Among mid-sized sedans, the Camry is distinguished by good fuel economy, intuitive controls and standard advanced safety systems.
The Camry has long held the distinction as a competent, well-rounded and pleasant family sedan. However, it gets a bad rap among critics as unexciting. To address that perception, the current design has more dynamic styling and slightly nimbler handling. The end result is mixed, but the Camry remains a very competitive midsized sedan.
The eighth-generation Camry is light on its feet in the corners, but the sedan's lower stance compromises access to the cabin.
A smooth and comfortable ride has always been a Camry strength, and this remains true even with the car's improved agility. The suspension soaks up bumps easily and delivers a pleasant ride.
One of the real bright spots in the Camry lineup is the hybrid model. We tested an LE trim, which returned an astounding with 47 mpg overall. Other reasons to consider the hybrid is that its standard CVT doesn't suffer from occasional rough shifts like the eight-speed transmission does in the regular models. The hybrid version is quieter and can propel itself on electric power alone at low speeds, such as in a city environment.
We also tested a 203-horsepower, four-cylinder non-hybrid model. This version achieved 32 mpg overall, almost equaling its much smaller Corolla cousin. This base engine makes the Camry one of the quickest sedans in its class. The eight-speed transmission is not the smoothest in the segment. And while quiet overall, the engine's vroom when it approaches 3,500 rpm sounds loud, raspy and excessive.
For those needing more oomph (and tranquility), there's also a 3.5-liter V6 packing 301 hp.
Thanks to slim pillars and lots of side glass, visibility is unobstructed. Drivers get a wide, nicely padded front seat that delivers plenty of support for a long cruise.
However, the current Camry is less upright than the last model, so slipping into the seats requires a little more ducking, and headroom is a bit tight for taller folks, especially if the car is fitted with the optional sunroof. The rear seat isn't as roomy as the last generation either, but at least those in back get reasonable head- and legroom.
The interior has a modern vibe, courtesy of the angular center stack layout and its clean design. All Camrys come with Toyota's Entune 3.0 infotainment system.
A 7-inch touch screen is standard, and a 9-inch version is available on higher trims. Controls are easy to use. We appreciate the physical knobs for audio volume and tuning.
Overall interior presence has improved, with more soft-touch surfaces, although some hard plastic bits remain scattered throughout.
All Camrys come standard with Toyota Safety Sense-2.5+, which includes forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning with steering assist. Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning are available.
The Camry has long been known for its tremendous reliability and strong resale value. These virtues remain but wrapped in more youthful flair.