REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

The tradition remains

This Toyota’s road test can be applied to its mechanical twin, the Lexus ES300.

The faster the rise, the more brutal the descent. But don ’ t worry: every step has been taken and every angle has been covered for the fifth generation Camry to walk in the successful footsteps of its predecessors. Though new, this Camry gives a strange dйjа vu feeling: it shows how much the designers were afraid to take a distance from the previous model. First, style. Yes, the Camry looks young and fresh with its more expressive opticals and its finer, leaner bumper-to-bumper lines. Will this be enough to bring down the average buyer ’ s age from 53 to 49 as desired by Toyota ’ s management?

Although its looks may not be striking, it reveals very efficient aerodynamically, with a 0.28 drag factor, in a segment where competitors average 0.32 Why is this so important? To improve fuel efficiency, of course, but also to reduce wind turbulences that increase the decibel level inside the cabin. But aerodynamics comes at a price: exterior mirrors are especially small.

The classic, anonymous body of the Camry now hides a new platform, according to F. David Stone, Director, Public Relations at Toyota Canada. The previous model, introduced in 1997, used sensibly the same platform as the original 1989 Camry. This new platform is designed to be more rigid, sturdier, wider and longer (wheel span has been increased by 50 mm). This new frame is equipped with a somewhat classic 4-wheel McPherson suspension, recalibrated by engineers.

Before starting our tour, one word on the line ’ s names. The Camry come sin three trims: LE, XLE and SE. The latter, the sporty member of the Camry family, comes with a V6 only. Other deliveries offer a choice of engine. The good news are that the Camry is cheaper than last year (the basic model, that is) and that there are not that many options in Toyota ’ s catalogue. The more affordable model, the LE, is undoubtedly the winner, with lots of extra equipment such as air, cruise control, and heating rear view mirrors, among others. Options include ABS ($715), CD changer ($678), block heater ($117 or $119 depending on the engine), and a luggage net ($71) for the trunk. The Camry ’ s doors open on a carefully finished and roomy interior.

The back seat deserves the look. The back seat has been brought up by a few millimetres (remember, the Camry is higher than before), which, with the longer wheel span, provides for increased legroom. Forget the previous lacklustre design: the Camry ’ s rear seats can now compete with the best in their class. The front buckets are comfortable and only their weak support can be criticized.

To deflect sunrays and make reading more comfortable, a tiny visor caps the comprehensive instrument panel. On the right side, on top of the central console, a new on-board computer indicates fuel consumption, time and temperature (only on the XLE). In the middle section of the console, on all trims, you ’ ll find a radio with CD player (the changer is in the trunk) and lower, the air conditioner controls. At the bottom, there are cup holders and storage bins. Engine-wise, there is new and not so new under the Camry ’ s hood. The 2.2-litre 4-cylinder engine is replaced by a 147 hp 2.4-litre (an increase of 21 hp over last year). More efficient and flexible, this 4-cylinder engine is also some 30 kg lighter and comes with a flawless 5-speed manual that will delight many drivers. The availability of the 4-cylinder- manual transmission combo has apparently been an issue in the past. For an extra $1,045, you could get yourself a 4-speed automatic transmission, just as efficient as the manual gearbox. And if you need extra flexibility and power, try the good old 3.0 litre V6, with new injection and intake systems. This reliable power plant will reduce your acceleration times and spice up your pick-ups, but it will also use more fuel (premium, if you don ’ t mind) while adding some 100 kg on the front end of the Camry. I will tell you more on this later. Besides zestier performance, V6 Camry all feature four-wheel disk brakes with ABS, optional on 4-cylinder models. The more luxurious deliveries (SE and XLE) also feature an additional driving aid: Vehicle Stability Control (a.k.a. VSC) that helps keep the vehicle ’ s path straight.

Once boring and dull, driving a Camry can now stimulate a few nerve connections. Its peppier 4-cylinder engine will be enough for most drivers. Quite performing and flexible, this 2.4-litre is not as potent as the Altima ’ s (Nissan), but reveals definitely quieter than the Accord ’ s (Honda) engine.

Once my favourite, the V6 does not seem so necessary any more. The four-cylinder engine is never as dull as its predecessor and the Altima ’ s 240 hp V6 simply eclipse its performance. Besides pure performance (the V6 remains more powerful and responsive than the 4-cylinder), the main difference is in road handling. The V6 LE XLE and SE Camry ’ s come with 16-inch tires (four-cylinders are equipped with slippery 15-inch) for increased accuracy and comfort. In the SE, the difference is even more noticeable (probably because of the stiffer suspension. A 4-cylinder SE is offered in the U.S., but not here, unfortunately. Nonetheless, the Camry is not the most exciting sedan in terms of driving pleasure. It beats the Malibu (Chevrolet) or the Magentis (Kia), but it is no match for the Passat (Volkswagen) or the Altima (Nissan). So you ’ re not likely to spend more time than necessary driving your Camry. The model ’ s unique flaw consists in the LE ’ s braking, instable and frightening without ABS. One piece of advice: make sure you get ABS. Even though the critics may have wished for more glitter, this new Camry can still be many driver ’ s gold with its proven blend of reliability, quality and durability, that its devoted fans demand.

PROS
Quality/rice ratio
Assembly and finish quality
More comfortable and accessible rear seats

CONS
V6 needs to evolve
Manual transmission unsuited to the
V6 Slippery tires
CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * *
Passenger: * * * * *

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.