Most of the best cars of all time are remembered for their style, performance, or off-road prowess. Even vehicles that aren't exotic or fun to drive can still be remembered for their outstanding character. The Camry, however, is not found in any of these categories. The car is renowned across the globe as a reliable and practical soulless sedan that people use to move from one point to the other.
Updated June 2022: Driving enthusiasts don't want to buy cars that only take them from A to B. And since everybody is talking about the most thrilling cars to buy, we've updated this article with the most boring cars to avoid. Using the Toyota Camry as the yard stick, these are some of the most boring cars any self-respecting gearhead should never consider buying.
Although Toyota has given the Camry several redesigns, the company hasn't really paid much attention to transforming the boring sedan into something enthusiasts would consider taking out for an adrenaline-pumping drive. Even then, with the millions of cars on the road, the Camry is not the most boring car on the market. Compared to the following cars, the Toyota Camry offers respectable performance chops thanks to its optional energetic V6, excellent gas mileage, and a well-behaved yet thrilling drive.
19 Acura ILX
While most modern luxury cars are perfectly engineered to offer premium interior, tons of technology, and entertaining driving, Acura, in its ILX model, failed terribly in the latter. Powering this luxury offering is a 201-horsepower four-cylinder that channels power to the wheels via a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission.
This is a little underwhelming, considering that this Acura is based on the previous-generation Honda Civic. The ILX is less powerful, dishes out less torque, and weighs more than the current Honda Civic Si. While the 2022 model costs only around $27,000, the ILX is one of those affordable luxury cars that are definitely best avoided.
18 Chevrolet Spark
The modern auto market is committed to building cheap, compact cars that are better than ever. They offer features that, 20 years ago, were once limited to high-end luxury cars. Some of these cars can offer decent performance, as even bargain offerings can produce over 100 horsepower, but there are exceptions.
The Chevy Spark's 1.4-liter four-cylinder produces only 98 horsepower, making it one of the least powerful cars on the market. Although the Spark is not heavy, 98 horsepower is not a lot of power no matter how anybody looks at it. To make things even more boring for this car, buyers choose to buy either an outdated five-speed manual or a CVT.
17 Volkswagen Passat
German cars are renowned worldwide for offering unmatched performance. However, while this is true for many of them, the Volkswagen Passat says otherwise about these German cars. The current American Passat isn't even the same car as the one sold in Germany and the rest of Europe. In Europe, the VW Passat is a worthy substitute for Audis.
Sadly, the model Volkswagen sends to the United States can only compete with the Camry. And lose. Regarding performance, the Passat is offered with only one powertrain option, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 174 horsepower. The car is also getting a little old, as it's been around since 2011.
16 Toyota Prius
The Prius has always been the automotive world's punching bag. Although it's quite popular among celebrities, the Prius is solely designed for efficiency, leaving little room for a fun driving experience. While it's not as frequently mocked as it once was, the Prius hasn't suddenly become a desirable model.
And when other automobiles are equipping their EVs with high-performance equipment backed by exotic styling curves, the Prius has only gotten uglier since its second generation. Worse still, the Prius doesn't make much sense as an environmentally friendly option anymore. Fully electric cars have become far more common, and companies like Tesla have proven that zero-emission transportation can be fun. The Prius doesn't make much sense in today's automotive landscape.
15 Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is an excellent vehicle. It's one of the most popular compact crossovers on the market. But that doesn't make it a thrilling car to drive. This SUV won't get anyone's adrenaline rising. However, its spacious interior, fuel-efficient engines, and an affordable starting price of $28,045 explain the vehicle's popularity.
The CR-V is not fun to drive. Drivers used to zipping down the street in an exhilarating SUV like the Porsche Cayenne are in for a rude shock. It has an array of powertrains, including the standard turbocharged V6 and the optional hybrid unit. Neither of these engines qualifies the Honda CR-V as fast. The auto market offers quicker alternatives with better driving dynamics. One such alternative is the Toyota Camry.
14 Mitsubishi Mirage
There's a market for extremely simple and affordable new cars, and it doesn't get much cheaper or more basic than the Mitsubishi Mirage. For those who want nothing more than a freshly built vehicle and a decade of powertrain warranty coverage, the Mirage will work just fine as a daily driver.
However, this also means that the Mirage doesn't offer much else as a driver's car, especially considering its minute power output of 78 horsepower. Also, it doesn't have much in the way of comfort. While it's a decent substitute for a used car, it doesn't particularly offer an engaging driving experience.
13 Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima is a competent rival to the Toyota Camry. It's practical, spacious, and has an optional V6 powertrain. It is a perfect vehicle for drivers looking for a practical mid-size sedan. Behind the wheel, however, the Altima does fall a little short.
The standard six-cylinder engine produces 31 fewer horsepower than the V6 Camry. Also, it is available with a CVT automatic transmission only. Even though a manual transmission will always be the preferred choice for enthusiasts, the Camry's conventional automatic will still be more fun than any CVT.
12 Mercedes-Benz CLA
On Mercedes-Benz's official website, the company confidently says "impossible to overlook" about the CLA coupe. That could be true, but apart from being a Benz, there's nothing exciting about this car. How can a Mercedes be more boring than a Toyota Camry?
Unless buyers opt for the more potent AMG CLA 45 Coupe that hits 60 mph in just over four seconds, the standard CLA is best avoided. This AMG trim does completely negate the model's low price, but the cheaper examples don't have much straight-line performance. In fact, Mercedes claims that the standard CLA accelerates to 60 in 6.9 seconds, whereas the V6 Camry does the same in 5.8.
11 Subaru Legacy
Subaru has quickly become a household name alongside brands like Honda and Toyota. Its mid-size offering is the Legacy, powered by a boxer engine, a unique feature for the segment. Unfortunately, other than the unusual engine, the Legacy isn't a particularly interesting car.
The Legacy's styling is incredibly lackluster, and the model's large flat-six doesn't muster much power either. Worse still, every Legacy comes with a CVT transmission. Perhaps the only best part of the Legacy from an enthusiast perspective is that it makes the current Subaru WRX look better.
10 Ford Edge
Since the mid-2000s, Ford has produced a wide array of crossovers. The Edge is one of the examples. The current Edge has ditched the peculiar, round styling of the original model, and it's adopted a much more powerful motor. The new performance-oriented Edge ST is propelled by a 335-horsepower, 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 and features aggressive black trim.
It's certainly a strong offering in the mid-size SUV market. However, unless the budget is well over $42,000, the only other engine offered is a turbocharged 2.0-liter, which probably doesn't move this two-ton car as effortlessly as the V6.
9 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai has come a long way. Where the company was once only known for selling cheap, basic cars, it now produces vehicles that compete quite well with Japanese mainstays. The Sonata is cheaper than the popular Camry and will likely be a strong daily driver.
However, the Hyundai likely won't deliver the most enjoyable driving experience as the Toyota. There's a Sport+ Sonata; however, it lacks the powerful 2.0-liter turbo motor. Instead, this sports model uses a weaker naturally aspirated engine. There's a turbocharged grunt for the Sonata diehards, a fully loaded Limited 2.0T+ model.
8 Dodge Journey
Fiat Chrysler has done a good job at keeping its older models looking and driving like new cars. The Challenger, the Durango, and the Grand Cherokee are all quite old but remain newsworthy thanks to regular updates and fire-breathing powertrains. The Dodge Journey is largely exempt from this treatment. The car hasn't changed much since its 2011 update, which wasn't drastically improved over the original 2009 model.
It looks its age, and the only way to get a decent powertrain is to pay too much for this elderly crossover. The Journey is an outdated offering whose only exciting feature is its low base price.
7 Toyota C-HR
Despite Toyota's well-known sports cars, the company is generally remembered for its blander offerings. The C-HR seems like a misguided attempt at making something interesting, as it only appeals to those who don't know anything about cars.
This crossover is meant to invoke images of race cars, as Toyota's website claims that the CH-R, a car with 144 horsepower and a CVT automatic, was "born from the mind of a race car driver." Besides an underwhelming powertrain, the C-HR is ugly, and the Camry is practically a supercar in comparison to this thing.
6 Jeep Compass
If it weren't for the Compass's seven-slot grille, nobody would be able to tell it apart from every other boring crossover. The grille is the only thing that makes it a Jeep. The first-generation model was incredibly bad, as it shared its platform with the awful Dodge Caliber, a bulky hatchback with no off-road prowess.
If it makes any difference, the current Compass is a vast improvement over the original model. It's built on a more modern platform, has some off-road capabilities, and no longer has a CVT. However, it still features bland styling, and its off-road variant is rather pricey. It's simply not a fun car, but it's not as miserable as it once was.
5 Fiat 500L
In North America, Fiat's entire lineup is comprised of cute, quirky, compact machines, with most of its models being based around the 500. Both the standard 500 and 500X are unique and attractive. The 500L, while certainly recognizable, doesn't have the fun appearance of the other Fiats.
The 500L features a fat bodywork that makes its wheels look comically tiny. Although it comes with the same 160-horsepower engine as the 500 Abarth, the 500L's hefty 3,250-pound curb weight throws a wet blanket over any potential performance. Given that Fiat sells the far more handsome 500X compact crossover, it's difficult to see why anyone would buy a 500L.
4 Ford Escape
Ford's EcoBoost V6 motor turns some of the company's least interesting cars and SUVs into surprisingly quick machines. The Ford Escape is one of the exceptions. It doesn't have the stout V6 offering. Instead, buyers can only choose from a few four-cylinder variants, with the most powerful producing only 245 horsepower.
Given that it's one of the brand's smaller crossovers, one of these six-cylinder engines would likely make the Escape an impressive sleeper. However, the Escape isn't meant to appeal to anyone who wants an entertaining car. While that isn't necessarily a shortcoming, some people want more out of a car.
3 Dodge Grand Caravan
It's not a controversial statement to say that minivans are incredibly boring, and perhaps the least cool of the bunch is the rapidly aging Dodge Grand Caravan. Despite being produced by a company that has successfully turned other old vehicles into attractive options, the Grand Caravan hasn't received the same treatment.
While it does come with a potent V6 under the hood, the Caravan's elderly platform certainly doesn't lend itself to interesting driving dynamics. While no minivan will ever be cool, the Caravan is the least likely to change anybody's mind.
2 BMW X2
BMW frequently produces incredible performance cars, but it also builds some practical offerings better suited for daily driving. The company's smallest crossover is the X2, and it doesn't provide the straight-line performance that some consumers might be expecting from a brand known for its "Ultimate Driving Machine" tagline.
The quickest X2 has a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds, according to BMW, which is slower than a V6-powered Camry. It also doesn't have the looks of a Bimmer.
1 Chevrolet Trax
Small crossovers are quite popular today, and the Trax is Chevy's entry into this competitive segment. The Trax doesn't offer much more than comparable sedans and hatchbacks. It's not even all that cheap either. Powerful and more economical hatchbacks like the Chevy Sonic are thousands of dollars cheaper.
It does come standard with a turbocharged motor, but it's not all that powerful, and its tall body only adds weight. The Trax doesn't offer much besides a somewhat roomy storage area and a tall seating position.