Lotus Emira coupe review
The best-looking cars on sale 2024
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this is our pick of the best-looking cars on sale
The best-looking cars may not be the most practical or the most efficient, but sometimes your heart takes priority over your head when shopping for a new car. Objectivity is usually our domain at Carbuyer, focusing on the facts and real-world usability of each car we test, but sometimes it’s fun to look beyond ISOFIX points and MPG figures and pay some attention to styling.
You’d be mistaken for thinking that the best-looking cars on sale today are all six-figure, two-door coupes built in such tiny numbers that you’re not likely to ever see. While it’s true that today’s supercars are still bedroom-poster-worthy, there are some handsome family cars out there that have squeezed their way onto this list, too.
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That’s surprising, as stricter safety legislation and the push towards electrification has meant that cars have grown bigger and bulkier. SUVs are now the car of choice for the masses, but that hasn’t stopped designers from penning the occasional styling masterpiece that’ll turn heads at the supermarket car park.
Taste is such a personal thing that some of the models we’ve selected may cause you to disagree vehemently or shout at your screen in frustration. One person’s meat is another’s poison, though, and a list of the best-looking cars wouldn’t be doing its job if it provoked universal approval!
Best-looking cars on sale today:
Here's our pick of the 10 best looking cars around today. Why not also read our list of the best four-door sports cars or the best electric cars?
- Priced from £81,000
Drive past the Lotus Emira and you might mistake it for one of the latest supercars from Ferrari or Maserati. Despite costing half as much as an Italian supercar, it really does look like one, with a dramatic coupe shape, bulging wheelarches and a low nose. Sure, we know it’s still not cheap, but you’ll be paying nearly £20,000 more for the cheapest Porsche 911, and we know which one we think looks better.
While Lotus models of old tended to look a bit flimsy – with build quality to match – the Emira has moved up a league thanks to investment from its new Chinese ownership. You still get a throaty supercharged V6 engine to back up the looks, but everything feels better screwed together and the interior lives up to the price tag.
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- Priced from £55,000
MG has made quite the comeback over the past few years with its range of affordable and efficient family cars, but styling was clearly never high on the list of priorities. The same certainly can’t be said for the Cyberster, the new two-seater drop-top from the Chinese-owned British brand. We were blown away by its looks initially in concept form, and even more so when the production version was unveiled in 2023.
Harking back to MG’s sports cars of the mid-20th century, the Cyberster reimagines the roadster formula for the modern age, with a curvaceous body and pair of scissor doors that open upwards. The arrow-shaped rear lights won’t be to everyone’s taste, but as an overall package, we think the Cyberster is one of the prettiest cars on the road today.
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- Priced from £59,000
There are few vehicles more iconic than the original Volkswagen T2 van, so it’s no surprise that the German brand decided to use it as the styling inspiration for its electric people-carrier, the ID. Buzz. It tastefully treads the retro-futuristic line without leaning too far in either direction; there are not-so-subtle nods to the original, including the giant VW badge and optional two-tone paint, while the sleek shape and LED lights provide a link to its electric ID siblings.
The funky styling continues on the inside, with a sweeping minimalist dashboard and bright upholstery. Buyers can at last choose a Long Wheelbase (LWB) model with seven seats, making the ID. Buzz a far more practical proposition, while there’s even a sporty GTX version with 335bhp and bright red paint for an even bolder look.
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- Priced from £41,000
Alfa Romeo has produced more than its fair share of attractive cars in the past 100 years or so, but none has excited fans of the brand in recent times as much as the Giulia. Not only is it the first rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo saloon since the 1980s, it’s also very good-looking. The trademark ‘scudetto’ grille is present and correct, set off by a design that’s curvaceous yet sporty.
The high-performance Quadrifoglio version adds a dose of masculinity to the Giulia’s curvaceous looks, with wider wheelarches, attractive alloys and plenty of attitude. As well as being great to look at, the Giulia is a good alternative to the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class – it drives well, features a comfortable, well-built interior and has a good range of efficient yet powerful petrol engines to choose from.
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- Priced from £225,000
A list of the best-looking cars wouldn’t be complete without an Italian supercar of some variety, and our pick is the Maserati MC20. It ticks all the boxes that a supercar should – it’s fast, wildly impractical and of course, stunning to look at. A pair of sharp LED headlights sit either side of the Maserati trident, which makes another appearance in the rear window louvres.
A 621bhp V6 engine means you’ll never be short of power, but we were surprised by just how comfortable the MC20 was over bumps during our in-depth review. There’s a convertible model too, although the engine note from the V6 lacks some of the excitement you’d get from a V8 or V10, so you won’t be missing out if you opt for the coupe.
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- Priced from £42,000
Best-looking is a subjective term, and for some, supercars like the Maserati MC20 are just a bit too much. For the ultimate in low-key cool, look no further than the Volvo V60, the sleek executive estate from Sweden. Scandinavia is known for its understated design language, and the V60 is a perfect example of this; there are no frills here, just a clean, handsome design that hasn’t aged in the six years it's been on sale.
The V60 has a boxy profile with boot space that’s up there with the class best, yet it delivers those classic Volvo values with far greater style and a cool, dynamic road presence. The classy exterior is mirrored by a swish, yet simple interior that’s full of contemporary technology, and extremely spacious and comfortable. Factor in the availability of class-leading safety kit, plus an array of thoughtful interior design touches that make living with the V60 a pleasure, and the model cements its appeal as an effortlessly satisfying all-rounder.
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- Priced from £87,000
When the Porsche Taycan went on sale in 2019, it looked like a spaceship had landed on the showroom floor. As the German brand’s first EV, it needed to make an impression, distancing itself from the iconic Porsche 911 but retaining a muscular design worthy of the badge. We think it nailed the brief, with a slippery four-door coupe silhouette that still turns heads today.
The range-topping Turbo S model produces a ludicrous 934bhp when launch control is engaged but a more sensible and affordable version of the Taycan, called the 4S with rear-wheel drive, is the most popular option among buyers. The base model can achieve a range of over 400 miles, beating the likes of the Audi e-tron GT and the Lotus Emeya. We were also impressed with the Taycan’s responsive handling and ability to iron out bumps in the road, despite its big 21-inch alloy wheels.
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- Priced from £24,000
Mazda’s latest range of cars is as good as it has ever been: all are very well-built, great to drive and economical. All new Mazdas are also very well designed, sharing a common, handsome family look while still being different enough to be told apart. The latest Mazda3 sits in the middle of the range as a family hatchback to rival the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus.
In terms of quality, driving pleasure and economy, the 3 makes a strong case for itself, all the while being styled with far more imagination than most in the class – like some of the cars on this list, it’s a car that really needs to be appreciated in person. It’s not quite as practical as some rivals and some versions are set to be quite expensive, but the Mazda offers plenty to like – not least its modern, attractive styling.
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- Priced from £75,000
While many of the cars on this list turn heads thanks to their sleek curves and sloping rooflines, you’ll find neither of those two things on the Toyota Land Cruiser. There’s no mistaking Japan’s latest off-roader as anything but that – a rugged, go-anywhere SUV. It’s chunky, chiselled, and above all else, honest. Toyota hasn’t tried to add any sporty flair to the Land Cruiser for this new generation, and you certainly won’t find a ‘coupe’ model in the brochure.
The Land Cruiser’s slab sides and upright front end scream tough, and it’s a look backed up by the driving experience. There are few cars as capable as the Land Cruiser, thanks to its rock-solid diesel engine and sturdy ladder frame chassis. Sure, on-road behaviour suffers as a result, but this is a car built for the Highlands, not high streets.
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- Priced from £44,000
The Peugeot 508 could be considered a left-field choice in the executive saloon market, but it's arguably the best-looking model on sale. In a sea of German competitors, the 508 brings a unique design language, with a body-coloured front grille and a set of vertical daytime running lights. The rear end features a simple black strip with ‘Peugeot’ lettering, while the overall shape is refreshingly unfussy.
The estate version, called the Peugeot 508 SW, is perhaps even better looking, with a boxier rear end that improves practicality. Top of the range sits the 508 PSE, a high-performance plug-in hybrid model with a host of sporty styling details – it looks great, but at nearly £54,000, it’s not cheap. Whichever model you pick, you get the same quirky interior; it looks the part, but some drivers might struggle with Peugeot’s unconventional i-Cockpit layout.
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