10 Cars With the Strangest Steering Wheels Ever Made
We think of the steering wheel as a round, familiar interface, but automakers have often experimented with wild shapes, layouts, and concepts. From square yokes to monospoke oddities, some designs push the boundaries (for better or worse). Here are 10 cars with some of the most bizarre steering wheels ever produced or shown, and what made them so memorable.
1. Maserati Boomerang
The Maserati Boomerang is a famed concept car whose steering wheel doubled as an instrument panel itself, with gauges mounted in the hub. It’s often cited among the strangest steering wheels for its radical integration of controls and visual minimalism. The driver looked through a narrow split in the hub to see the road. It’s not practical, but it pushed the envelope in design experimentation. As art, it remains one of the boldest interior statements in automotive history.
2. Citroën DS/Citroën CX’s Monospoke Wheel
Citroën in the 1960s and 70s used a monospoke (single-spoke) steering wheel in the DS and later CX models, which many consider among the strangest steering wheels ever in production. The idea was to give better visibility of the dashboard and improve leg clearance. It felt radical to drivers used to three or four spokes. While some drivers liked the novelty, others found it unsettling at first. Over time, it became an iconic element of Citroën’s futuristic identity.
3. Aston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda’s steering wheel is often remembered for being flat and slab-like rather than circular. It leaned heavily into futuristic styling in the 1970s and ‘80s, giving the driver a slab steering hub with thin rim surfaces. Among cars with the weirdest steering wheels, this one stands out for how it challenged what a steering wheel “should” look like. It matched the angular, space-age design language of that era. Today, it’s a gem for enthusiasts who love quirky retro interiors.
4. Subaru XT
The 1985 Subaru XT used a steering wheel that many describe as Citroën-inspired and odd in its geometry. Some observers include it among the craziest looking steering wheels because it pushed away from pure roundness toward a more angular shape. The design aimed to improve sightlines to the dashboard, but it felt rather unnatural in the hand to some drivers. It’s a production car example of trying to balance design ambition with ergonomics. The XT’s wheel continues to be a conversation piece among gearheads.
5. Lancia Beta Trevi
The Lancia Beta Trevi adopted a very narrow, semi-rectangular steering wheel, thin horizontally with short vertical grips. That puts it squarely on lists of cars with the strangest steering wheels for its unconventional rim profile. It was partly a styling gesture, but some drivers found the grip area less natural. Given how we tend to wrap our fingers around a curve, the flat segments felt alien. As a result, the Trevi’s wheel remains one of those oddities people remember.
6. Chevrolet Corvair Testudo
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The Testudo is a concept version of the Corvair, and it featured a very thin rim and minimalist appearance. Inside concept cars like the Testudo, designers often experiment with the most bizarre steering wheels just for visual drama. This one looked almost skeletal (thin, spindly, schematic). It wasn’t meant for real-world durability, but it remains stunning in images. For concept lovers, it’s a reminder that steering wheels can double as design statements.
7. Lancia Stratos Sibilo
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The Lancia Stratos Sibilo is another concept car whose interior included a very angular, minimal steering interface. The rim was thin and contoured, echoing the sharp geometry of the body design. As with many concept cars, its wheel prioritized style over comfort. Among cars with the strangest steering wheels, it shows how designers treat the wheel as part of a sculptural whole. For fans, it remains a showcase of 1970s “future car” aesthetics.
8. Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix ASC/McLaren
This variant of the Grand Prix featured a wheel loaded with buttons, strange layouts, and a flat upper rim section, something many critics flagged as awkward to use. It’s regarded among cars with the totally weird-looking steering wheels for how busy and counterintuitive it felt. By cramming multiple functions into the wheel in the early days, it foreshadowed modern efforts but lacked polish. Drivers often complained about muscle memory errors in operation. Nonetheless, it’s a fascinating historical step in the evolution of steering complexity.
9. 1960s Plymouth Fury/Mopar Squircle
Some Mopar models, like the 1960 Plymouth Fury and related “squircle” steering wheels, blended circular and square shapes, creating a rounded square rim. This hybrid shape landed them on many lists of cars with the strangest steering wheels. The intent may have been styling or differentiation, but drivers found it odd to grip. It strikes a balance between novelty and awkwardness. These wheels are now collector curiosities rather than functional upgrades.
10. Peugeot Hypersquare (Concept)
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Peugeot’s upcoming concept introduces a square “Hypersquare” steering wheel reminiscent of a video-game controller, made possible by steer-by-wire design. It’s one of the newest entries among cars with the strangest steering wheels and is already making headlines for its boldness. Because the wheel doesn’t rely on mechanical linkage, Peugeot can freely reshape it. The Hypersquare is designed for gesture control rather than traditional rotation. It signals a possible future direction and revival of radical steering ideas.
When Steering Design Meets Practicality
These steering wheels teach us a lesson: innovation often competes with usability. While concept and retro designs push boundaries, real drivers care about grip, feedback, and comfort. When manufacturers stray too far, the wheel becomes a gimmick rather than a tool. The best designs balance novelty with function and safety. For car lovers, these 10 are proof that the steering wheel isn’t just a circle; it’s also a canvas.
Which of these steering wheels would you dare to drive with or avoid at all costs? Tell me your pick in the comments!
