The only transmission available, a four-speed automatic, works in complete harmony with the powerplant. It moves seamlessly from gear to gear and offers quick, crisp downshifts for passing. As noted, this vehicle has been designed primarily as a family car. The car feels solid, body roll is controlled and the car tracks where it is pointed. The exception is the multi-information display, which in the XLS flashes the day, date, time, outside temperature, average speed, time of trip, average and instant fuel mileage compass readings and fuel range.
Several problems arise.
Its TV screen is out of character with the rest of the interior, it's hard to read when the sun hits it, and the fuel economy readings zero out every time the engine is turned off. This means it's not possible to figure out the true average fuel mileage for a tank of gasoline. Outside, the styling has an edgy, boxy look, that is now in sharp contrast to the Camry. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but this beholder thinks the exterior styling is the car's least attractive feature. An option on XLS models only is vehicle skid control, which combines traction control and braking features to help keep the car from going out of control.