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The fact that these cars were sold is even more surprising than the fact they were green-lit for production.

Over the course of the last 130-odd years, the automobile changed life as we know it on this blue and green ball floating through space. We went from relying on the horse for thousands of years to being able to move not only ourselves but also our belongings from one place to another in record time. The motorcar is one of the greatest technological achievements in human history – that is until someone sketched the SsangYong Rodius.

Some cars are spectacularly designed and built – the Pagani Huayra and De Tomaso P72 come to mind – and they invoke a sense of occasion and happiness within the psyche of the motoring enthusiast. Then there are cars that do the exact opposite – cars such as the Pontiac Aztek, Chrysler PT Cruiser, and the Fiat Multipla. How these vehicles managed to be approved by multiple professionals is beyond comprehension, but they were, and we now have to deal with them.

These automotive abominations are some of the ugliest and least attractive ways to get from one place to another, and yet, people actually bought them. Regardless of their performance or practicality, these ten used car models are some of the worst designs ever mass-produced, and they should never have left the drawing board.

The Chevrolet SSR was in production between 2003 and 2006. It was designed to look like a modern version of the 1951 Chevrolet Advance Design pickup, blending the old and the new to create a 2-door sporty pickup. The result was a sort of retro-inspired vehicle which was too rounded off and too cheaply made.

The engines included a 5.3-liter V8 which was later upgraded to a 6.0-liter – both of which were mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Probably the weirdest thing about the SSR was the fact that it had a folding hardtop roof, turning it from a weird-looking pickup into a weird-looking pickup without a roof.

The Fiat Multipla was named the ‘world’s ugliest car’ on many occasions since it was launched. While the practicality of the Multipla cannot be ignored, it’s the design that so quickly captures most of the attention. Interestingly, the Multipla’s interior and exterior designs were showcased in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City leading up to its launch.

Most of the Multipla’s design is fine – typical Fiat actually – but the part which makes it one of the ugliest cars in the world is the lip just before the windshield. Fiat got rid of it when they facelifted the model, but the damage was already done.

Related: Here's Why The Fiat Multipla Never Came To America

The Plymouth Prowler is not only an ugly car, but it was a letdown when it was launched in 1997. The concept car showed promise, blending old-school hot-rod styling with more modern technology. Unfortunately, the production version was anything but cool.

Instead of a big V8 like the concept car had, the production version was only ever sold with a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a lazy and dimwitted 4-speed automatic. These drivetrain options really put a damper on the modern hot-rod effect Chrysler was going for. Luckily, the engine bay is just big enough for a V8 – which is what many owners have done.

Another car designed with classic styling blended with more modern technology, the Chrysler PT Cruiser was a perfect example of what not to do. How the design was approved by multiple professionals and leaders of the motor industry is beyond us, but it was.

Amazingly, Chrysler produced 1.35 million PT Cruisers over the ten-year production period and the 1930s-inspired vehicle got a convertible version as well as a sporty model based on the Dodge Neon SRT-4. The PT Cruiser is definitely a design that should have stayed on the drawing board – possibly with some major alterations.

The Nissan Cube was an interesting car as there was nothing wrong with the first-generation model. The problem started with the second generation which was a re-imagining of the model and automotive design in general.

The main issue with the Cube was that it was lopsided, featuring a C-pillar only on one side of the rear, creating a continuous glass look around the corner. The model was also almost a perfect cube, making it look more like a modern art exhibition than a family hatchback. The third and final generation was little more than a facelift but kept the general design.

The Pontiac Aztek was sold between 2001 and 2005, with GM projecting a yearly sales quota of around 75,000. It sold a little over 29,000 in its first year of production – the best year of sales. The main issue with the Aztek was not because of its over-styled exterior, but because it was priced higher than its rivals and didn’t offer anything better.

The Aztek was specifically designed with ‘Generation X’ in mind, hence the ‘ultra-futuristic styling’. Interestingly, the man who designed the Aztek later went on to lead the team behind the Chevrolet Corvette C7 – a car that actually looks good. Funnily enough, Pontiac’s own tagline for the Aztek was ‘Quite possibly the most versatile vehicle on the planet’. Yeah, sure.

Oh boy, the SsangYong Rodius. Sold between 2004 and 2013, the first generation was designed to look like a luxury yacht for the road. As probably predicted, this did not work all that well. What did work well though, was the Mercedes-Benz underpinnings including the engines and automatic transmission.

The styling of the Rodius was not well received. Many simply called it ‘ugly’, while others went a step further in their disgust. The car was quickly named the ‘Odious Rodius’ by automotive journalists who also described the vehicle as looking like a ‘surprised hippopotamus’ and ugly enough to scare little children. And these were some nicer criticisms.

The REVA G-Wiz is possibly one of the most hated vehicles within motoring circles. It was on sale between 2001 and 2019 and wasn’t updated at all during this time. It was slow, unsafe, underpowered, ugly, and impractical. The only good thing about it was that due to the electric drivetrain, the G-Wiz was tax and congestion-charge exempt in most countries it was sold.

The vehicle was fitted with 6-8 lead-acid batteries situated under the seats, powering a 17-hp electric motor. The G-Wiz was capable of an astonishing 50 mph when the boost function was engaged, draining the batteries in record time. It normally only had around 50 miles of range before needing eight hours to fully charge.

Related: 5 Ugliest German Cars (And 5 British Design Flops)

The Nissan Juke is one of the most disliked cars of the last 12 years. Mechanically, it is a great car with good engines and fuel economy, but the styling is what puts most people off – Richard Hammond most famously. It looks like Nissan fed Botox to its Micra supermini, and it had an allergic reaction.

The front end is the most offensive with its bulging headlights out the top of the hood and the huge round main beams just sitting below the hood. It looks like a splattered bug on a windshield. Nissan massively improved the Juke’s styling with the second-generation, but then gave it underpowered engines.

Related: The Real Reason Why Everyone Dislikes The Nissan Juke

The Nissan Murano SUV wasn’t the prettiest of its segment but was good-looking enough not to warrant much criticism. This changed with the introduction of the second generation and the inclusion of the CrossCabriolet. Marketed as "the world’s first all-wheel drive crossover convertible," the CrossCabriolet only had two doors and because of the power folding roof, lost much of the revised trunk space.

The CrossCabriolet was only ever available in top-spec LE trim, meaning a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 powered all four wheels via Nissan’s iAWD system – which was front-wheel biased – through a CVT gearbox. Not only did the Murano CrossCabriolet look terrible, but it also drove even worse, thanks to the added weight of the roof mechanism and the terrible choice of gearbox.

Michael De Kock is passionate about cars and everything from avocados to particle accelerators. He has studied psychology and knows a little bit about fixing cars (old Land Rovers mostly). He also blogs and has a book, 125 Creative Writing Prompts for Petrolheads, available on Amazon. His philosophy in life: Stop the hate - Adopt a V8.