, but for this roundup I considered three practical factors: visual coherence (does the exterior form make sense?), proportion and detail execution (are elements balanced or awkward?), and interior ergonomics and aesthetics (does the cabin complement the exterior or compound the visual misstep?). I also took into account market positioning: some designs try to be polarizing on purpose, while others feel like missed opportunities from established brands.
Shortlist highlights: regional flops and global missteps
One theme of 2025 is that not all controversial designs aim for global distribution. A few models below are sold only in specific markets, which is reassuring to consumers in other regions — or at least it reduces the frequency of what many consider an eyesore on the road.
- Kia Tasman: an awkward pickup for select markets
- Hyundai Venue (second generation): unconventional proportions on the K1 platform
- BMW iX3 (previewed 2025, slated for production 2026): Neue Klasse design sparks debate
Kia Tasman: a pickup that misses the mark
The Kia Tasman is perhaps the most surprising entry on this list because it is a high-profile vehicle for the brand in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Korea, and parts of the Middle East. It was one of 2025's more criticized production launches for several reasons:
- Styling cues feel muddled: heavy, unrelated surfaces combine to create a boxy, ungainly silhouette.
- Proportions and trim choices lack cohesion, making the truck look less refined than comparable rivals.
Market context: Kia designed the Tasman to serve pragmatic needs — bed capacity, local durability, and competitive pricing — but form seems to have taken a back seat. For buyers in its target regions, the Tasman may be perfectly serviceable, yet from an exterior design perspective it rarely wins fans.
Hyundai Venue (second generation): small crossover, big reactions
Launched from Hyundai's Talegaon factory in India, the second-gen Venue rides on the K1 platform, shared with models such as the Syros, Casper, Exter, and Grand i10 Sedan. Platform sharing can be efficient, but when it produces unusual styling that works only up close or in photos, critics weigh in.
Why it divides opinion:
- Compact proportions and a high beltline give it a top-heavy feel.
- Graphic treatment and lighting signatures are busy relative to the body size.
The Venue is aimed at urban buyers who prioritize affordability and features, not avant-garde design. Still, its looks make it an easy pick for critics compiling the ugliest lists of the year.
BMW iX3 and Neue Klasse: a stylistic turning point
Arguably the most consequential entry is BMW's iX3. Although production is scheduled to start in Debrecen, Hungary, in 2026, the 2025 unveiling revealed a radical new design language: Neue Klasse. This is not a minor facelift. Neue Klasse is the company's stylistic direction for upcoming BEVs and ICE models alike.
Why the reaction is strong:
- Exterior: proportions and surface treatment deviate from classic BMW cues, prompting accusations that the brand is losing its identity.
- Interior: a sweeping display pushed low on the windshield and a strangely proportioned infotainment screen create a minimal but polarizing cabin.
- Controls: an unconventional four-spoke steering wheel and sparse physical buttons split opinion between futuristic and impractical.
Design leadership: the iX3 bears the signature of Adrian van Hooydonk, whose previous work includes several BMW staples. That pedigree makes reactions more personal: when a designer with an established legacy adopts a controversial direction, critics pay attention.
Context matters: trends, platforms, and market strategy
Several broader trends help explain why certain 2025 cars drew ire. First, faster product cycles and platform consolidation push brands to reuse hardware and feel the need to differentiate with bold styling. Second, electrification gives designers freedom to reimagine proportions, sometimes leading to experiments that do not land with traditionalists.
Considerations for consumers:
- Regional availability: some criticized designs will never be common in your market, reducing their impact on resale and daily aesthetics.
- Positioning: value-focused models often sacrifice sculpted design for cost-effective manufacturing.
- Future relevance: controversial designs may be experimental gestures that refine into more successful iterations later.
Final thoughts and invitation
This roundup reflects one writer's view, backed by an eye for proportion and an understanding of market positioning. It is subjective by nature, and that is the point: automotive design is about taste as much as technology.
Highlights:
- BMW iX3: the most consequential and widely debated design debut of the season.
- Kia Tasman: a polarizing pickup confined to regional markets.
- Hyundai Venue: a subcompact crossover whose proportions split opinions.
What would you add? I encourage readers to discuss the cars that annoyed or delighted them in 2025. Share your picks, and tell us whether design boldness should be rewarded or held accountable to classic proportion and coherence.
Source: autoevolution
Comments
mechbyte
Is Neue Klasse really BMW losing its soul or are people just allergic to change? Also curious how these odd designs affect resale, anyone seen numbers yet
v8rider
wow the BMW iX3... can't believe they went that radical, looks like a concept gone wrong. Tasman is boxy and honest, Venue just tries too hard. Taste is subjective but yikes, some choices missed
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