3. Enterprise (NX-01), Star Trek: Enterprise
While many of the other ships on this list try to imagine what starships would look like after the original series, Enterprise imagines one of the earliest starships Humanity built, before the Federation had even formed. This back-imagining gives us a ship that is not quite as sleek as later models but bears a resemblance to what we’re familiar with.
On top of this thoughtful design continuity, Enterprise just looks good. It has the look of an experimental vessel designed by NASA, rather than a “mass-produced” ship of the line. Plus, the NX class’s saucer with its nacelles above it look like the “later” Miranda class, but with a friendlier posture that almost gives the impression that the ship is smiling, emphasizing the optimism of Star Trek: Enterprise.
2. USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E), Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis
This is, of course, my opinion, but the Enterprise-E is the best-looking ship from the 24th Century era of Star Trek. While it may be less iconic than its immediate predecessor, the Enterprise-E is a sleek callback to the original series Enterprise. It is “neckless,” like Voyager and the Protostar, but the proportions feel much more balanced. Also, it looks fast!
Unlike the D, the Enterprise-E’s elliptical saucer section has its longer dimension going parallel to the secondary hull and nacelles. This gives a lean, almost aerodynamic appearance (even if aerodynamics don’t matter in space) that echoes sports cars and jets.
If there is a problem with the Enterprise-E, it is simply that it isn’t as famous in our world as the 1701 or 1701-D Enterprises. This makes it harder to find models and other toys of the ship at reasonable price points, which really is a shame, because man…the Enterprise-E is beautiful!