How important is the new Toyota Camry? For the past 15 years, it’s been the best-selling vehicle in America that actually looks like a car.
How important is the new Toyota Camry? It’s the basis for both their NASCAR and NHRA efforts.
How important is the new Toyota Camry? Toyota recently dropped a $1.3 billion investment in the Kentucky plant that churns them out.
And that all-important Camry is all-new for 2018.
Highlights: exciting style, more technology and eight-speed automatic transmission. Plus Toyota’s letting this one be a little sportier than usual. The standard engine is the inline-four. “The Camry’s new, Dynamic Force 2.5-liter inline-4 cylinder remains remarkably quiet, but it does let out a melodious growl when the throttle is mashed,” the press materials state. ORLY?
Then there’s the optional engine: a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 301 horsepower along with 267 lb.-ft. of torque. Remember when those were supercar numbers?
More from the press kit:
“The all-new 2018 Camry also has a wild, sporty side, but unlike before, it’s evident upon first glance. Whereas the Camry L, LE and XLE carry the air of a dapper gentleman or proper lady, the two sport models, the Camry SE and XSE, are all about unleashing our inner playfulness or letting our hair down, and being unapologetic about it.”
Our test vehicle was the XSE, complete with that 301-horse V6.
Other staff views
Tim Suddard
Publisher Emeritus
As SUVs increasingly dominate consumer’s minds and wallets and make the sedan increasingly irrelevant, Toyota has just brought out their best Camry ever. Sharp-looking and way quicker than a Camry needs to be, this 301-horsepower masterpiece might just go the way of the dinosaur.
At just a tick under $40,000, this Camry is not a cheap date. Options include the driver’s assist package at $1050, navigation at $940 and an amazing two-tone paint and paint protection package that might just be worth the $895 that they cost. Even at the base price of just under $35,000, the Camry, at least in XSE trim, is not the cheap car it once was.
What struck us most on this car was the styling and unique two-tone paint scheme. The Camry is a truly handsome car. Set off by 19-inch allow wheels with rubber band-thin tires, this is not your grandpa’s Camry.
The interior, too, is stylish and comfortable. The controls are remarkably simple and easy to use in this world of confusing-for-confusion’s-sake controls in modern cars.
While quick, the sport-tuned suspension is an item only on the features list, as the car’s handling is not up to the rest of the package. While most likely safe and adequate by middle America’s standard, this is no BMW.
All in all, the Camry is a nice, comfortable, fast and good-looking sedan. If it was 10 percent less expensive and 20 percent more competent on the twisties, Toyota might really have something that the sportier side of mainstream America could embrace.
Comments
Those air extractors on the back are probably functional, but connecting them to the taillights doesn't seem to work visually.
It looks like Toyota's gotten back on their cycle of half-hearted efforts at doing something about the Camry's stogy image:
- Toyota decides to "do something" about Camry's lack of sporting image.
- New "sporty" package planned.
- "Sporty" package isn't allowed a performance drivetrain package like a turbo or pairing a V6 with a manual.
- Suspension tuning comes in too soft to give impressive handling.
- Toyota can't figure out why "sporty" package fails to generate any interest.
- "Sporty" package is dropped.
- GOTO 1
In reply to MadScientistMatt :
unfortunately the mileage numbers really hit the manual gearboxes right in the jewels, at least for the effect to of the fleet averaging.
I've driven the new Camrys and I like how they drive/handle considering what Toyota used to put out in the past for these Camrys. Unfortunately, its crossover time in USA :(
Duke
MegaDork
7/20/18 12:52 p.m.
I notice you picked its only decent angle for the cover shot.
Duke said:
I notice you picked its only decent angle for the cover shot.
That looks like a stock photo. I don't think there's that much terrain variation in FL
Also, has Toyota redesigned the V-6 so it doesn't 'splode?
Also Also....Even though this is "not (my) grandfathers' Camry," my grandfather's Camry still runs great.
Jerry From LA said:
Also, has Toyota redesigned the V-6 so it doesn't 'splode?
I have three Toyota with V6s, one has 170+k miles, one has 160+k miles and the third has maybe 80k. None has 'sploded as of today.
Jerry From LA said:
Also, has Toyota redesigned the V-6 so it doesn't 'splode?
Which of the V6's do that? My mom's Avalon (same engine) has 230k miles and hasn't done that yet.
RyanGreener said:
Jerry From LA said:
Also, has Toyota redesigned the V-6 so it doesn't 'splode?
Which of the V6's do that? My mom's Avalon (same engine) has 230k miles and hasn't done that yet.
The one's owned by GRM do apparently.
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