Type a website address incorrectly or follow a broken link and you’ll end up on the 404 error page. At a basic level these are just a default web page to let you know you’ve gone wrong. However, they don’t have to be left as a default, they can be more creative.
In the world of big-money car branding and among all the straight-laced suits there are just a few who have been creative with their 404 error page.
YesAuto has spent the time deliberately going wrong on UK car brand websites to find out which manufacturers have been creative and gone that little bit further to entertain their customers.
Of the 40 or so car makes with UK websites about half have really haven’t bothered with their 404 error page.
Those that have put a little bit more thought in fall into one of three categories; classy image, clever wordplay or both.
We put these top 20 brands to the vote to see which the Great British public (or at least this author’s Twitter following) liked most.
Here’s how the car makers did.
Most brands didn’t get any votes, but the poll did produce a top 5. But first, the runners up in no particular order.
Ford
A great shot of a Puma and Ford has at least used the phrase ‘wrong turn’.
Dacia
Neat picture of a lost Dacia.
Suzuki
Neat wordplay from Suzuki. The message reads: “Sorry, we can’t find the page that you’re looking for, but we can give you a Swift ride elsewhere.”
Honda
Honda’s UK website does more than just cars, so it covers a few bases. Nice touch to see Asimo bringing the coffees.
MG
No mistaking where you’ve landed. In MG’s defence it is updating its website.
Citroen
A neat plug for some branded clothing.
Renault
Only marginally makes it into this listing. Very ordinary, unlike the international website for sister brand Alpine (see the title image for this feature).
Mazda
At least there’s a suitable numberplate.
Mini
A very ‘Mini’ image, just missing some cars. A neat way of conveying a failed link on a car maker’s website. And it’s coupled to the Mini adventure theme too with the message: “It looks like that the page has gone on an adventure.”
Seat
No cars or motoring theme at all in Seat’s 404 page. Maybe that’s the point.
Skoda
Keeping things simple with a lifestyle picture of a car.
Nissan
Nissan has opted for the road closed metaphor. Could try harder with the image.
BMW
A classy image of a dreamily empty rural road is great, if slightly mis-matched with the message: “A bump in the road”.
Mercedes
Not much more than a suitably premium image. But at least the words are relevant to both websites and driving: “No further access from this point.”
The top five
=5. Volvo
An on-brand image implying that you’ve stopped on your way to somewhere else. High quality.
=5. Jeep
A very ‘Jeep’ image and the words: “Never stop exploring. The Path ends here, but your journey doesn’t.”
4. Abarth
A neat play on Abarth’s sporty brand. The words imply the car got away – just like the web page you were looking for.
3. Audi
As you’d expect or hope from a prestige brand, this is a classy 404 error page. The image is clearly bespoke and the implication of the skid-marks would imply that something has gone wrong (for a brand that prides itself on grip) in a fun way.
2. Fiat
Very clever thinking by Fiat. It takes the missing link issue and applies it to cars in a different way to everyone else, by showing an incomplete, yet completely recognisable, car with the message: “Oops, we haven’t built yet what you’re looking for. Keep on travelling with us.”
1. Peugeot
Time to geek out. When you once built a car called the 404, what else would you put on your 404 error page? 53% of the vote shows Peugeot has clearly done the right thing for car fans by showing the saloon version of the 1960s family car.
The French brand, rightly, wins the vote for best car brand 404 error page.
Keyword: Car brand 404 error web pages rated