Butt-Ugly vans...

The new Dodge Sprinter, the Nissan vans, both the Ford vans...anyone else notice how dorky and badly-designed they look these days?

The Pontiac's Aztek designer must be freelancing as a van designer...

Most of the vehicles you are describing were not developed for the consumer market = aesthetics not the highest priority. More like an afterthought to skin the engineers' answer to the requirements...

In the same school of thought as you can't make a Ford Escort pull a 52 foot trailer hauling a piece of heavy equipment - these vans are an attempt by the manufacturers trying to fill requirements for what businesses and consumers are needing/demanding.

But ability to haul product and get better gas mileage are very high priority. I agree they are all ugly. But if I was looking for a commercial van type of vehicle I would definitely be considering them all. I'll take improved profits and better pay to my employees over a good looking vehicle. They can be made more appealing if the business owner used the vinyl wrap to help use vehicle as a graphic billboard to promote their business (If not they can get more income by advertising for others).

So if you need a low - med cube capacity van - they are the current and most efficient offerings.

FUGLY



http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/best-cars/226694/the-6-best-cargo-vans-for-your-business.jsp

Ray

Our company has a 2014 Ram Pro-master we got just before the end of the year. Just got two recalls but I am amazed at how this thing drives. You have to get used to it on the highway as the front wheel drive makes hauling that big body a little weird but getting mid 20's with tons of power and an amazing turning radius and it is huge inside. It will be interesting to see how it holds up

I'll bet those vans look better when they are down by the river...

The only good looking vans were built in the 70s. My neighbor had one of those custom vans with the port hole windows, Shag carpet, captain chairs and tables quadraphonic sound system and all the bells and whistles. That was cool. Until he hit a parked oil truck. Ouch!

What! Not ugly but very functional. This one was converted from a mobile DWI van to a secondary command/equipment van for the HNT.

Always wanted a 70s dodge van. Wish they still made custom vans like that.

More Euro trash auto styling. Mainly because they're European models brought here to the States.

A lot of these high-top designs could be executed a lot less objectionably. Heck, an original 1971 Dodge B-series van has a nose almost equally flat upon the windscreen as the current Promaster - but it didn't look like it grew a plastic wart on its nose.

The Nissan NV is probably the least awful of the lot, but it would have looked a bit nicer had a careful bit of tumblehome been designed into the A-pillars, to hide the necessary boxiness of the rest of the roof.

-Kurt

I like the Ford Transit Connect; I almost bought one 4 years ago.

I think the bizarre styling of some of these new utilty vehicles may actually be a positive marketing tool:

The ugly factor makes them stand out from a crowd, and the more often another driver notices one it is "Wow, those new Ford vans sure are ugly, but I see them everywhere...they must be pretty good then." Leading to more sales.

Just a guess...

One factor is European cars and vans are getting uglier due to EU pedestrian safety legislation. The law says there has to be a certain distance between the hood and the engine, this acts as a pedestrian crumple zone. So vehicles are getting bulbous hoods. They're also trying to stand out from the competition and push their brand image so their designs are getting more "unique." Also the manufacturers have to make their new cars / vans look new, so the older cars look out dated (planned obsolescence), so they sell more cars. And customers don't mind if they're different / ugly, it's more important that they're seen with a new car / van.

One factor is European cars and vans are getting uglier due to EU pedestrian safety legislation. The law says there has to be a certain distance between the hood and the engine, this acts as a pedestrian crumple zone.

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I would have expected that to make them LESS ugly.

The 1998-2003 incarnation of the Dodge B-van grew a prominent proboscis in comparison to its predecessors, yet, it remains one of the best-styled American front-engined vans ever:



-Kurt

Yes, that was a nice design. Also the 3rd generation Chevrolet G series van from 1971 was an example of a carefully designed, proportioned and detailed van. It looked understated and functional. It still looks good today. But as this thread shows, design doesn't always get better with time.

Always wanted a 70s dodge van. Wish they still made custom vans like that.

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I agree we had a lot of fun in my neighbors Dodge custom van "great Party Wagon" I can still remember cruisin to the Rolling stones or the Eagles blasting from his 8 track stereo. Those were the days. ::beer::

Always wanted a 70s dodge van. Wish they still made custom vans like that.

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I agree we had a lot of fun in my neighbors Dodge custom van "great Party Wagon" I can still remember cruisin to the Rolling stones or the Eagles blasting from his 8 track stereo. Those were the days. ::beer::