Charleston, South Carolina- Toyota's best-selling and highest profile vehicle just got an edgier, bolder-exterior and sporty new trim selection.
To say that Camry is on a well-oiled roll is paramount to an understatement. For 13 consecutive years and 17 of the past 18, Toyota's venerable mid-size sedan ranked as America's best-selling car (although best-selling VEHICLE honor belongs to a rough-and-tumble truck, specifically Ford Motor Company's F-150 pickup). Camry sales ended 2014 with 428,606 units sold in the U.S., up 4.9 percent from the previous year while distancing second-place finisher Honda Accord by nearly 40,000 units (Ford's full-size, light duty F-150 tallied 753,851 units.)
What's the secret to Camry's long-running success; an enticing mix of satisfied repeat buyers, reliable construction, interior comfort and attainable pricing.
In the 2012 model year, Camry underwent a seventh-generation makeover. Consider 2015 a year of extensive mid-cycle nip-and-tucks building on Gen-Seven's foundation; a proactive move to stay ahead of intense and worthy competition.
Joining Camry's trim parade in 2015 is a XSE a vehicle tested along the sunny shores of coastal South Carolina during a spring break far from the Windy City. The XSE joins retuning trim varieties LE, SE and top-shelf XLE. An entry L trim took retirement after 2014. All Camry trims include front-wheel-drive exclusively as do most mid-size mainstream competitors (Mazda 3, Hyundai Sonata, and Volkswagen Passat) sans the Subaru Legacy.
The lowest-priced 2015 Camry, a four-cylinder LE checks in at $22,970. Performance Logistics of Charlotte supplied a ruby red, XSE V-6 for Carolina "Low Country" testing with a $31,370 starting price. With an assortment of stand-alone and a-la-carte extras, the bottom line landed at $35,786 including an $825 destination charge. Highly recommended and part of our XSE; a $500 blind spot monitor/rear cross traffic alert package also available with XLE trims.
Both detect potential hazards before escalating into costlier episodes through effective high-tech nuances. Both perceive situations a driver's eye may gloss over or never detect. If reversing out a tight parking spot flanked by bigger vehicles, rear cross traffic alert emits audio beeps if a car approaches perpendicularly from either side. For the next step up in radar-sensing technology, Camry offers a $750 technology package with 'dynamic' cruise control and lane departure audio alerts also privy to XSE and XLE trims.
Throughout its seven generations, exterior cues never ventured far from neutral, playing things safe and 'down-the-middle conservative'. Chrome trim surrounds side windows with strap-like door handles sharing the ruby red hue. A narrow front grille includes Toyota's circular logo front and center with chrome-like bars slowly extending up and out from center creating a long "V" formation. Residing below is the most visible exterior upgrade; a more prominent air dam region creating a wider stance. Narrow headlight housing wraps around to side fenders. The large, square rear window meets up with a stout deck lid with tail-like spoiler trimming the back edge. Larger 18-inch alloy wheels come with XSE. Dual exhausts come standard only in XSE and XLE V-6 efforts.
Inside, the XSE's jet black soft-touch dash, doors and seats contrasted nicely with fire-red stitching. All interior seating surfaces enjoy substantial upgrades. Vertical brushed aluminum columns frame the center multi-function seven-inch screen (6.1-inch with four-cylinder models), extending all the way down through a 90-degree curve and exiting out towards a large, deep storage bin/arm rest combo with 12-volt power source. Ahead of the storage bin one finds the automatic transmission shifter and in-line cup holders to the right. Another outlet along with plug-in ports for portable electronic gizmos get tucked away in the corner pocket within the 90-decree curve sporting a retracing cover.
Push-button start comes standard. The parking brake remains foot operated. The ventilation center with its own narrow, dedicated rectangular message and digital readouts includes larger push buttons in 2015 monitoring fan speed and direction along with twist dials for temperature. A gently sloping narrow driver's door ridge is home to power window, lock and mirror controls.
An arched portion of the dashboard set behind the manual tilt-and-telescope three-spoke steering wheel creates the upper limits and shade protection for an easily interpreted instrument panel. Two smallish, circular analog gauges flank a rectangular center message window. A traditional needled half-moon fuel gauge resides inside, along the bottom of the right-side speedometer gauge.
Outside temperature remains a constant readout atop the message center. Drivers may highlight numerous icons via a steering wheel select button to choose from audio, maintenance readings, and audio displays.
While nice to summon a compass graphic though the IP, the rear-view mirror's built-in, simplistic, green digital direction indicators (N,S,E,W) provides quicker and continual bearing feedback.
Three folks fit with sustainable head and leg comfort in row two, although two riders together with the center arm rest (with two cup holders) folded down may be the most practical. Long pull tabs located in the 15.4-cubic foot trunk help unlatch rear 60-40-split seat backs (now standard in all trims) when folding down to maximize carting options. A temporary spare stows under the flat floor.
Two gasoline-powered engines return unchanged from 2014; a 2.4-liter four cylinder cranking out 178 horses or our tester's 3.5-liter V-6 with 268 horsepower. Only XSE and XLE trims offer V-6 punch as an optional choice to the four-cylinder. The larger engine generates 21 miles per gallon city and 31 mpg highway. Add four miles more in each category with the four. Regular 87-octane satisfies both engines. Both mate with a conventional six-speed automatic transmission.
Desiring more miles per gallon? Once again, Camry offers a gas-electric hybrid alternative teaming a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motor, continuously variable transmission and a nickel -metal hydride battery pack. Fuel estimates top off at 43 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. Honda's mid-size Accord also markets a gas-electric hybrid while Ford's mid-size Fusion offers a plug-in hybrid fuel extender.
Ride quality tilts towards subtle, not sporty or jarring. Upgraded shock absorbers and stiffer springs, found in the new XSE trim, provides the closest experience to a firmer road play as was encountered traversing the winding roads from the historical port city of Charleston, S.C. to nearby tropical-like barrier islands. Engine noise once again is muted to a whisper when sitting inside the cabin and a class-leading 10 air bags provides peace of mind. Knee air bags protect both front riders while side seat airbags adorn all outboard positions.
Most Camry's sold in America (including the hybrid edition) get built at Toyota's huge Georgetown, Kentucky assembly plant near the state's capital of Lexington; Toyota's largest manufacturing plant in North America. It's also home to the full-size Avalon sedan and later this year, the first Lexus model (a mid-size ES 350 sedan) is scheduled for production. Lexus debuted as Toyota's luxury arm in 1989.
These additional mid-cycle tweaks only enhance Camry's winning formula. Current and returning Camry buyers and leasers should feel right at home.
2015 Toyota CamryPrice as tested: $35,768
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
Length: 190.9 inches
Width: 71.7 inches
Height: 57.9 inches
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower: 268
Curb weight: 3,350 pounds
Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 mile
City/Highway economy: 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway
Assembly: Georgetown, Kentucky