Take a stab at guessing the top-selling car in the United States. Played-out request, you say? That's only because the answer has been the same for so long. Toyota, maker of the benchmark midsize sedan/sales stalwart, assembled 99.1 percent of all Camrys sold through March in America. Thanks, Indiana and Kentucky. Through the first quarter of 2011, the Camry found new owners 76,821 times (up 10.5 percent over 2010, though the first three months of 2010 were impacted by recall scares). It might as well get a big bull's-eye painted on its honestly hewn, Vibrant Clarity-themed sheetmetal.
The bull's-eye works two ways. Many consumers find their driving needs fulfilled by Camry, making the family car an invaluable company asset. Second, the Camry is an easy target for certain, um, enthusiasts who feel the urge to publicly proclaim their disapproval. Common descriptors thrown around include "appliance," "beige," and "boring." Example: This Camry is a boring, beige appliance. Is it all blind hatred? Allow us to present another perspective. What the Camry lacks in flair and curb appeal it makes up for in sincerity, wrapped in a forgivably ordinary-looking package. The SE V-6 we drove employs Toyota's 3.5-liter six-cylinder, which made quite the name for itself at its debut, easily banging out 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque in the Camry's service. It's among the best-endowed midsize sedans (engine-wise) available, and the enthusiast can't fault it for its intended acceleration time: an estimated 6.1 seconds from 0-60 mph.Motor Trend Rating:
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