For the latest Toyota Camry pricing and information:
www.kbb.com/toyota/camry/
Not much has changed since we last reviewed the 8th-generation Camry Toyota but it is the number one selling midsize sedan in America so no harm in revisiting it. (get out of car) Ok, some things have changed.
I previously described this generation Camry as your responsible cousin with the stable job at the city planning office…except on the weekend when things get cray!! Well, look out. Since we last chatted Toyota added a sassy TRD Camry to the lineup.
And lest you think all this TRD-ness is pure poseur-ism, let me correct the record. And also stop using the word “lest”. The TRD boasts larger 12.9-inch front brake rotors, plus red calipers. Nothing says “speed” like red calipers. Then there’s the TRD tuned suspension. Along with a front tower brace there’s additional bracing for the rear suspension along with reworked dampers and springs that drop the ride height by .6 inches.
This is the first factory Camry I can recall with some stancy swagger.
It’s the same 3.5-liter V6 found on other higher Camry trims. (301hp, 267 lb-ft) The TRD is no stronger than any other V6 Camry but it is plenty powerful.
Last thing about the TRD, it’s the cheapest way to buy a V6, undercutting the XLE V6 trim by about $3,400 bucks. The TRD is slightly less efficient than the XLE V6 (22city/33hwy XLE V6) (22city/31hwy TRD V6) but if you like V6 power, wings, stance, and value, buy the TRD. TRD details aside the Camry is still very much a Camry. Passenger space is ample, the seats are comfortably contoured, center console storage is large, critical touchpoints feel nice…while other spots feel somewhat lowbrow, and the controls are clearly labeled and intuitive to use.
Toyota has smartly added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. I am so glad I can stop complaining about that. The actual interface isn’t visually dazzling, but it is functional. And I like having physical buttons to access primary controls. Toyota, you’ve earned a hearty thumbs up.
Camry trunk space is a reasonable 15.1 cubic feet in all but the L trim which is 1 cubic foot smaller. If you know why, please let us know. And if you’re wondering, thanks to a battery positioned under the rear seats the Camry Hybrid offers the same trunk space and pass-through as the standard Camry.
Speaking of, the Camry Hybrid’s electrified powertrain delivers lively acceleration and superior fuel economy (208 Total Horsepower). Note, if you want maximum efficiency, choose the least expensive Hybrid LE trim. (44city/47hwy SE, XLE) (51city/53hwy LE)
Stick with the standard 4-cylinder (203hp, 184 lb-ft) gasoline engine and you’ll still enjoy a nice blend of performance and efficiency (28city/39hwy). Those are great numbers for a midsize sedan but, just like the hybrid, the cheapest L trim is also the most efficient. (29city/41hwy) 41 highway MPG in a family sedan? What a time to be alive. Both the V6 and 4-cylinder engines are joined to a fine 8-speed automatic transmission whose operation is innocuous enough you probably won’t think about it. .
Buy the base, $24-and-a-half thousand dollar Camry L trim and you’ll get 10 airbags, 2 years complimentary maintenance, and the Safety Sense P suite of driver assists including dynamic radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist to keep you from needlessly wandering outside your lane. Stay in your lane, Camry! For our money the $500 pricier LE is a smart upgrade, assuming you want power front seats with driver side lumbar support, 60/40 split-folding rear seats with a center arm rest, and this overhead console in which to store your cool sunglasses. Oh, right. This is one of those spots that feels kinda cheap.
Explore higher trims and the option sheet and you can add wireless phone charging, 3 USB ports, navigation, keyless access with pushbutton start, a 360 degree camera system, an 8-inch touchscreen replacing the standard 7-inch unit, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, blind spot monitoring, a panoramic moonroof…
…and rear seat vents that I think should be standard.
And if the TRD is too sporty for your tastes, consider the somewhat more sedate but still quote unquote “sporty” SE and XSE trims. Max out the spendiest Camry XSE V6 and the price caps around $38,000.
Midsize sedan alternatives include the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Nissan Altima, among many others. Or, just do like a lot of other Americans, and go buy an SUV instead. But assuming you appreciate the superior driving dynamics and fuel economy of a sedan, the Toyota Camry makes a strong case for itself with strong value and a well-rounded sedan spirit.
7 авг 2024
