The 2007 Camry arrived early last year, and its newly muscular shape is already a familiar sight. Beneath the skin, however, the sportiness goes only so far. A highlight is a stout 3.5-litre V6 that puts 268 hp through a 6-speed automatic. But, except on the SE, steering feel is too willowy for expressive driving. Besides, no way would Toyota compromise Camry's rep for being painless to drive, painless to own. The ho-hum base 158-hp, 2.4-litre "four" is teamed with a 5-speed autobox, or, exclusively on the SE 4-cylinder, a 5-speed manual. On the safety front there's ABS and seven airbags -- two frontal, two side-impact, two head-curtain ... and one for the driver's knees.

No longer the boring alternative to an Accord

New looks may turn-off vanilla lovers