I'm no Jonathan Ive, but I'd like to think I know good design when I see it. To my admittedly jaundiced eye, Japanese automakers -- with the exception of Mazda -- can't seem to build a beautiful car. Sure, some of their products are decent looking, like the Honda Accord for instance, but as far as I'm concerned they've never produced a product that's stop-and-stare gorgeous like, say, an Audi S5. If any manufacturer proves this rule it's Toyota, and its ever-popular midsize sedan is the poster child of this unfortunate ethos.
Something’s just not right about the Camry’s styling. It looks like the product of one too many focus groups or corporate think tanks. It’s not ugly, but it’s definitely odd – like a partially melted walrus, but with a much bigger underbite. The hybrid model is particularly strange, with sharp corners molded into its low-hanging bumpers – add-ons for better aerodynamics that give it an almost tank-like heft. The wispy brushed-metal accent piece above the grille opening brings to mind a mustached maitre'd at a fancy restaurant. "Do you have a reservation?"
Popping open a door and sliding inside you’re greeted by an interior that’s rather plain. Like the outside, Toyota played it safe. Thankfully, what it lacks in pizzazz it makes up for with comfort. The leather-trimmed seats are soft to the touch and long-haul comfortable, front or rear. The cabin is as quiet as a nuclear submarine in enemy waters, even at freeway speeds. But for all these plusses, I found a few surprising minuses. Chiefly among these was the disappointing fit and finish. There were several misaligned panels on the dashboard and the materials’ quality was nothing special. Also, in a day when even bottom-rung economy cars offer attractive, woven headliners the Camry comes dressed with something resembling an old sweater.
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Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 4:16PM 
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