Sometimes life as the most popular kid has its drawbacks.
Seems a goodly number of school mates are scheming to look better, act stronger and dethrone a well-earned reputation. It's tough at the top. Just ask Camry.
Toyota's mid-size marvel has grown to become the undisputed sales champ, boasting enough friends and followers to become the best-selling car in the United States 13 of the last 14 years. A notable milestone to document in any annual year book.
Camry first day of school was back in 1983, marking thirty years of torrid sales. In July, Toyota marked the 10 millionth Camry sold in America. To put this in perspective, 20 percent of all vehicles Toyota has ever sold in the U.S. have been Camrys. The astute, bespeckled, by-the-numbers mathematics instructor presented it this way: "one in five Toyotas sold in America is a Camry." Keep all this in mind for the requisite surprise quiz.
Most 2013 Camrys sold in the U.S. are also built in the U.S. In 1988, Toyota began pumping out the popular sedan at its Georgetown, Kentucky facility outside of Lexington. In 2007, Camry production was added to Subaru's Lafayette assembly facility a couple hours down the road from the Windy City along Interstate 65 (Toyota owns 16.5 percent of Subaru).
In the 2012 model year, Camry underwent a complete seventh-generation makeover to keep conference rivals at bay. Not much changes in the current gen's sophomore standing from 2012. For those seeking full-size comfort in a front-wheel-drive sedan, the Toyota Family offers the slightly longer Avalon.
All four 2013 trims (L, LE, SE and XLE) are built exclusively with front-wheel drive. No all-wheel drivetrain is offered. Plenty of options and packages are available with LE, SE and XLE trims so a study hall session prior to the dealership experience is in order. Entry L trims come 'as is' as options are available to upper classman only. Still, base L does itself proud by offering a knee air bags for both front riders, air conditioning, CD player, Satellite radio, cruise control, rear window defrost Bluetooth connectivity and power windows, locks and outside mirrors.
Two gas powertrains are available: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder cranking out 178 horses and larger 3.5-liter six cylinder offering 268 ponies. Four-cylinder powertrains come in all trims while the six banger is offered only in up-level SE and XLE trims. Both ask only for regular, 87-octane fuel to top off the 17-gallon tank. Fuel economy for both powertrains remains better-than average when compared with students at large in the mid-size class. Our V-6 tester generated 21 miles per gallon city and 31 mpg highway. Four cylinder engines are most impressive, generating 25 city and 35 highway. Since 2006, Camry has offered a gas-electric hybrid model ($26,140 starting price for this quirky second-cousin of sorts) which pumps up mileage figures to 43 mpg city and 39 highway.
Some cross-town mid-size rivals, including Hyundai's Sonata and Ford's Fusion, have eliminated the six-cylinder engine altogether, opting instead for strictly four-cylinder offerings.
Toyota dropped off an SE trim with the preppy yet peppy 3.5-liter V-6 and a $27,260 starting price. Options included a power moon roof ($915), leather-trimmed ultra-suede sport seats ($1,075), blind spot monitoring ($500), display audio with 6.1-inch touch navigation screen ($650) and a convenience package ($895) with backup camera and auto-dimming rear view mirror. After factoring in a $795 destination charge, the bottom line broke the $30,000 barrier at $32,090. The lowest-price Camry L with four-cylinder power checks in at $22,235. Many rivals have lower starting points.
Bluetooth wireless connectivity (helping during hand-free cell calls) is standard in all trims as is a USB port for portable electronic plug-ins (no texting and driving kids). The three-gauge largely analog instrument panel includes a center three-quarter circled speedometer flanked by half-moon tachometer (left) and fuel gauge/average fuel economy readout (right). Inside the two half-moons are digital displays.
Pleasant and user friendly may best describe Camry's dashboard layout. Nothing fancy, but bolder designs exist in the mid-size segment (Hyundai Sonata for example). Same could be said about the exterior execution, but Camry has used this unpretentious formula for so long that debating its success becomes tiresome. Soft-type materials cover parts of the front, but the fabric's not quite as plush to the touch as some rivals. White stitching offered contrasts to the edging and extends to doors and seats. The central dash column top includes a digital clock with easy-to-update time and minute buttons (synchronized to the first-period bell. No excuses for tardiness).
Below is the in-dash, six-inch touch screen (standard in all trims). One demerit may be in order concerning the navigation map. While colorful and easy to interpret, no 'map' button or option was available on or next to the screen. Eventually the command was uncovered nested inside an 'apps' button. The single-zone ventilation system below featured two medium-sized dials for temperature and fan speed flanking four push buttons denoting direction. Underneath is a nook to stow portable electronics with USB port and auxiliary jack all protected by a closable door panel. A 12-volt outlet is found aft of the cup dual beverage holders between the front buckets.
Fuel door and trunk pull latches are floor bound left of the driver's seat. As with many Toyota products, cruise control is monitored from a 5 o'clock appendage on the three-spoke steering wheel. Decent headroom is experienced in front but backseat travelers over 6-feet two-inches in height may find upper confines cozy. In the 2012 Gen Seven redo, front seatbacks were reshaped to help rear knee room by 1.8 inches. Row two is wide enough to accommodate three average-sized adults. All trims feature a 60/40 split rear bench seat with pull-tab releases found in the trunk which boasts an average cargo area of 15.4 cubic feet.
Where Camry shines best is a study-hall quiet interior coupled with sturdy build quality. Doors shut with a solid, crisp 'thump.'
Nine exterior 'school' colors are available. Large side, front and rear windows provide drivers with excellent road visibility. Both head and tail lights borrow narrow, band-like architecture while the center honeycomb grille includes Toyota's circular "T" code of arms (the fighting Tundras perhaps).
Toyota Care, introduced on January 1, 2011 for buyers of new Toyota products, covers complimentary maintenance (oil and filter changes, for example) at Toyota dealership for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. In addition, 24-hour roadside assistance (battery jump start, towing) is covered for the same duration.
Camry did well in the 2012 total makeover to keep sales momentum going forward; and Camry buyers from yore will recognize the family lineage. But conference rivals including the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Ford Fusion are charging hard and are worthy of closer inspections. With decades of rock-solid reliability and so many generations still rolling down the highway, Camry's resale value continues strong.
2013 Toyota CamryPrice as tested: $32,090
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
Length: 189.2 inches
Width: 71.7 inches
Height: 57.9 inches
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower: 268
Curb weight: 3,420 pounds
Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 mile
City/Highway economy: 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway
Assembly: Georgetown, Kentucky