10 Awesome Design Features On Ordinary Cars

#1: Mazda 5 - Flowing Lines On The Side

Supercars often boast with cool design features - but sometimes, also ordinary cars have little design elements that really improve the overall looks. Here are my Top 10 picks.

The Mazda 5 was introduced in 2005 as the successor of the Premacy. And whilst the first generation looked like an ordinary minivan, the second generation (2010 - 2015) came with an awesome design feature borrowed from the 2006 Nagare Concept: The flowing lines on the side. They connect the front and rear fenders, and they reflect light in a very nice way. Combined with the happy face, this is one of the best looking MPVs of all time.
Fun fact: The Nagare Concept was designed by famous Dutch designer Laurens van den Acker, who worked at Mazda from 2006 to 2009. Now he’s working for Renault, with his latest work being the stunning Dezir Concept.

#2: Honda Civic Type R (FD2) - Triangular Exhausts

When I was younger, there was a Honda dealership in our village. And boy, I could spend all day looking at the red Civic Type R which was on display outside the showroom. It just seemed like it came from another planet: The weird headlights, the connected rear lights, the spaceship-like interior… But what do you think turns on a 6-years-old car guy the most? Sure, triangular exhausts. I soon found out these were fake (you could see the ending of the circular pipe in them), but still, I loved them. Also, the fog lights have exactly the same shape, just rotated! Really clever design.

#3: Various Audi Models - Dynamic Indicators

A lot of cars have dynamic indicators nowadays, but Audi were the ones who pioneered it. The idea behind it is quite simple: Instead of just flashing, the LEDs in the blinker unit light up one after another, forming a line which extends into the direction the car is turning. I find it genuinely useful, as it’s more visible than just a flashing lights, and it also looks extremely cool. But as said, more and more carmakers are copying this feature now - I just saw a Ford Mondeo and a Citroën DS3 which also had dynamic indicators.

#4: Citroën C4 Cactus - Airbumps

This one will definitely cause some discussions: The so called “Airbumps” on the Citroën C4 Cactus. Some people (including me) like them, some people hate them. Basically, they are air cushions that are integrated into the body of the car to prevent scratches and dents. They are available in several different contrasting colors, and one of the most unique features of the C4 Cactus. They can also be found on several other Citroën models - but as most people seemed to dislike them, they have become a lot smaller on the new Cactus.

#5: Alfa Romeo 145 - Window Line

On our several visits to Croatia, I’ve came across this little Alfa hatchback, of which I didn’t even knew it existed - in Germany at least, it’s super rare. In Croatia, they are quite common, and I really like them! Especially because they have a pretty neat feature which immediately caught my eye: the window line, which sets it apart from any other hatchback, and also seems to be genuinely useful. At the front, it caves down, providing a better view into the mirror, and then it rises pretty steep to the rear. It looks really awesome (especially from the inside!), but it also has a purpose - that’s why it deserves a spot on this list.

#6: Kia Cadenza - Z-Shaped Lights

I’ll be honest: The Kia Cadenza is not exactly a good looking car. From the front, it looks like any other Kia, and from the rear it just looks way too fat and heavy - but still, it’s got one cool design feature on its hand: The Z-Shaped elements in both the front and rear lights. These are the daytime running lights, but they also double as indicators. Unlike the window line on the Alfa 145 or the Airbumps on the Citroën Cactus, these don’t serve a purpose - it’s just a design feature. A really cool one.

#7: Toyota Aygo - X Design

Another genius piece of design is the current generation Toyota Aygo, which comes with a big black cross on the front. They call this “X-Design”, and it makes the little city car look really mean, kinda resembling a ninja fighter. Also, there’s a similar shape on the rear, tying the whole car together. Sure, not everyone likes the design of this car - at first, I did neither, but it’s grown on me.

#8: Nissan Cube - Headliner

Moving on, we’ve got one of cars you’d probably have least expected to see on this list: The Nissan Cube. Sure, it’s square exterior with the asymmetrical rear window is unusual, but it’s still not exactly a good looking car. And the interior is also pretty bland - apart from one thing: The headliner, which imitates waves in water emerging from the dome light. Like, seriously: The Cube is a weird little boxy car, with an asymmetrical rear window and a random piece of fluffy carpet on the cheap plastic dashboard - but hey, at least it’s got a cool headliner!

#9: Jeep Renegade - Taillights

Jeep has used this taillight design on several cars now (including the new Wrangler), and it’s pure genius: It resembles a fuel canister, referring to the old military Jeeps. At first, I kinda hated the design - but just like the X-Aygo, it has grown on me.

#10: Citroën C4 Cactus - Glove Box

You thought one car couldn’t be featured twice in my lists? Ha - you’re wrong. Here’s the Cactus again - but this time, we’re talking about its interior - the glove box, to be exact. Because where every other car maker would just hide a more or less big storage space behind a cheap looking plastic cover, Citroën has come up with a nice design trick: The glove box opens upwards, and it resembles a suitcase. Also, the entire dashboard is finished in leather!

So, that’s it for today. I’ve been working on this post for over a month, and it took some serious time to find all these examples. Which ones did I forget? And which one is your favorite? Comment below!
Tobi aka The Stig’s German Cousin