Cars, like their drivers, often fly so far below the radar that they may as well not exist at all. Despite the best intentions of designers to stimulate (but not over-stimulate) loyal buyers, a great number of vehicles roll off the drawing board and into reality with an exterior tailor-made to avoid being noticed.
Some vehicles are nothing less than rolling anonymity. Which, depending on your line of work, may be just the thing you’re looking for.
For criminals and private detectives and a good number of others, going unnoticed has its advantages. The question today is: which readily available vehicle perfectly fills this role?
I know exactly which vehicle I’d choose if remaining unseen topped my list of buying criteria. Sorry, Toyota.
A previous-generation (pre-2020) Corolla sedan, specifically one painted Slate Metallic or Galactic Aqua Mica (such non-vivid colors do not show up in Toyota’s image library), may well be the most anonymous vehicle available today. 2019 models are still flowing off lots, so availability is not an issue. How did I stumble on this not altogether unexpected choice? I realized, while walking the other day, that I was surrounded by them.
They made noise and took up physical space, yet my eyes almost failed to register their presence. Remember the movie Predator? These Corollas wear the same invisibility cloak. An added bonus is that they’re so common, so ubiquitous, that only a paranoid individual would assume the off-teal Corolla spotted here or there was the same one seen earlier.
Runner up? A current-gen Nissan Sentra in Gun Metallic gray, yet even this personification of blandness somehow manages to telegraph its presence to a greater degree than the Corolla.
If you absolutely needed to go unseen, what model would be your first choice?
[Images: Timothy Cain/TTAC, Toyota]
My wife is an attorney who sometimes deals with child abuse/neglect cases and family law issues for the county. She used to drive a yellow Mini Cooper S with black stripes. She would go to court, and then wait for the clients to leave before getting into her car, fearful that they would easily recognize her vehicle again.
She now drives a 2008 Infiniti M35x, though actually pretty rare, is bland enough – in silver – that is doesn’t really draw much attention to itself. She also feel better and safer with the extra weight.
My own undercover car? Silver Camry V6 or a Taurus SHO (debadged).
“My own undercover car? Silver Camry V6 or a Taurus SHO (debadged)”
Both good choices. I have some “noticeable” vehicles but when I want to slip by unnoticed it’s my black Camry XLE with light tint on all windows, or gray Odyssey with heavy tint on all windows. I swear you can get away with ANYTHING hehe.
Our silver 01 Hyundai Elantra was the perfect invisible car. They’re everywhere.
My first thought was actually an Elantra. Used to have one and do not recall ever getting noticed LOL
A silver or white Ford F150. I see a lot more of these than a Corolla. Second choice would be some GM SUV/CUV in silver.
There are so many shades of grey, four door, F150s in the parking lot at my job it looks like a Ford dealership. After all its the most popular selling vehicle. I think at last count 1 in 5 people I work with drive one.
All PUps are like this. And nobody knows which one is 4/6/8 cyl diesel/gas, etc. Basically, I don’t even follow PUps because of this. They all look the same.
Nissan Versa, I looked up “generic car” on google and that’s what popped up
(chuckle)
I can’t argue with that logic… nope, can’t think of anything to say against it. I probably would have done the same thing if I’d thought of it first.
A silver Altima, about three to five years old. People will think it’s a rental.
Agree
3-5 year old Silver or Grey Altima or Camry virtually anonymous in Northern California.
Yep, came here to say the same thing. Also correct, they, along with the dreaded Camry, are seemingly everywhere here in Northern California, holding up traffic.
Easy one – silver lower level Dodge Charger. Everyone in my area bets that you’re driving an unmarked police car. Now, some of you might be thinking about how this makes you low key. Ask yourselves, when an unmarked police car drives by, do you look at the driver? Probably not. So you’ll have a line of traffic part like the Red Sea with everyone thinking you’re an officer and not making eye contact because they are staring dead ahead watching their speed.
Works for me…
Of course, the traffic that DOESN’T move over for you will ensure it takes longer to get to your destination!
Pull over for an unmarked police car? And everyone who thinks it is a police car slows to the speed limit in all lanes.
Answers will vary locally. Where I am I would say a Corolla or a silver Passat would offer anonymity. I’ve told this story before, but I knew a household, 2 doctors, that owned 2 VW Phaetons, chosen specifically because they were nice but would not attract attention or appear ostentatious.
What vehicle did they have to actually drive while those were in the shop?
I haven’t been in touch so I’m not sure what they drive now. At the time, they were only doing regular maintenance- but religiously. A kid arrived, so who knows maybe a V10 diesel Toureg? Funny thing though– Phaeton #1 was in the shop for regular maintenance when Phaeton #2 happened. It had just been traded in. I think they were both V-8’s.
VW Phaeton, anonymous? That’s like driving a Rolls Royce because everyone thinks it’s one of those Beetles with a Rolls Royce kit, yeah, sure
Actually, true. Phaeton is like, “oh look – passat.. no, Audi… $#1t – this Phaeton.” Another cal like this – Chevy SS. “Oh – Impala, no Maliby… ah, SS. Ok”
If you don’t know what it is, it just looks like a Passat.
Which is why they appeal to me so much. If I had any need of a “going out to dinner” car, I would have one.
I have a neighbor who has one and you’d really have to be unfamiliar with VW design to mistake it for a Passat, it’s pretty big
99.275% of the population has no idea what a Phaeton is. It just looks like a big sedan.
That’s why doctors used to drive Buicks. In the old days they used the same platform as Cadillac, but without the flash. Oh, and slow Toyotas is strictly local, as you say. Drive in L.A. or Boston and you’ll see them keeping up with the pack.
Almost any pickup truck, especially in silver or white, along with almost any CUV of any brand. I would, however, except Lexus, as that gaping “Predator” grille is highly noticeable.
I agree with you on this. A sedan in most parking lots I visit these days is the exception.
When I was a licensed P.I. our preferred ‘surveillance/tail’ cars were Honda Civics. Enough around that they are rarely noticed. Reasonably comfortable for sitting long hours. Fuel efficient. And ‘peppy’ enough to be able to follow/keep up with most drivers.
And since most Honduh and Toyoduh drivers tailgate, you won’t even be given a second thought tailing someone. I loathe both brands now because either their buyers are stupid when they buy them or the brands make them stupid once they own them.
Gee. Most of the high quality car resenters claim Toyotas are driven too slowly at all times. If they’re tailgating you, that would have to make you some sort of rolling chicane. Or maybe the people who buy the best cars aren’t incompetents after all, and you and Fredo Grazi don’t let reality mess with your comments.
This. When I need to change lanes in busy traffic, I intentionally look for Toyotas because they are often way far back from the vehicle in front of them.
Toyotas are all over the place. Why? Because not all Toyota drivers slow-pokes. Around where I live, they’re as likely to be overly aggressive as they are to be hanging back. I’ve seen Subies hanging back farther than Toyotas (while my neighbor has ripped out four rear diffs and one transmission in the last 6 months on his Subie.)
No, you can’t stereotype any one brand’s drivers as slow or fast; the people driving them are just too different. To be ‘invisible’ you have to have a bland car and drive in a bland manner–meaning exactly like the majority and not too fast OR too slow.
Sooo correct on that point.
Oh snap! :D
@cprescott-
“And since most Honduh and Toyoduh drivers tailgate, you won’t even be given a second thought tailing someone. I loathe both brands now because either their buyers are stupid when they buy them or the brands make them stupid once they own them.”
Wow, that is pretty HARSH.
My current commuting is in a slate grey Camry, way under the radar. Similarly, our dark red Town&Country is a dime a dozen and not catching anyone’s eye.
Any cuv in the Edge/sante Fe/cr-v segment. Literally everywhere you look, especially cr-v.
Yes, especially the Santa Fe/Ford Escape, hard to tell who was looking over who’s soldier there
Sonata from a couple generations ago, 2009 ish, virtually invisible.
We recently got a 2008 Corolla in silver. It had a real low income look to it with no wheel covers and it was really bland, I mean seriously bland. My wife likes the idea of blending in but I couldn’t take it. A window tint, some wheel covers and chrome license plate frames makes it look a lot better. Even though I didn’t really want the car I cannot complain about its performance. It does what it is supposed to do very well.
I drive a metallic grey 2018 Corolla SE with premium package
congrats
One of the most prolific and successful cocaine dealers in US history rolled around in a silver minivan 24/7, while they were looking for him in a Lamborghini, Rolls or something.
To many bland choices out there, but of the pickups, the fleet white, regular cab, 2wd F-150 with silver steel wheels, any year, would get the least attention.
That would draw my attention because it’s rare, especially if it didn’t have a company name on the side. A crew cab would blend in a lot more
They’re more common than you think, and not rare at all. It’s just that you don’t notice them like you do the 50 to $70K sparkling 4X4 crew cab trucks lathered in chrome and stuff that command your attention.
And that’s the beauty of them, when you’re trying not to get noticed.
A 2013 – 2015 dark grey Honda Odyssey is both ubiquitous, and invisible.
At the current rate of purchase, Jeep Wranglers. Heh.
And if I was going to rob a bank and needed to make sure no one, ever, would be able to know exactly what I was driving, I would drive a debadged early 2000s Hyundai XG350.
Silver Rogue Sport.
Or a mid to late 2000s Light Blue Hyundai Santa Fe. Generic CUV blob-mobile.
I’ve always gone for vehicles that are relatively low key but uncommon. My daily driver is dark green Land Rover LR4 – somewhat different, does not really blend in, but not flashy at the same time. Honestly I like the LR3 appearance better without the chrome grille.
On the flip side if I was to commit a crime I’d take my wife’s light brown Honda Odyssey.
In my area, I’d take a 2012-2015 toilet seat white Odyssey. Those things are all over the place.
Nearly any sedan or compact to midsize CUV in silver, gray, white, or black.
My Granite Gray 2nd gen Highlander never got noticed.
If I wanted to commit a crime I’d do that in my wife’s 2016 (1st gen) Terrain. It is “Ebony Twilight” (one of the 3 shades of black I swear was available) and in my city of 20,000 (county of 75,000) I must see 5 similar vehicles in an average day without trying.
The correct answer: Top-selling vehicles.
Current Rogue or previous-gen Elantra. The recent Corollas stand out too much, mostly because of the LED headlights you can pick out from a mile away. If you’re outside of a city, a grey Silverado/Sierra crew cab from the last 10 years.
There’s no need to be so scrupulous. 95%+ cars are invisible. Camrys, accords, Grand Cherokee, c classes, 3 series, Tahoes, F150, RAV4, CRVs, and so on and so forth, are invisible in any urban area
All late model Volvos. Current models are nicer and stand out, but even the most recent XC60 before the redesign gathers little interest… unless it’s painted brown, and then I’ll go and check it out.
Huge benefit of outstanding seats, good stereos and reasonable prices on the used market.
This ^^
My S80 blends in well and is decently quick. If it wasn’t this comfortable inside my road rage would be much higher.
I have a pretty good under-the-radar car, a Honda Civic. Blends into traffic with all the other similarly-shaped sedans. Perfectly stealthy and unobtrusive in most ways, EXCEPT IT’S RED. OOPS !
You failed. Latest Civic anything anything but unobtrusive. you need to say the year
^^This, Civics have been pretty distinctive for awhile now
Dodge Grand Caravan.
Why would anyone want to do anything but stand out?!
My favorite cars have always been the colorful and stylish ones. Its my signature. I keep a neutral daily driver/runner— and something newer and more fun as a trophy.
The vintage one stays in the garage where it belongs ☺️
“My favorite cars have always been the colorful and stylish ones.”
Yes, those Neons really are distinctive
Personally, I prefer unique and distinctive over conformity. Problem is that being unique is difficult in this day and age of auto sales. All the dealerships want bland because they sell right off the lot; bright and colorful might sit a month or four.
Pretty much any pickup truck. Especially, white
Here in Seattle, no question the answer is Prius, Corolla, or Civic in a bland color. Subaru Forester or Outback are also a decent choice. If you need something bigger, Pilot, Highlander, or RX350 in a bland color.
I have a silver Highlander and it’s totally unnoticeable. If I get in it I disappear.
Outback [I believe] best sold car in Washington state
I’m thinking that a Lambo Huracan or Aventador is really low, so will go unnoticed in many situations. Then add an urban camo wrap (or regular camo wrap if you plan on driving your Lambo in the countryside) and you’ll be almost invisible.
The obvious answer is a plain white van. Get some fake magnetic company logo decals to throw on it for good measure.
Seattleite here also. Downtown? Prius. Suburbs? Odyssey. Sticks? Pickup with a ladder rack. All silver.
The easy answer is Rav4/Camcord/white XL truck, because they’re everywhere, but if I did notice you shooting out of the window of one I’d at least be able to testify as to what kind it was. So go generic. Even as a car guy I can’t tell one Korean compact from another. Ditto Nissans and Mitsubishis if they still exist and Chevys.
Describe the getaway vehicle: “It was grey.”
if you want to be upscale-ish anonymous: Kia Cadenza. Or if you want RWD, the pre-Genesis Hyundai Genesis aka G80 or K900.
I like my Golf R for being inconspicuous. It’s nice enough looking, but basically just a tidier than average hatchback. It’s also ridiculously fast.
I’d keep my Mazda if I was assured it wouldn’t get blasted or damaged. Otherwise, I’d take a 2003ish Taurus in denim blue with just enough body rot where people wouldn’t look twice and comment on the good nick it’s in.
99ish Cavaliers would work too, but they’re thinning out and people would notice that one was still running.
I’d keep my Mazda if I was assured it wouldn’t get blasted or damaged. Otherwise, I’d take a 2003ish Taurus in denim blue with just enough body rot where people wouldn’t look twice and comment on the good nick it’s in.
99ish Cavaliers would work too, but they’re thinning out and people would notice that one was still running.
“I’d keep my Mazda if I was assured it wouldn’t get blasted or damaged.”
What are you talking about? Who don’t let you keep your Mazda? Your mom?
I took the question to mean that the car would be involved in illicit activities. As such I wouldn’t want the Mazda to get murder death killed. A Taurus wouldn’t break my heart if damaged.
Though when I was younger I kind of liked them for some dumb reason. Specifically the generation that was around in 1994, headgasket issues notwithstanding.
This is a true story: last weekend a group of us were trailering at a friend’s cottage. Another couple, close friends, were coming for dinner on Saturday. I had been on the beach and didn’t notice that they arrived in their ’16 or ’17 Silver-ish Corolla. I saw my friend and even though I was no more than 20 feet from their car I honestly didn’t see it at first. It’s like the car had a cloaking device installed.
(On the other hand, while driving I take note of and pay careful attention to Corollas, Camrys, RAV4s, RX350s, CR-Vs and most Subarus since to not see them puts you at greater peril. I have no idea why, but people who can’t drive and have no desire to learn seem to gravitate to these cars.)
You can pick ANY silver or gray coupe – they all look alike anyway, and only car-savvy people can tell the make or model anymore.
Dodge Journey. It looks like every other minivan/CUV/wagon on the road. I think it might be one of the few vehicles sold today that has nothing distinctive about it.
Well, if you want a vehicle with anonymity, but doesn’t drive like an appliance, you can’t go wrong a VW Golf or Jetta.
You guys need to think outside the box more. Horse-drawn buggy, simple, two wheels, slow moving vehicle sign/orange triangle on the back end, dress in black pants and a black jacket (no buttons), grow your beard out and look, you know… PLAIN. The dragnet will be looking for a car and you’ll slip right through everybody.