The overall proportions are beetle like and rather doughy. There is no integration of either the tail or headlights aside from their outer edges following the adjacent fender contours.
The wide, smooth surfaces devoid of surface development are intended to appeal to a risk averse mentality, making the odd front fender bulges look all the more tacked on.
The front grille is a really inspired egg-crate affair that just reeks cutting edge, and the slight curve above the badge seems like another tacked on detail.
In fairness to Toyota, any car designed to be the best selling model in America cannot afford to take any risks. However, I would never nominate the very vanilla Camry as anything approaching a prime example of automotive design. The Altima, on the other hand, has been very well designed for a while now, lest anyone accuse me of bias against the Japanese.
God, I can’t stand the term vanilla. I hear that all the time discussing football. “Vanilla” carries negative connotations, despite its most direct meaning being “tried and true.” Investing in diversified mutual funds is certainly “vanilla” but it’s also a tried-and-true recipe for success. It doesn’t really apply to cars since the styles come and go as they have pretty much forever.
I didn’t say, by the way, that the Camry was a prime example of design. I’m stating that it isn’t ugly - far from it, actually. The Camry and Accord strike me as attractive cars - much more so than the Altima. Without dissecting the individual features of each vehicle, I will say that the lines and proportion of the Camry appeal to me while the Altima’s lines and proportions (and odd headlights) do not. It’s a matter of opinion (outside maybe the Honda Element and Toyota FJ, for example, which I think are incredibly hideous).
Please don’t state that the Camry IS ugly. You think it’s ugly and that’s fine. I think anybody who likes Picasso needs a blood, hair, and urine test, but I won’t state that it IS ugly. I just think it’s some of the ugliest work I’ve ever seen. Just acknowledge that you aren’t the authority on what is and is not a stylish car.