Fug with the Animals

The new-for-2002 Nissan Murano and Infiniti FX were - and still are in my eyes - high points in SUV design. Sleek and angular, the both look better than their replacements.

2002 - Sleek

2009 - Shriek

While still mostly attractive, both SUVs have grown more curvy and organic, in the process lost the creased wedginess that made them unique.

2002 - Understated

2009 - Overwrought

The largest offense however, are front and centre. The clean, simple face of the Murano has become an overwrought, Gigeresque metallic spider/lamprey hybrid.



Meanwhile the sculpted face of the Infiniti has gained a grimace and beady headlights that Infiniti calls the look of a "Bionic Cheetah". Remind me more of an angry warthog without it's tusks...

Bionic Cheetah, or Angry Warthog?

Nissan Maxima: The Fugly is in the Details

Prior to the millenium, the Nissan Maxima was a mid-size sedan known for it's sporting intentions but not it's stunning looks.


For 2000, Nissan attempted to change that. However, what was previously a slightly boring looking and anonymous everycar instead became an awkwardly proportioned everycar. And what's up with the rear end? It looks as if during the clay model stages someone kiboshed the rear end design by slicing it off with a clever, and attaching the rear end design from another car two sizes too small.


For 2004, the car grew in size but gained an attractive new wedge-like shape. But there was still something strange about the rear end.


What exactly are these small pieces of body panel between the tail lights and the trunk? They've always bugged me, as the mess up the body lines. Are they to make rear end repairs more expensive? Why not just have the tail lights meet the bumper cut line?


Nissan again reworked the Maxima for 2009, this time restoring some of the sporty flavour lost with the Maxima grew in 2004. It's a taut and muscular design (although some might argue it's a bit too curvy to the point of looking overweight) that gains more than a few details from the 370Z. Including another strange detail - the L-shaped headlights. Although I've grown to them over the past couple years (I don't think I would personally classify them as fugly after seeing them a few times), they're still a very polarizing design detail.