Toyota has unveiled the Mark X ZiO, the production vehicle that evolved out of the FSC concept from 2005.

One word: Non-offensive

The vehicle is essentially a grown up Matrix and yet seems to borrow a lot of its styling cues from the Mazda CX-series CUV. It’s proportions lie somwehere between a sedan and wagon, although smaller than the Camry.

Let’s have a look at the vehick.

Exterior

The ZiO’s theme is its mix of hard lines and curves… Although not a departure for what Toyota styling means in Japan, it can come as a shift to some of us Western viewers. There is nothing really characteristic about the design, although it does present a fairly nice silhouette and proportion between the DLO and the bodyside. The front end is utilizing some decent surfacing to hide its Corolla-inspired face.

Interior

The vehicle’s interior plays it safe. In other words, it offends no one and yet doesn’t really entice anyone either. The proportional break-up of dashboard space is very minivan - tall & wide surfaces and simple, non-offensive colors and lighting. The forms are pulled and stretched over the structure underneath. The accent materials are delicately placed, such as the metallic strips on the door and the glove box.

Overall

Did I mention “non-offensive”? The aesthetics that Toyota is using to define this new vehicle are definitely playing it safe. This vehicle may make you pause for a quick second, but only because you can’t tell what the make is.