Overview: Competent and mostly inoffensive, the Toyota Camry was the go-to driving appliance for 429,355 buyers in 2015, making it once again the best-selling car in the United States. This car is a sensible machine with lots of space for people and cargo, decent manners, plenty of available technology, and an optional hybrid powertrain that makes it an upstanding four-wheeled citizen for the environmentally conscious. A significant update for 2015 brought more aggressive styling, as well as numerous other tweaks aimed at honing its on-road character. A gaping maw with chrome grille slats dominates the front of most models, while the sportier SE and XSE trim levels call out their stiffened chassis underpinnings with a blackened mesh grille.
Nonhybrid Camrys employ six-speed automatic transmissions. The volume powertrain continues; it’s a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. Pricing for the base LE model, which the EPA rates at 25 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, starts at $23,905.
Pros: The impressive thrust from the V-6’s 268 horsepower is the Camry’s party trick. But the Camry also is a highly practical vehicle, with a capacious 15-cubic-foot trunk (13 cubes for the hybrid) and one of the most accommodating back seats in the class. As with any good appliance, its general ergonomics are straightforward and user-friendly.
Cons: It lacks the handling composure and steering response, the Camry transmits sharp impacts into the cabin (both with vibration and with noise transmitted up through the suspension) far more than it should.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE:front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
BASE PRICES:LE, $23,905;
SE, $24,675;
XSE and XLE, $27,145;
Hybrid LE, $27,625;
Hybrid SE, $28,830;
Hybrid XLE, $30,975;
XSE V-6 and XLE V-6, $32,205
SE, $24,675;
XSE and XLE, $27,145;
Hybrid LE, $27,625;
Hybrid SE, $28,830;
Hybrid XLE, $30,975;
XSE V-6 and XLE V-6, $32,205
ENGINE TYPES:DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter inline-4, 178 hp, 170 lb-ft; DOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 268 hp, 248 lb-ft; DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter inline-4, 156 hp, 156 lb-ft + permanent-magnet synchronous AC electric motor, 141 hp, 199 lb-ft (combined power rating, 200 hp, 1.6-kWh nickel-metal-hydride battery pack)
TRANSMISSIONS:6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode; continuously variable automatic
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 109.3 in
Length: 190.9 in
Width: 71.7 in Height:57.9 in
Passenger volume: 101-103 cu ft
Cargo volume: 13-15 cu ft
Curb weight (C/D est):3300-3560 lb
Wheelbase: 109.3 in
Length: 190.9 in
Width: 71.7 in Height:57.9 in
Passenger volume: 101-103 cu ft
Cargo volume: 13-15 cu ft
Curb weight (C/D est):3300-3560 lb
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 21-43/31-39 mpg
EPA city/highway driving: 21-43/31-39 mpg
Culled from www.caranddriver.com/toyota/camry
