10 Best Looking Recent Cars from Mainstream Brands
By Nicholas W.
Cars these days look so similar. The shapes are all the same, and the colors are mostly greyscale or a dark color. More than that, they also look a bit boring, with the lack of headlight or taillight styling that makes differentiating between models a bit of a chore to some. It's no wonder car enthusiasts often complain about the looks of new cars, either they aren't daring enough, or they have to face increasing emissions, or the ones that are daring are too daring, and subsequently look ugly. However, not all recently-made cars are ugly, over-styled, and hindered by emissions standards by people that still decide to exempt the largest pickup trucks and vans on the market. Some, still, look good. Some look, quite good, in fact, and they don't all come from niche sports car makers, either. Many, and in this case all of the cars on this list come from everyday, extremely popular brands. Here are the best looking vehicles made after 2010, from 10 of the most popular brands in the United States.
Before We Begin
Due to the fact that this is based on brand popularity, I will be basing brand popularity on 2020 sales data. The 2020 sales data used here comes from Statista, where they made an article showing the most popular vehicle brands by-sales in the U.S. as of 2020. The brands used here will be brands that have sold both cars and SUVs in the past years, so brands with only SUVs like Jeep won't be used here, despite their popularity, only because there will be more room to choose models from. And brands in the popularity-by-sales list that won't be used include Jeep, RAM, and GMC. And although it was mentioned in various places already, it should be made very here the criteria for the list: it's brands that make cars and SUVs, that are most popular on this list, outside of the Jeep, RAM, and GMC, there will be one car per brand, and the cars must be from 2010 and later.
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| Leading car brands in the United States in 2020, based on vehicle sales, Statista, 2021 |
1. Ford- Focus ST- 2012/2013
Image Credit: Automotive Addicts, https://www.automotiveaddicts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-ford-focus-st-2.jpg
Kicking off this list is the Focus ST, which I like because of the simple ways that style was emphasized. One example of this is how the fuel door on all the Focus hatchbacks from this generation, and thus the ST, was integrated into the curvature of the right brake light. I like this because doing that meant the fuel door didn't have to be stuck on like an afterthought, like in other Ford models and the vast majority of other cars, and it doesn't have to mess with the lines of whatever car is there. The wheels are are at the border of "a bit much," but it's certainly distinctive, and unique to the ST, and I like how it splits at the ends, like in a Kia Stinger GT. As for other styling cues that I like over other models, there's the wing in the back, which is more restrained compared to wings on other products, like the upper trims of the Mustang, and even the GT. There's also the twin center pipes at the back. What does look better is the new generation Focus Hatchback, but it's not sold here in the States. This spot could also arguably probably be taken by the 2014 Super Snake Mustang, as the Focus is a bit bland by comparison. However, the Focus ST just looks more subtle, and being a performance car, the subtlety adds to the style factor. In the end, then, This car was simple and inoffensive, but made simple and inoffensive look as great as possible, and for that, the ST definitely puts both the "best looking" and the "mainstream" in "Best Looking Cars from Mainstream Brands."
2. Toyota- Tacoma TRD PRO, 2020
Image Credit: Motor Trend, https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2019/07/2020-Toyota-Tacoma-TRD-Pro-23-1.jpg
The new Tacoma TRD Pro looks nice, but I love Pro upgrades over regular Tacos, like the black/dark gray wheel arches, the TRD skid plate on the bottom, the TRD badges, the optional snorkel, the black wheels, and the rest of the off road-kit, as I think it looks really cool. I like these things because it makes the Tacoma a really good example of how pickup trucks and off-road vehicles can look awesome, and have presence. To compare the looks to other Toyota products, the new Supra is maybe more classically beautiful, but the Taco's go-anywhere appearance make this look way cooler and way better overall than even the two-seat coupe sports car in the lineup. To compare it to another good-looking Toyota, the new Avalon looks good, especially in Opulent Amber, but the front grill is a bit too big, and angular to be really good looking. Also, back to the Tacoma, something else that helps this car's looks are the color options, like Army Green and the greyscale colors, but also the Cavalry and Voodoo blues. I also appreciate that the Tacoma isn't too big, like the Tundra. All this being said, the Tacoma surpasses the other new Toyotas in the styling department.
3. Chevrolet- Camaro Z28, 2014/2015
Image Credit: Drivetribe, https://drivetribe.imgix.net/O6ZtvXPDSaS4_FojgdpKLA
This Chevrolet spot on this list was previously taken by the C6 Corvette ZR-1, which I love, but then I saw a picture of one of these, and I knew the Corvette wouldn't hold that spot on my list much longer. The Camaro Z28 from this generation, specifically from 2014 and 2015, looks fantastic, and here's why: The Black accents like the subtle spoiler, the side skirts, with the black wheels, and the quad pipes that aren't too big, but not too-small, all look great. The flared fenders, the rear diffuser, and the vents on the front part of the rear fender, look nice too, also give a sporty, purpose-built looks, without having to look angry and excessive, like for example the new Camaro ZL1. For context on the specific year choices, the early fifth gen Camaro models had the different front and back ends. The early ones looked fine, but then the front end got changed to what's on the later years of the Camaro, but kept the back lights of the early ones for a couple years. Then, the back end got changed separately, and at a different time than the front for some reason, and that in-between period of Camaro design didn't look very good to me, as the front end and the back end seemed out of place with each other. The convertible 5th-gen Camaros aren't the best looking, either, as the Camaro's lines flow better with a top than without, but post-facelift, the fifth gen Camaro Coupe models are the best looking Chevys and Camaros ever, and the Z28 is the best example of this.
4. Honda- Accord Sport, 2014/2015
Image Credit: Motor Trend, https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2014/08/2014-honda-accord-sport-three-quarters-view-162.jpg?fit=around%7C875:492
No, this spot won't be taken by the new NSX. No, this spot won't be taken by a Civic, and especially not the new U.S. market Type R. In short, only other Honda product that was considered for this was the Ridgeline Trailsport, but the Accord from 2014-2015 just looks so good. All the color options are great on this car, and they include Basque Red, Alabaster Silver, Obsidian Blue, Crystal Black, and a couple more good ones, too. The colors are great because they're not too over-the top, with crazy neons like Green Fury, or overly bold colors like Tonic and Phoenix Yellow. Instead, they're restrained, like the car is. I say the car is restrained because of the lack of extremely pointy lines on this car, like what can be found on the current NSX, which I find looks a bit strange, albeit from the front. Other restrained style elements on the Accord include the lack of vents or aggressive grills, like you can see here. Also related to the restrained styling is the fact that this is the sporty model in the Accord range, but it doesn't say that it's the sporty model everywhere with a bunch of badges, like the Hummer H2 did with it's "Hummer" and "H2" badges. The "commonplace-ness" of the Accord may have an effect on this claim in future years, but for now, I still find it stylish, more than the others.
5. Nissan- GT-R Midnight Opal Edition, 2014
Image Credit: Victory Motors of Colorado, https://cdn.dealrimages.com/UC%2FGU%2F2T%2F2IQ5QAWTBI355Q.jpg?h=500
The R35 Nissan GTR has been on sale sale since 2009 in the U.S., and there was a major facelift in 2017. The face-lifted GTRs didn't look the best, as I found the grill especially to be more fussy and trying than earlier ones. The R35 had good, simple colors, too like Solid Red, Obsidian Black, and Gun Metallic. However, in 2014, Nissan made a follow-up to the Midnight Purple GTRs of past, and for the R35, the color was called it the Midnight Opal Edition. The purple color on this GTR is fantastic, and it looks great, more special and iconic than the other colors. The runner up for this spot was the early Z34 Z but the iconic comeback of the Midnight color in the R35 keeps this at the top of the list for best looking recent Nissan, not that other models like the Juke make that title very hard to achieve.
6. Hyundai- Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track, 2013
Image Credit: Motor Trend, https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2012/02/2013-Hyundai-Genesis-Coupe-left-side-front-three-quarter-on-track.jpg
The Coupe iteration of the Hyundai Genesis looks really good, hence why it's on the list. The Track trim over the base trims came with exterior upgrades, like the wing on the back, which I like over trims without the wing. The wheels in this trim weren't unique to the Track, but the wheels do look upscale, seen better when the car's not moving. Other visual benefits of the car's exterior include how the grill is larger, compared to it being too small, like I think it is on other trims, like on this example, recently auctioned on Cars & Bids. I like the hood as well, with the indentations on it, I think it's a nice step over the other trims that just have a flat piece of metal there, like that one sold on C&B mentioned above. Also, I like the sizing of this car, as it isn't too big, like even the Genesis sedan. In addition to that, the Genesis Coupe isn't too, "stylized," as in it doesn't need a bunch of gouges and lines, and pointy edges that end up looking like it's trying too hard to get a distinctive look across, like the new Tucson for example. All being considered, it's not hard to agree that the Genesis Coupe Track is the best looking of the modern Hyundais.
7. Subaru- Forester XT, 2014/2015
Image Credit: Autoblog, http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/lead5-2014-subaru-forester-xt-review.jpg
The Subaru Forester has looked generally pleasant in all it's generations, but the Fourth Generation, from 2014-2018, outdoes the others, and the other Subarus. Unfortunately, the Fourth gen starts to lose the boxy styling from the earlier ones, and especially the earliest two generations. However, there are many things that make up for the non-boxiness of this Forester. The first of those is the taillights. I like how the taillights on the Fourth gen don't stop at the sides of the back, all abruptly, like the Third Gen, as I thought it looked a bit incomplete. Also, I'm a huge fan of dual exhausts on cars, and I'm happy to say that this Forester has them as well! Other exterior upgrades with the XT trim include the rear spoiler, which I also love. One last thing before I move on to Kia: Can I acknowledge how good this car looks in a natural, off-roady environment? It looks at home, almost even better than it does on the roads. Having said that, let's move on from the Fourth-gen Forester, my choice for the best-looking modern Subaru.
8. Kia- Stinger GT2
Image Credit: Reddit, https://i.redd.it/00iruxqixwx31.jpg
Look: The Stinger GT looks great. I'm not the biggest fan of the chrome grills, the ones with black/dark gray grills look better, but everything else, even the oddly-placed red reflector on the back, looks pretty good on this car. YouTuber Doug DeMuro owned one of these throughout most of 2020, and claimed he didn't like the look of the wheels, and they're certainly a little overelaborate, and very similar to the mentioned-earlier Focus ST. However, I like the distinctiveness of the wheel design, since this also is unique to the GT, and the red brake calipers look good as well. As for the kidney grill, I like that it isn't too big, or frankly, weird looking, like it is in the Kia Seltos SUV. I like how the fenders are flared out, in comparison to the base Stinger, as well as the black (or carbon) mirror caps on the sides, as opposed to the body-color ones in the base trim. I also like the general design, with the fastback shape, I think it complements larger midsize sedans like the VW Arteon (see below), the Audi A5 Sportback, and, of course, the Stinger. I also like the rear of the car, I like the taillights because they aren't too pointy, like the new Kia Sportage, and even the Seltos as well.
9. Mercedes-Benz- SLS AMG GT
Image Credit: Supercars.net, https://www.supercars.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2013_MercedesBenz_SLSAMGGT-5-1536.jpg
Does the picture not say all that needs to be said? The not-over-the-top wing, the long hood, the mostly-clear headlights. What about the fins around the vent in front, indicative of the old Mercedes 300SL? Or the lack of excessive gouges and lines, or aero kits and giant spoilers? This car is restrained, but makes its presence known. It looks extravagant, but not extra. The SLS didn't rely on extra functionless style bits, or Green Hell Magno bright green paint, or fake engine sounds, or a whole bunch of fake vents everywhere to make it look good. The vent on each side in the front of this car is real, and functional, which shows that form wasn't the only thing that was intended with the design. Also, the gull-wing doors on the coupe models look excellent. All in all, there was no other Mercedes-Benz product ever made, let alone made after 2010, that looks better than the SLS AMG GT Coupe, the best looking modern Benz.
10. Volkswagen- Arteon R-Line
Image Credit: Motor Trend, https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2019/05/2019-Volkswagen-Arteon.jpg?fit=around%7C875:492
Volkswagen is probably the only brand in this whole list that has a whole lineup of "pretty decent looking" to "very good looking" cars. The ID.4 looks good. The new Golf range looks good. The new Jetta and Passat look upscale, and the line of SUVS look nice as well. The Arteon, though, is at the top of the spectrum of VW looks. The Kurkuma Yellow color, amongst others, paired with things like the fastback body-style contribute to the generally upscale look of the car. The front end may be a bit controversial, with the large grill that's sort of cut at the sides at the top by the headlights, but I like it, I think it looks just the right amount of aggressive. Also great is the back end, which looks nice on its own, with the simple taillights. What's more is that the R-Line adds a small black lip spoiler, although not much else, just optional wheels. Also, I quite like the curves on the side of the hood, although they're really not all that impactful to the looks, and easy to miss. Anyways, Arteon looks great, the pretty-much only exterior upgrade for the R-Line adds some style. To put a cap on the list, then, the Arteon is one of many good-looking modern VW products, and is certainly probably the best looking of the bunch.
So, there you have it. The brands may be commonplace, or mainstream, but they still know how to make a car so good looking that it gives you what James May would call "the fizz." It's too bad that simple yet elegant designs are slowly becoming a thing of the past in most of today's cars.
Image Credit For First Image: Motor Junkie, https://cdn.motor-junkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/suv-look-the-same-1200x625-1.jpg
About The Author
Nicholas W. is a young emerging journalist from the United States. He currently owns a Chevy C6 Corvette Grand Sport, although it's a 1:16 scale. At this time of publishing, he isn't old enough to legally drive on public roads. Not that that matters.
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