The top ten best cars for exterior styling

• Covering: Overall exterior styling, quality of the exterior finish and materials
• Winner: Mazda 6
• Score: 95.55%

The exterior category is judged on two very different factors – a car’s styling and the quality of material fit and finish. This year, it was the Mazda 6 that once again managed to strike the best balance of these elements. It scored well in both categories, but it was its superior build quality that helped boost it to the top spot.

What’s really impressive is that the Mazda 6, a car from the increasingly unloved family car sector, beat a horde of SUVs to the top spot. But second place did go to a high-riding model, in the shape of the Lexus UX. Again, it scored very well for its styling, but it was the outstanding exterior build quality rating that elevated it.

Another Lexus SUV – the full-size RX – came third in the exterior category under the same premise. It finished first for the quality of its exterior finish and materials, while this result was backed up by a reasonably good styling score, too. Another Mazda appeared in the top 10, proving that the 6 is no flash in the pan: the MX-5 roadster came fifth, and finished in first place for overall exterior styling.

Your view

“It’s simply stunning. Stylish, flowing bodywork and excellent build quality, too. It really looks like a more expensive car than it is.”

Exterior top 10

1. Mazda 6
2. Lexus UX
3. Lexus RX
4. Peugeot 3008
5. Mazda MX-5
6. Toyota C-HR
7. Kia Picanto
8. Toyota Corolla
9. Skoda Kodiaq
10. Kia Sorento

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