Not everything can roll of the production line looking like a stone-cold stunner. In fact, many cars are give a mid-cycle refresh to update their styling, options and interior before a whole new generation of car is produced.
To find out which cars had the best refreshes or were the recipients of a real glow-up, we asked you for your favorite automotive facelifts of all time.
These are some of the top responses we received.
“The number of people going ‘when they took all of the personality out of that weird and interesting car’ are depressing.
“I’m going purely on looks – because being the 1970s the performance wouldn’t get better – but the 1977 Pontiac Firebird. It gave the car it’s own identity, gave a front end that fit significantly better and made the thing look way less dumpy in the process.”
In 1997, those lovely people at Pontiac rolled out a minor refresh to the Firebird that included an updated front end with four rectangular headlamps. The hood scoop was also revised, which gave the whole car a bit more pizazz.
Suggested by: citricola
“I’ll add the much un-loved C4 corvette. I actually quite like these, even from the 80s/pre facelift.
“But man, the facelift really did pick up the image until the C5 came out. Of course the interior/dash was miles better in the facelifted ones as well.”
For the 1990s, and before the rollout of the excellent C5 Corvette, the designers at GM refreshed the car’s rear end and updated its interior.
Suggested by: rockchops
“Best facelift on a SUV.
“Previous gen Explorer. I hated the 2011 melted grille look. The 2016+ look much more handsome. Same goes to the contemporary Escape where the pre-facelifted ones looked a lot like a 2012 Focus. Ford was not having it on the looks department 10 years ago but they got it halfway right afterwards (they messed up the Escape looks once again with the current gen).”
For the 2016 refresh of the Explorer, Ford drew design inspiration from its F-150 pickup truck. The updated styling included a redesigned front end, hood, and lower bumper, standard LED low-beam headlights, and fog lamps.
Suggested by: luisinhoens90
“The first half of the 13th gen F-150 to the second half. Went from so-so looking truck to one of the best looking trucks ever imo. All from slight changes in the grille.”
Speaking of that 13th generation F-150, here it is again. In 2018, the truck was given a new grille that followed the styling of the Super Duty model line. The tailgate also saw minor changes, as did the tail lamps.
Suggested by: redraidereducator
“BMW E30 facelift; especially in the US. Going from the 5MPH ‘Diving Board’ bumpers to the 2.5 MPH plastic bumpers (with the larger taillights) was a huge improvement.”
The E30 BMW had minor updates in 1985, which included alterations to its trim, before a major update in 1987. This included redesigned rear lights, front bumper and a reduction in the amount of chrome trim. The four-cylinder engine was also tweaked and rust protection was increased.
Suggested by: @tlanta_sean (Twitter)
“E46 transition from pre to post facelift is a glow up imho.”
But wait, there’s another wildly popular mid-cycle refresh for the BMW 3 Series. This time it’s in 2002, when the firm revised the design of the headlights, tail-lights, grille, hood, front fenders and front bumpers.
Suggested by: Vracktal-
“2016 facelift on the 9th gen Accords, the LED DRL strips were updated as well from the spot LED to one that looks like uniform bar LED.”
The ninth generation of Honda’s sedan was given a redesigned front end in this 2015 facelift. The update also saw the Accord become the first mass-market car to be equipped with Apple CarPlay.
Suggested by: the-nope
“Oooo best FL…this is a hard one.
“99-01 to 02-05 Saab 9-5 sticks out as a good one. The 2007 facelift to the XC90 was very good & much needed.
“Honestly it’s almost easier to think of ugly facelifts. B5 Passat & A4 come to mind. E46 too, the old headlights looked so much better.”
The Saab 9-5 had a few face lifts in its time, but the improvements made in 2002 really refined the Scandinavian styling. Over its lifespan, the car was given two refreshes across a 13-year production, which saw Saab produce more than 250,000 of the sedans.
Suggested by: @thedisturbed007 (Twitter)
“I think one of the best all-time facelifts in automotive history is the 300zx Z31
“Bow down to the ‘Kouki’.”
These Nissan sports cars produced between 1987 and 1989 are known as “Kouki” models. Fun fact: The 1987 refresh saw the addition of central LED brake lights, a first for the automotive industry at that time.
Suggested by: mrmocha
“Gen2 Ridgeline Mid-Cycle update. First gen looked burly, but awkward. They listened and simplified it for Gen2, but went full “SIMP” and it looked waaaay too soft.
“The Gen 2.2 update last year was the goldilocks design for the Honda.”
Iterative improvements to this Honda pickup truck have seen the design improve each year. But maybe the 2019 changes marked the moment Honda got it just right?
Suggested by: MrPrevention