Science now ‘PROVES’ which everyday cars are the best-looking (and the worst-looking)

The Audi A3 is the best looking car for everyday use, one study has suggested – while a Kia Picanto is the worst.

Autotraders Vanarama used the ‘golden ratio’ formula to determine the most attractive engines from the 50 most licensed models in the UK.

The “golden ratio” is a mathematical formula devised in ancient Greece to determine “physical perfection” by comparing measurements, proportions, and symmetry.

During the Renaissance, artists and architects used the equation, also known as Phi, as an aid in creating their masterpieces.

Scientists have since adapted the mathematical formula, which equals 1/1,618, to explain what makes other objects beautiful – including people, buildings, and now cars.

The Audi A3 (photo) is the most beautiful car for everyday use according to the golden ratio

Vanarama explained: “We analyzed different ratios for each of the 50 most licensed models, looking at specific dimensions such as length and wheelbase, as well as key design features such as the placement of badging and lights…

Each car was scored on two key design factors: overall vehicle dimensions and visual proportions, in terms of how the naked eye perceives shapes.

‘The maximum score for each factor was 50, with the highest scores going to the designs closest to the golden ratio in percentage terms.

“These two scores were then combined for each car to give a total score of 100, with the highest scores indicating the most beautiful cars according to the golden ratio.”

Vanarama said the results were also grouped to find the most and least beautiful car manufacturers and body styles.

It added: ‘While this list typically includes high-end manufacturers such as Land Rover and BMW, the specific models are among the most driven in the UK, so we can be confident that our data covers the cars most relevant are for motorists.

“In total, the final data covers 19 million (18,633,674) individually registered vehicles.”

And according to the math, the Audi A3 is the most beautiful car, with 83 points out of a maximum of 100.

The German-made engine is followed by the VW Golf and Vauxhall Mokka, both of which scored 80.

The Kia Sportage (pictured) was the third least attractive model in the study with a score of 15 out of 100. Kia was the least attractive manufacturer overall

Vanarama explained: ‘We analyzed different proportions for each of the 50 most licensed models, looking at specific dimensions such as length and wheelbase, as well as key design features, such as the placement of badging and lights’

The top five is rounded off by the Audi A4 with 79 points and the BMW 3 Series with 78 points.

At the other end of the scale, the Kia Picanto scored just seven out of 100, according to the golden ratio, making it the least attractive car on the road.

This was followed by the Citroën C1 with 12 points, the Kia Sportage with 15, the Land Rover Discovery with 18 and the Fiat 500 with 22.

The results are good news for Audi drivers, as their models are most likely to stop traffic.

The German manufacturer makes the most beautiful cars on average with an overall score of 77, followed by BMW with 70, Mercedez-Benz with 67, Skoda with 62 and Vauxhall with 60.

Kia is once again at the bottom of the list when it comes to manufacturers, with an overall score of 19 out of 100.

The study did not include exclusive automakers with an expected beauty level such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus or Porsche.

When it came to which type of car was considered the most attractive, sedans topped the list, with an average score of 66 out of 100.

Meanwhile, according to the survey, city cars are seen as the least attractive with an average score of 26 out of 100.