Set to go up against Nissan's big-selling Qashqai, it'll take its styling cues from the striking C-HR concept when it arrives in early 2016.
It also lost its styling pizazz, some rear legroom and a bit of trunk space.
The SLK was relatively peppy, thanks to its supercharged engine, and its retractable hardtop set it apart, but its styling was rather tame.
Not only is its styling dated, but it also connects to computers only through a serial port.
But the specialist magazines have given it a mixed reception, praising its styling and high-tech engines while criticising early cars for their choppy ride.
But as Toyota, which ranks fourth in sales in the United States, evolves into a full-line manufacturer, making pickups and sport utility vehicles as well as small cars, it is also loosening up its styling palette.
The 7-Series is packed with advanced electronics, but it has already drawn some criticism for its styling and for the joystick controls that BMW calls iDrive.
This year, the car has received a face-lift, along with a new engine and transmission, to address criticisms that its styling was too conservative and that it was underpowered.
It is easier to feel confident about admiring a utilitarian object, whose appearance is defined by its function, than it can be to enjoy one because of its styling.
Until today reaction has been mixed - with fashionistas divided over its styling, and techies not wholly convinced that it is a "must-have" product.
Long before it reached any showrooms, the Diavel was skewered for its styling.
