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2007 Toyota Camry
Exclusive Review
By Tony Whitney
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Across all of North America, the Toyota Camry has been the best
selling sedan for eight of the last nine years - a remarkable
achievement by any standards.
The Camry competes in the most intensive automotive segment of
them all - that of mid-sized sedans, which is the largest car
class in North America. Every automaker is after a piece of this
key market and there are some outstanding products chasing buyers
in this class.
It’s no surprise, then, that when a new Camry comes along, it’s
the result of considerable thought on the part of Toyota designers
and engineers and every possible avenue is explored to make each
new model even better than the preceding one.
For 2007, the Camry is all-new and is clearly the result of an
even bigger effort than usual by its manufacturer. Any automaker
just offering a warmed-over product in this segment would soon
find sales figures taking a dip and buyers looking elsewhere.
At the media preview, Toyota was very clear in stating that it
didn’t go for a “play it safe” design, believing that the market
was just too competitive for that kind of approach.
Incidentally, Camry has been sold in North America for 23 years
and on a global basis, Toyota has sold 10-million of them in 105
countries.
I’ve driven the new car quite extensively and can report with
confidence that Toyota has once again made a great product even
better. And even for those owners who though that the last model
was “as good as a mid-size sedan can get” there are more than
a few surprises.
Take styling, for example. The new Kentucky-built Camry has a
predatory, hunkered-down, look to it in a way that brings European
touring car racers to mind, rather than family sedans. This time
around, this is NOT your grandparents Camry. It has an altogether
more purposeful look about it and in SE form, with one or two
added body mouldings and aerodynamic touches, it’s positively
sporty-looking.
Interesting bodywork features include “seamless” integration between
hood, grille, logo and front bumper - described by Toyota as giving
a premium look. Other features include reduced gaps between the
panels (Toyota has led in this department for years) and a moulding-less
windshield and rear window. These glass elements are bonded directly
to the bodywork without any rubber seals or chrome trim. Toyota
claims this reduces wind noise and certainly on the Camrys I tested,
there was very little of that.
Engines available include a revised 4-cylinder which is surprisingly
smooth and responsive. This could be a great choice for buyers
who don’t need the out-and-out performance of the V-6 and prefer
fuel economy and simplicity instead. The four is a 2.4-litre unit
putting out 158-horsepower, which is respectable enough. Transmission
is a 5-speed automatic with shift logic which “reads” the drivers
habits and adjusts shift points all by itself.
The V-6 is a 3.5-litre unit developing 268-horsepower - a powerful
and responsive engine and as satisfying as anything on the market
short of a BMW in-line six. This powerplant comes with a nifty
6-speed automatic, which functioned very well on my tester.
Other technical features include an improved suspension with MacPherson
struts up front and a dual-link strut layout at the rear. The
arrangement gave the car a great ride and agile handling on winding
or rough roads. All Camrys have 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock.
Also standard is a brake assist system and electronic brake force
distribution - both of which aid stopping considerably under emergency
conditions. Available safety options include stability control
and traction control.
The 2007 Camry has no less than seven standard air bags, setting
something of a benchmark for this class. All five occupants get
full seatbelts and proper head restraints.
The interior of the new Camry is both attractive and practical
and the fronts seats are especially well-designed. I’ve found
on very long trips that Toyota seats are among the best in the
industry. The new instrument panel is easy to scan and the figures
are easy to read - possibly reflecting the fact that this car
has generally been favoured by more mature buyers.
The central panel is in a metallic finish, which seems to be “the
thing” right now. I’m not wild about this approach, but there
was no faulting the ease of access for sound system and HVAC controls
in this car. Also, the fit and finish in the cabin would do credit
to a car costing $100,000 - it’s that well done. The standard
stereo is a 6-speaker system and upper end Camrys have Bluetooth
capability, which is great for phone applications.
The top Camry uses one of those “smart key” systems which involves
carrying the key in your pocket and simply pressing a button on
the dash to start the car.
The Camry SE is a very sporty machine with its aero body enhancement
features and fills a gap that’s existed for years in the Camry
range. It should help this product appeal to younger buyers who’ve
often regarded Camry as a car for “old guys.” The SE also has
a sportier front grille and lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels and a
rear deck spoiler. There are also some nifty interior upgrades.
Also available this time around is a Camry hybrid, which if early
indications are true, may be very competitively-priced. A basic
4-cylinder Camry, which isn’t really that “basic,” costs $25,800
MSRP and the line flagship XLE is priced at $37,425 MSRP. The
SE, which was my favourite during early tests, costs $26,605 in
4-cylinder form and $32,010 with a six.
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