The Mazda3. Almost any trim in any generation.

The newer ones are really pretty.

Those look like a recipe for disaster (and mangled fingers). 

I think you’re in the wrong generation. I had a 2000 Mazda B3000 (the twin of the Ranger) that was a great vehicle - no mechanical issues, hauled what I needed it to. But the previous gen were more anemic, and less comfortable. 

<$20K for a new car that gets 30+mpg, has bluetooth, nav, parking cameras, and a warranty.

Sure, it’s small, slow, and ugly, but most people are not us. They are often just looking for “Car®.” And the Mirage fits the bill. I had one as a rental for ONE day - and it was miserable (for me). But it got there, and it got…

The Ute answer is always Subaru.

Subaru Forester. or Ascent. Let’s see a decent size truck bed on an AWD platform from the company that does AWD best.

There’s a bright red Golf ute from Mexico in my neighborhood. It’s beautiful.

The fascia on the 1st gen is more appealing to me, as is the AWD. In the (very) light truck category, its utility is a (little) bit higher.

Again, I’d love to see what Subaru could do with the Crosstrek platform and a truck bed today.

As an admitted Subie fanboy, I am still not above admitting their designs are rarely…

Because the SSR isn’t an ugly truck.

Think lower (as in, not so tall)... like a Maverick-platformed version of the Taurus wagon.

How in the hell did Chevy SSR not make this list?

I will defend the Subaru BRAT to the death. It’s clearly a defiant design choice, but it’s not the “ugly” that you get by truck-carring a vehicle that was never made for the terrain (see Honda Ridgeline, previously mentioned), or over-designing a cartoonishly huge grille (GMC 2500), or just flat-out turning a napkin…

Jeebus, that looks like they literally just tacked on an extra half a cab without any consideration and called it done... like a shade tree hack welding job.

That is some real Friday afternoon design right there. 

The Chevy SSR. Unnervingly ugly, not good at anything except acting as a callout to other drivers that you make poor decisions. And in convertible form, it just looked worse.

it’ll probably crawl over just about anything

I think a less “trucky” variant would be awesome. 

I’m listening...

The Dodge Charger - BRING BACK THE MAGNUM, you cowards. 

I wish the CR-Z were a better car. My MIL has one, and I’ve driven it a few times. It’s sporty looking, but lacks the space to really be a “hatch,” and lacks the pep and vigor to be “hot.” It’s a shame because it had the potential to be so much more. 

I think it’s really stunning, in a sleeper sort of way.