Comparison review: Eight family sedans (third place)

Today, it's the Toyota Camry that's the most American car on the market. More Americans buy Camrys than any other car (last month's sales results), they're designed for decidedly American tastes, and they've topped the “Cars.com American-Made Index” for the last two years. 

 

Competing American, Japanese and now Korean midsize sedans are placing their emphasis on style and handling at least as much as comfort, quietness, space, and general ease of use. That's not to discount the value of sharp looks or handling agility, or interior quality, but the continued appreciation for the Camry suggests that there remains a sizable market base placing its priorities elsewhere than the virtues that appeal to the average car-person. 

 

The Camry isn't for everyone. You can do better if you priortize a nicely detailed interior, a sense of agility, or distinctive looks. But for someone favoring smoothness, quietness, space, and – unusually enough for a Toyota – competitive pricing, it's a top choice.

 

Inside, the Camry offers merely adequate cargo room in its 15-cubic-foot trunk, but includes plenty of passenger space on large, amply-padded front seats. The rear seat fits three adults, and it's mounted high, well-shaped, and quite comfortable, with plenty of leg and head room. 

 

But this expansive cabin is trimmed with serviceable plastics but too many fit and finish lapses in the most obvious places. Panels fit poorly front and center on the car's center stack, there are sharp edges on the interior door pulls and ill-fitting velcro for the rear's center armrest makes a ripping noise whenever it's moved. The gated gear selector also moves through its positions sloppily. Most cars see such problems ironed out over their life cycles – the Camry's interior assembly has actually gotten sloppier since it was introduced in 2007.

 

What remains is a user-friendly instrument layout and driving position. Visibility is excellent, and large buttons and knobs operate the controls without demanding close scrutiny. The bright gauges are large and clear. 

 

Four-cylinder Camry models got an upgraded powertrain – a larger engine and a six-speed transmission – for the 2010 model year, and the improvement was significant compared to the 2009 Camry that competed in last year's family sedan comparison. 

 

The new engine improves on already impressive smoothness, quietness and fuel economy and keeping its acceleration performance competitive, if not outstanding. The engine is at its best in gentle driving, but it avoids sounding harsh when it's really pushed. 

 

The Camry's suspension is the same way. It's unflappably smooth in a straight line – undisturbed by bumps yet free of highway-speed floating motions – but feels clumsy going around a corner. The ultra-light steering doesn't help. If you need to a corner quickly, either on a windy road or an emergency swerve, the car will do just fine, but it feels bulkier than competing midsize sedans. If you tend to drive gently, you'll likely have little complaint – if you don't, you will likely want another car. 

 

The Camry's best-selling nature is a testament to its reputation as much as to its class-leading ride comfort and quietness, and near-the-top passenger space. Toyota's latest advertising highlights customers who haven't considered any other car in more than a decade because they've been so satisfied. 

 

These customers bought Camrys even when they cost more than the competition, many of them because of the unfounded notion that the car is any more trouble-free than its competitors, considering the car an easy safe choice during the buying process. 

 

Now, in no small part because of some shoppers' fear – as with confidence in the car's reliability, based on a misconception – that the  Camry will accelerate out of control on its own, healthy discounts make it one of the best buys in its class. (On 2011 models, including the tested car, pressing the brake overrides any accelerator input.)

 

But even with these discounts, while the Camry's strengths and weaknesses make it a top choice for someone who values space and comfort, it stands out from the competition only for someone with very specific tastes. It has become the only game in town as an old American-style cheap cushy cruiser, but if that's not the sort of car you're looking for, scout the competition first.