Subaru’s Bold Designs

Subaru’s Challenging Looks Over the Years

Now, I know how some folks can get all riled up about car designs, especially when it comes to your not-so-conventional Subaru lineup. The Japanese brand isn’t exactly known for jaw-dropping designs like some of those Italian makes we’re all familiar with, though they do crank out some pretty reliable machines. Take the Mazda RX-7 and the Lexus LFA, for example—those are some beauties, but not every Japanese car can claim that fame.

2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness

Subaru’s latest 2026 Outback made a splash at the New York International Auto Show, and boy oh boy, did the internet have a field day with it. Many folks couldn’t help but crack jokes about its appearance, even comparing it to the humorous ‘Wagon Queen Family Truckster’ from National Lampoon’s Vacation. While the standard Outback isn’t winning any beauty contests, it’s the Wilderness model with its rugged look that’s really got tongues wagging. A new front-end design has been its making—or breaking—point in some opinions.

1985-1991 Subaru XT

Jump back to the ’80s, and the Subaru XT was strutting its stuff. With pop-up headlights reminiscent of an era we can’t help but love, the XT seemed to have potential—until one looked beyond the front end. Despite a bit of mid-engine MR2 vibe upfront, the design fell apart with an awkward window line and rear end that seemed to borrow a page from the ‘odd proportions’ handbook.

2006-2014 Subaru Tribeca

Subaru’s Tribeca from the mid-2000s is another puzzler. An attempt to veer into the premium SUV market, it ended up with a face some likened to a Kia Amanti with a Groucho Marx disguise. It didn’t really find its footing and later morphed into a somewhat tamer, Chrysler Voyager-esque look. Strange as it sounds, over time, folks might remember it as not all bad, perhaps a testament to how our tastes mellow.

Surprise! The Impreza Casa Blanca

The late ’90s saw Subaru attempting to embrace the retro fever with the Impreza Casa Blanca. Designed with British sedan cues from the ’60s, it was not exactly the fan favorite. This throwback model didn’t tickle enthusiasts the way they’d hoped, likely getting overshadowed by the more robust-looking 2001 Impreza that created quite the stir among fans later on.

The 2025 Forester

Subaru’s not-newly-minted Forester took some heat, too. While the current iteration faced its fair share of critiques, it’s worth a glance back to see what it replaced. As they say, sometimes you don’t know what you had until you see the alternative!

So, what takes the trophy for the ugliest Subaru ever? That’s for the folks out there to decide. Whether it’s the love-to-hate Baja or perhaps an overlooked oddity, there’s plenty to chatter about over a cold one. Let’s keep the banter light-hearted, unlike those Subaru design decisions that might have missed the mark!