Dec 14th, 2008 by RJ Menezes
What’s with Toyota and making boring cars?!? Seriously, we all know that the Japanese auto giant can make some sweet cars, just look at the Supra and MR-2 Coupe. But when it comes to regular cars Toyota seems to lean a bit too much toward ruthless efficiency, and not enough towards, um, a pulse.
Easily given the “most likely to fall asleep at the wheel while driving this thing” award, most of Toyota’s more pedestrian models are unbearably boring. Take the Camry for example. Overall a great car, but get behind the wheel and you cant help feeling like this is more of an appliance, not a car. The Camry could have been designed by Black & Decker and the outcome would have looked very much the same.
Now there is a new Toyota in the cul-de-sac, and it seems to be more of the same as well. Called the Venza, this new model is basically a crossover’d version of a Camry station wagon (can you feel the excitement!) and first impressions are that this is the same old boring-to-drive, soul-less, boring, unexciting, and boring type of car we’ve come to expect from Toyota.
Power comes courtesy of the same 2.7-liter four-cylinder which powers the Camry, mated to the same 6-speed automatic transmission. In fact under the skin it basically is a Camry, sharing its basic platform and suspension components.
Looks wise, it’s not that bad. Sure it is only a bit attractive in the right eyes, but even I admit I kinda liked it before I came to my senses. The front grill is elegant, but just. Inside there is your usual assortment of cubby spaces, mp3 and power plugs, and 2,800 cup holders. The dash is also all over the place, design-wise.
Don’t get me wrong, this is probably a fine car. It will take you to work, the kids to soccer practice, and handle any curve-ball your suburban life can throw at you. But alas, I cannot judge a book on cover alone and such is the way I deal with cars. I can’t like the Venza even if I tried. The thing could look like a Ferrari, but as long as I knew it was nothing but Camry underneath, thoughts of the driving experience would have me squirming in my seat. I might hate slow, but not as much I as hate boring.
Source: Inside Line
Photo: Toyota Motor Co.
Protect your vehicle with an extended warranty! Get a fast free quote on affordable extended warranties for used and new cars here! 
Don't forget to factor insurance costs into your research. Get accurate insurance rate information on any vehicle and shop for the best deal.
Get real price quotes from local dealerships. Don't buy a car without checking the price first! Pit dealers against each other to get the best deal possible!
{/literal}
RJ,
Just wondering if you have actually driven this vehicle?
By the way, Camry still is the best selling passenger vehicle for years as is vanilla in the world of ice cream flavors.
irvmiller,
I haven’t driven the Venza, but I’ve driven many Camry’s. From the initial test reports coming out, the Venza seems to be just a fancy Camry station wagon. When examining underneath its skin you see that, well, it is. Though I have yet to drive a Venza, I doubt it will set any hearts racing when driving it. Then again that’s not what it was designed for, right?
Like I stated before:
“Don’t get me wrong, this is probably a fine car. It will take you to work, the kids to soccer practice, and handle any curve-ball your suburban life can throw at you…”
But my entire point was that Toyota chooses to make their cars bland and neutral on purpose. They look at them as units, nothing else. Vanilla is my favorite flavor too, but if the local ice-cream shop only sold vanilla they’d be outta business in no time!