We've spent a lot of time, on Car Chat, discussing controversial grilles/front ends like the original Audi oversized grilles, Lexus spindle-grilles, Acura parrot-beaks, the latest Toyota Avalon, Lincoln's former wing/tooth-grin, and a number of others (including ones we dislike)...but comparably little time discussing the ones we like or think are actually good-looking. So, I want to give people a chance to do that here. Taste in grilles, of course, like distaste, is subjective, so one person's silk purse may be another one's sow's ear. My taste tends to be more conservative than a number of other posters, although there a couple of new or almost-new designs that I think quite highly of, which I'll get to in a second.

Grilles are important, style-wise, because that is often the first thing that one notices, especially on an updated or all-new design. Acura, for example, lost a substantial number of sales because a lot of people simply didn't like the parrot-beaks...and the company refused to change them even after the negative public reaction. Indeed, Some Acura dealerships (I'm not exaggerating) had to paint the parrot-grilles body color, at customer request, just so the vehicles could actually be delivered...painting them, of course, lessened their visual-effect.

Anyhow, I suspect that there will be a lot of different opinions here (and please...let's be polite)...so I'll start with mine. In general, I like the subdued grilles on Buick SUVs (there are no more Buick sedans in the American market), with the wing and Buick tri-shield. I also like the Jaguar-type grilles used on today's Lincoln products......IMO, they are FAR better than those silly wings and tooth-grins they replace. I also like the pure-Jaguar grille on the XJ, although I understand the XJ is going tout of production. And, of course, a nice retro-design from my high-school days...the Dodge Challenger.

 

I like the new Highlander front end. Land Cruiser as well

 

Why the famous spindle of course!

 

Mazda grills are nice IMO

 

Are you refering to the 2020 Highlander?

 

Yes. “New” Highlander. It is closer to the way Mazda looks in person (IMO)

 

 

Yeah, I gotta admit that, despite their poor fit/finish, the late-60s Charger's styling blows the present one away. Not necessarily so, however, with the present Challenger, which, except for the chrome bumpers, kept much of the 60s look.

 

A Buick and a Lincoln make your list of favorites. Surprising!

 

I give credit where I think it is due. Actually, I wasn't wild about the Buick and Lincoln grilles of just a few years ago....I found them too garish. Both, IMO, have noticeably improved in recent years.

 

I really can't get over the look of these massive grilles on the newer cars (yes, that includes Lexus too...just my opinion, please do not get offended). I originally saw some of the German products running around with similar grilles in the distant past, thought they looked ridiculous and never assumed it would ever catch on. Boy, was I wrong. Don't get me wrong, some look better than others, but I think they need to relax with the chain-link fencing draped all over the front bumper already, there's practically more grille than bumper cover. Like I said, just an opinion, nothing to get upset over.

Now, I'm not saying these are brilliant looking cars compared to the examples of yesteryear, however Subaru has done a nice job at keeping the grille somewhat proportional to the rest of the front end. S208 STi (this is the Japanese grille):

...still doesn't touch the look of the 04-05 blobeye STi, or the 06-07 hawkeye, but the new one is still not bad by today's standards.

I also have to commend Nissan for not going insane with the front end of the R35 GTR. Although I'm not the biggest fan of this particular car, I do love the look of (and own) their older sports cars.

Also, I really do not mind the look of the newer Camry TRD. I can't post picture due to being a newer member, but if you look them up, the front end flows pretty well and they did enough to break up the grille from the bumper's air inlet. They look slick in red imo and even nicer in black.

 

IMO, that it is horrible, looks like a catfish gone mad.