Dimensions of 50 popular models are compared using ‘maths, science and the golden ratio’

The Kia Picanto has been voted Britain’s ‘ugliest’ everyday car on sale today, according to new research that used the ‘golden ratio’ to assess the attractiveness of the UK’s most popular models.

The study used ‘science and math’ to compare the ratios of 50 of Britain’s most-bought new cars to that of the golden ratio, to give each vehicle a score out of 100.

Kia’s current city car, first launched in 2017, achieved the lowest score of all with a score of just seven out of 100, making it Britain’s ugliest everyday car in showrooms.

Meanwhile, the Audi A3 won the title of Britain’s most beautiful car with a top score of 83 out of 100.

It’s worth noting though that beauty comes at a price, with the A3 starting at £27,860 at UK dealers compared to just £13,415 for a brand new Kia Picanto.

In particular, the top and bottom spots on the list reflected broader trends in the ranking, with South Korean company Kia appearing to make the ugliest cars, Vanarama’s study showed.

German automaker Audi, on the other hand, turned out to make the most attractive engines, with two of its vehicles in the top five most beautiful cars.

The golden ratio is a mathematical ratio that is said to exist in the natural world, including in seashells, sunflowers, and space formations.

The ratio – represented by the Greek letter phi – is also widely used in architecture, including in buildings such as the Parthenon in Athens and the pyramids at Giza.

The study used the mathematical formula to rate cars by their dimensions and visual proportions and then rank them based on their beauty rating.

The Picanto has been voted the least attractive car in British showrooms today. Kia’s current city car has been on sale since 2017. It’s also one of the cheapest new cars out right now

The Kia Picanto took last place on the list behind other popular cars, including the Citroën C1, Kia Sportage, Land Rover Discovery and Fiat 500.

Whole Kia’s smallest car may not be the most attractive in scientific calculation, but it is one of the friendliest to your bank balance.

That’s because it’s one of the cheapest new models in showrooms today, undercutting Dacia’s budget-friendly Sandero by £380.

It’s also super economical and cheap to insure, making it a popular choice for new drivers.

The Audi A3 (pictured) was voted Britain’s most beautiful everyday car

At the other end of the spectrum, Audi’s A3 was followed in first place by the VW Golf, Vauxhall Mokka, Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series, which were ranked as the UK’s most beautiful cars.

More generally, sedans turned out to be the most beautiful cars, while city cars were the ugliest.

Estate cars were ranked as the second ugliest type of vehicle for everyday use, as the study suggested their designers had prioritized practical concerns over aesthetic ones.

How the ‘golden ratio’ is measured

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 a person beautiful.

The length and width of a person’s face is measured and then the results are distributed.

It is then measured from the hairline on the forehead to the place between the eyes, from the place between the eyes and the bottom of the nose and from the bottom of the nose to the bottom of the chin.

A person is considered more beautiful when the numbers are equal. Attention is then paid to the symmetry and proportion of the face.

George Clooney and supermodel Bella Hadid score high with the formula, which Vanarama now also applies to cars to measure their beauty.