Most of the time, when car enthusiasts talk about beautiful cars, their minds immediately go to sports cars, luxury cars, and even supercars. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably told yourself that it sounds silly to label commuter cars and economy cars as beautiful, or even good-looking, for that matter.
While I still can’t bring myself to do that even today, I can say with certainty that we’ve seen some fantastic-looking economy cars and commuter cars over the past few decades. The ’90s were just one of many highlights.
Smart Fortwo
The Smart project grew out of a Swatch-led city-car idea that became a joint venture with Daimler-Benz; in 1994, Daimler-Benz and Swatch founded Micro Compact Car (MCC) to develop the small two-seat city car. The Smart Fortwo, originally the Smart City Coupe, launched in 1998 and became pretty popular in Europe.
An absolute masterclass of design, the original Fortwo was super distinctive and just looked fun. The impossibly short length, the tall proportions, the wheels at each corner, and the bubbly headlights in the facelift version made it unlike anything the world had ever seen before.
Ford Focus (Mk1)
After more than 30 years of Escort production in Europe, Ford introduced the original Focus in 1998 as its successor in most markets (though the final Escort continued briefly alongside it as a budget option in some places). It set the hatchback world on fire, quickly becoming a bestseller in the UK and all over Europe.
A brand-new model meant totally new styling. The Mk1 Focus was one of the first Fords in Europe to debut the Blue Oval’s New Edge design language, and it definitely worked with the shape of the Focus. The design was also highly functional, including very high-mounted taillights to ensure maximum visibility. To sweeten the deal, the Mk1 Focus was also great to drive. Even Jeremy Clarkson loved it!
Volkswagen Jetta (Mk4)
Also called the Bora in Europe, the Mk4 Jetta was a huge hit in North America. This was one of the last VWs to carry the 1.9 TDI turbodiesel in North America, which is now known for its reliability as a powerhouse.
The styling was mostly Mk4 Golf, featuring a trunk at the back instead of a hatch and a mildly restyled front end. For as simple as it was, it totally worked. Even in stock form, the Mk4 Jetta was subtly good-looking, made only better by the addition of exterior mods.
Honda Civic (EM)
Finally, something that should be very familiar to Americans and Canadians: in North America, sixth-generation Civic coupes are most commonly identified by EJ codes, while EM1 refers specifically to the 1999–2000 Civic Si coupe.
Some readers likely have fond memories of driving the EM1 Civic Si in Need for Speed Underground 2. It’s a popular car for crazy exterior mods, but if we set those aside for a moment, the Civic coupe is a bit of a style icon. Sure, it’s still a Honda Civic, but it’s clean, simple, and effective.
Ford Taurus Wagon (Third Gen)
One of the most infamous cars to come out of the 90s, the third-generation Ford Taurus is well-known in the car community for its unusual and, according to most people, badly executed rounded design. While the sedan mostly deserves the criticism, the wagon is a different story.
For some reason, when you add a longroof body to the otherwise bizarro third-gen Taurus, it really works. Japan loves these things, which is why you often see them with some pretty heavy exterior mods over there. The third-generation Taurus wagon is rare, but it’s worth a second look if you do see one. There’s one in Japan with three-spoke wheels, and it looks absolutely glorious.
Dodge Intrepid
Before we got the revived Dodge Charger, the Intrepid took care of sedan duties in the Dodge lineup. As Car and Driver tells us, it rode on the same LH platform as the more luxurious Chrysler LHS, but it was a cheaper and less luxurious alternative.
The second-generation Intrepid was pretty ordinary and nothing to write home about, but the first generation was really rather cool. Nowadays, you might see a similarly styled car on a cyberpunk-themed poster or maybe on Pinterest. That’s not a bad thing at all, as anything cyberpunk is cool.
Ford Thunderbird (Tenth Generation)
One of the longest-lasting cars in American automotive history, the Ford Thunderbird went through eleven generations before being discontinued in the mid-2000s. The retro-styled final Thunderbird wasn’t particularly well-received, so it’s time we gave the tenth generation some love.
While the Turbo Coupe did not return for this generation, as reported by The Truth About Cars, the Super Coupe featured a supercharged V6. The tenth-generation Thunderbird was a very simple design, but it had a lot of presence, and the proportions were just right. It may not be that much of a commuter car, but it certainly is in comparison to a supercar or sports car.
Buick Roadmaster Wagon
The 1990s were the last hurrah of the old-school American full-size sedan, notably GM’s B-body sedans. The B-body platform has quite a story, as told by Curbside Classic. Along with the Chevy Caprice, Americans said their last goodbye to the Buick Roadmaster. The nameplate briefly returned to the Buick lineup in the early ’90s, and this would be the last car to wear the badge.
You could get the Roadmaster as a classic sedan, sure, but that’s no fun. You could also get it as a wagon, and isn’t this just one of the coolest wagons you’ve ever seen? Clean lines, insane length, and, of course, the fake wood panels. You could carry an absurd amount of stuff, and while it was nothing special back in the day, it has aged exceptionally well.
Suzuki Sidekick / Geo Tracker
In North America, Suzuki sold the mini SUV as the Sidekick, while GM sold the same basic vehicle through its Geo brand as the Geo Tracker. When GM discontinued the Geo brand, the Tracker name continued under Chevrolet.
It may not be a Jimny, but the Suzuki Sidekick is a brilliant piece of design, regardless. It screams, “Look, I’m an off-roader, too!” The chunky tires, the big fender flares, the boxy design, and the spare tire on the back—it’s all there. Suzuki did an excellent job with the design, which is why the Sidekick remains a pretty popular small off-roader even today.
Bonus: Renault Twingo
Image Credit: Lothar Spurzem—Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wiki Commons.
You may have seen the original Renault Twingo as a meme on the internet or visited Europe and seen them around town. Launched in the early 90s as Renault’s entry-level small car, the Twingo became an instant hit due to its fantastic, characterful design.
The bubbly headlights, the tiny dimensions, the instantly recognizable cabin air vent on the hood, the short overhangs, and one wheel at each corner, it was all there. The Twingo was a pioneer in the world of cutesy automotive styling, and it’s such an icon that Renault is getting ready to bring it back as an EV.