Some cars age incredibly well. Whether it’s because they ushered in trends ahead of their time or because they just have clean designs that have stood the test of time, some vehicle designs belie their age. Here’s a selection of five vehicles from the 1990s that still look fresh today.
1996 Ford Taurus
When the 1996-1999 third-generation Ford Taurus made its debut in the mid-90s it caused a stir with its radically ovoid styling. At the time it was criticized for being over-styled, which it arguably was, especially compared to staid contemporaries like the Buick Century and Honda Accord.
However, over the decades consumers have embraced the complex surface treatments seen on the Taurus and we can now find similar forms on current vehicles, like the 2018 Toyota Camry. Relatively small headlamps for the era make the Taurus fit well with more modern sedans, as lighting technology has advanced to allow for smaller fixtures. Around the back, contoured metal and curvy window openings lend the Taurus a clean and airy look.
1998 Volvo C70 Coupe
Volvo’s shapely coupe and convertible of the 90s was the C70, which was produced from 1998-2004. Introduced at a time when the brand’s design philosophy was morphing from boxy to sleek, it handsomely meshes both looks together.
A high trunk lid has long been a Volvo design signature and its inclusion on the C70 allowed it to age gracefully. Throughout the 2000s there would be a trend toward higher decklids across the industry.
The stately C70 has aged significantly better than contemporaries like the droopy 1996 Acura CL and the low and wide 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII.
1996 Chrysler Minivans
Simplicity is key to creating enduring designs. With attractive organic forms and minimal ornamentation, third-generation Chrysler minivans have aged remarkably well. Compared to the Mazda MPV, Mercury Villager, or Chevrolet Venture of a similar vintage, the Chrysler minivans are cleaner and better proportioned.
Especially now as modern CUVs have become increasingly shorter in height, they’ve essentially reached parity with those of 90s minivans, allowing these bastions of a bygone era to look right at home on the road among a herd of brand-new crossovers.
The minivan formula has not evolved significantly in terms of styling since this generation. Some might argue it devolved as designs became increasingly un-harmonic with the introduction of the oddball 2003 Nissan Quest and awkward 2011 Honda Odyssey. Even the Chrysler minivans struggled to gain back the handsome styling of this generation, right up until the 2017 introduction of the Chrysler Pacifica.
1994 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The oldest design example on our list is the early-90s Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which was produced from 1994-2000. It ushered in a modern design language that would make its way across the brand’s lineup.
Classic proportions, clean lines, and a high trunk lid make this baby Benz still look fresh and modern. Stacked up against the 1994 BMW 3-Series with its black plastic rub strips and bumper trim, the C-Class looks sleek and elegant.
1995 Subaru Legacy Outback
Subaru’s saving grace came in the form of the “world’s first sport utility wagon” in 1995. By hiking up the suspension and adding a veneer of ruggedness to their Legacy station wagon, the brand was able to ride the SUV wave with the Subaru Legacy Outback.
Prescient in many ways, the Outback signaled the market potential for crossovers, which were essentially tall station wagons designed to look like sturdy and capable SUVs.
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