A mention of the Toyota Camry is not usually accompanied by excitement. Sure, a ton of them are sold each year, and people view it as a safe and reliable vehicle for family travels and getting from point A to point B, but it’s not a ride that people are generally thrilled to get behind the wheel of.

To change that perception, though, let me introduce the Toyota Camry TRD, a model that soups up the traditional family vehicle to appeal to driving enthusiasts. I recently spent time behind the wheel of a 2021 Camry TRD, and I’m back with a full report.

What’s that you say? A sporty Toyota Avalon? Have pigs started to fly?

No, the pigs are not yet airborne. But yes, starting with the 2020 model year, Toyota has given the TRD treatment to its traditional, full-size family sedan, and the Avalon has a very cool, racecar-looking version that may appeal to a different segment of car buyers.

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To get right to the point, the Avalon TRD is definitely a looker. It garnered a lot of attention while I was driving it, and for good reason.

Up front, you get a truly aggressive-looking spiderweb grille design, on the tires you get a distinctive black and red look, and on the rear you get dual exhaust with polished tips and a piano black rear spoiler. It's also immediately noticeable how low to the ground this vehicle is.