Automotive Facelifts - For Better or Worse

[Liquid]

Ford was big on facelifts in the mid-to-late 90s.

Ford Mondeo

Before

Spoiler: After

Horrid. Always, always, always hated that rear; it looks like a woman with big bug eyes showing off two front teeth like a beaver.

Ford Fiesta

Before

Spoiler: After

The original looks a bit sad but I'm quite used to it due to the Fiesta IV being a very, very, very common first car for people of my generation.

Ford Escort

Before

Spoiler: After

Again, I can't help but prefer the original and that's not just because it's what the Cossie is based on.

Ford Galaxy

Before

Spoiler: After

At least this facelift makes the car look unique and distinct; the pre-facelift was completely identical to the Volkswagen Sharan and the Seat Alhambra.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Man, that pre-facelift Fiesta looks so depressed with it's life.

View attachment 675132 View attachment 675133
A minor refresh of the Element before its funeral.

I found the facelift to be quite dull on the Element near the end of it's life. It did get a minor refresh inbetween. Mainly darker headlights and a different grill, which improved it a lot. My co-worker had one.

Can't decide which one's better. For the DC5 RSX/Integra. Facelift or pre-facelift....

 

[VXR]

I think the first DC5 has more character, even if the second one looks better resolved.

 

[Michelin Man]

Pretty much both my suggestions have been pointed out by others, but hey I'll go along with them anyway.

For Better: Ford Mondeo Mk1 (or indeed just about most 90's "New Edge" face lifted Fords)

Spoiler: Pre-Face lift

Spoiler: Post-Face lift AKA "New Edge"

The Mondeo benefited massively from the "New Edge" face-lift, really made it look younger than it's years I thought, and generally improved the styling massively. The only exception is the Saloon which did look pretty horrendous , so I'll agree with you there @Liquid. Otherwise, pretty much all 90's Fords fared much better with the "New Edge" face-lifts, be it the Fiesta or the Escort. But especially the MK4 Mustang, which in post-face lift form I still maintain is the best looking/best overall gen of Mustang.

Otherwise I think "New Edge" Fords generally looked great, and they still do really as it's a design that made the car look more modern that it was, with the Focus being a prime example.

For "Worse": Honda S2000 AP2

Spoiler: AP1

Spoiler: AP2

This one's perhaps a little nit-picky, as I wouldn't call the AP2 "worse" per se, as it still looked absolutely fantastic, but it just wasn't as nice as the AP1. Granted, the face-lifted AP2 probably freshened up the design and it has also probably aged better than the AP1 S2000's too, but not as nice in my opinion

I do just prefer the slightly cleaner, more rounded lines the AP1 has, plus the I don't like the AP2's head and taillights as much. The rear of the AP2 in particular is not as nice, but generally I just slightly prefer the overall softer shape and design the AP1 had. But like I said, the AP2 wasn't a disaster, just not quite as a excellent aesthetically as the pre-face lift.

 

[7up747]

At first i was like

But then (somehow better)

 

[Danoff]

Can't decide which one's better. For the DC5 RSX/Integra. Facelift or pre-facelift....

So the wheels and wing on your pre-facelift version are aftermarket. The big change for me in the facelifted RSX was one you can't see in these photos... the tail lights. Turns out it's hard to even find stock photos of this car there are so many mods (I never should have sold my stock type-s). I very much prefer the pre-facelift tail lights. I think these photos are stock

Pre Facelift

Post Facelift

 

[MedigoFlame]

So the wheels and wing on your pre-facelift version are aftermarket. The big change for me in the facelifted RSX was one you can't see in these photos... the tail lights. Turns out it's hard to even find stock photos of this car there are so many mods (I never should have sold my stock type-s). I very much prefer the pre-facelift tail lights. I think these photos are stock

I thought the body kit/wheels were factory. Link says it's called the Acura RSX Type S Factory Performance Package.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/acura-rsx-type-s-factory-performance-short-take-road-test

 

[Obelisk]

No mention of the Mazda3? Come on, we're all car lovers here!

The third gen car already looked smart from the front when it came out, and I think it only got better.
2014-2016 Mazda3:

2017+ Facelift:

I think the fog light tweak and the change to the area under the chrome bar makes the car feel more upmarket.

 

[Danoff]

I thought the body kit/wheels were factory. Link says it's called the Acura RSX Type S Factory Performance Package.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/acura-rsx-type-s-factory-performance-short-take-road-test

Hmmm... dealer-installed kit from Honda. It's a grey area I guess. I'm probably not correct to call them aftermarket. But they're not exactly stock.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

For better:
The NA version of the Ford Mondeo, the Contour imo looked better with its facelift.

Before:

Spoiler: car

After:

Spoiler

To note, it didn't have the bug-eye rear end unlike its UK counterpart:

 

[Centroid]

I've always thought this was one of the most successful facelifts:-

To:-

 

[Carbon_6]

For worse:

When Land Rover launched the Discovery 3 back in 2004, something about it immediately clicked. You see the odd one here and there, and they still look decent.

Then someone in the design department thought the front and rear would look better if more "detail" was thrown into the mix. Step forward the 2009 Discovery 4.

 

[VXR]

And now the poor thing doesn't look anything like a Disco at all. It might as well have been branded Range Rover.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

A couple of cars that I think got better in facelifts before getting worse.

Nissan GT-R - It looks fine in its original design, but it felt a bit dull in the front. The first facelift imo gave slight, but enough changes to make it look good enough. The second facelift however just ruined the front with the new grille and angular bumper vents.

Original:

Spoiler

1st Facelift:

Spoiler

2nd Facelift:

Spoiler

Lamborghini Gallardo
Similar case to the GTR. The first facelift makes it look mean, but the 2nd one made it look horrendous.
Original

Spoiler

1st Facelift

Spoiler

2nd Facelift

Spoiler

 

[VXR]

The first Gallardo facelift and those rims was the first time I found the model desirable. I thought the initial model was dull.

 

[JR98]

Honda NSX

Better

Before:

After:

As good as the 90's NSX looks I feel like the 2000's model managed to update the looks of the car without straying too far from what made the original look so great in the first place. IMO the newer one is one of the best looking cars to come out of Japan in recent years.

 

[Danoff]

 

[MedigoFlame]

I'm kind of growing to like the third generation Lexus IS.

However, the recent facelift ruined it. Really doesn't help that the main headlights are angled upwards away from the LED DRLs.

 

[Centroid]

Given how good looking the original was, I thought this facelift was very effective:-

 

[MedigoFlame]

I prefer the looks of the Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 over the 991.2.

 

[Danoff]

Have 911's changed since they were first created? I hadn't noticed. It looks just like this one:

 

[Doog]

I'm kind of growing to like the third generation Lexus IS.

However, the recent facelift ruined it. Really doesn't help that the main headlights are angled upwards away from the LED DRLs.

The facelift IS you linked has a headlight option that I've never seen before. All the new ISes I see have these:

I think the standard headlights kind of resolve the front end. However, as soon as the facelift came out, the pre-facelift's weird, droopy headlights immediately became a non-issue to me. Now I see it as more of an organic design that I've gotten used to.

 

[MedigoFlame]

The facelift IS you linked has a headlight option that I've never seen before. All the new ISes I see have these:

I think the standard headlights kind of resolve the front end. However, as soon as the facelift came out, the pre-facelift's weird, droopy headlights immediately became a non-issue to me. Now I see it as more of an organic design that I've gotten used to.

A late response.... I would assume it must be something outside the U.S. for those headlights. The standard ones still don't do it for me.

Pre-facelift Renault Megane had headlights that flowed pretty well with the body.

The facelift doesn't seem quite right.

 

[Turbo]

Hyundai Tiburon

Before:



After:



Who at Hyundai thought that this was a good idea?

​

 

[MedigoFlame]

Hyundai Tiburon
​

That was posted on the first page.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

FG Falcon:

Vs. FG Mk II:

Vs. FG X:

I personally feel the One Ford face of FG X does not suit it at all and the FG Mk II was the Goldilocks of the trio. The original FG looked a bit too bland and if I'm honest could have even be passed off as a facelift of the BA/BF (even though it essentially was)

Spoiler: BF XR6

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

The Porsche 928, I honestly think both designs look fine.

 

[Carbon_6]

I think with every new generation, the 21st century Mini steadily got worse.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Toyota kind of needs to update the Sienna. As in a new generation. Not a facelift like this:

 

[Obelisk]

Toyota kind of needs to update the Sienna. As in a new generation. Not a facelift like this:

The older Sienna actually looked quite nice for a Minivan.