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Comparison review: eight midsize sedans (Fifth place)
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The best-selling Toyota Camry is a nice car for people who don't care about sporty
driving dynamics, but a few competitors do an even better job at offering the same
merits.
Most car reviewers are car enthusiasts, for whom an automobile is designed for more than transportation but also to be lots of fun. Some of them simply don’t “get” the Toyota Camry, which is quiet and comfortable but nothing close to fun. Others say they would never want to own one themselves, but that it’s great for people who aren’t looking for a sports sedan.
But the flaw in the latter logic is that it implies that the Camry is the automatically the best car at providing space, comfort, and refinement simply because it isn't sporty. But not only does the country’s best-selling car have some tough competitors, but in a few ways it also falls short of its own ideal.
That’s not to say the Camry isn’t a very pleasant car. It is. It wouldn’t rank this high if it weren’t. There’s lots of space and comfortable seats. The ride is especially plush without losing control to floaty motions at speed. There’s rarely much road, wind, and engine noise.
Toyota owners love their Toyotas for a sense of user-friendliness. Toyota was among the first automakers to roll out all those thoughtful little storage cubbies and to simplify the layout on the instrument panel. However, many Toyota owners are devoutly loyal to the brand, and thus wouldn’t have noticed that the competition has since followed suit and Toyota hasn’t broken much new ground recently in the Camry.
And in some once-strong areas, the Camry has taken a step back. You’ll find fewer soft-touch plastics throughout the interior, for example, and a few more panels that aren’t ideally aligned. The center-rear armrest makes a faint ripping sound when it’s pulled down, which seems to be caused by a loose bit of Velcro rubbing against the seat and seems to be a common problem on the Camry LE. (SE-model Camrys with different cloth trim and Camrys with leather seats were fine.) The interior’s quality is certainly acceptable overall, despite its shortcomings, but there are better competitors in that area. On the road, the Camry is designed to be unobtrusive, so you can drive without being reminded of the car. Car enthusiasts wouldn’t like the light steering, but it keeps the car easy to drive at low speeds. Car enthusiasts won’t like the handling, but it’s fine if you don’t push it hard. Noise levels are low, though the engine volume picks up if you really floor it.
But the entire design of the car seems to encourage more relaxed driving anyway. There’s no incentive to push it hard because there’s no reward.
Gas mileage is slightly better than the group average at 21 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway. An update for the 2010 model year is due this spring, and is supposed to bring slight improvements to both power and gas mileage. However, if you do decide on the Camry, the savings from the 2009 model’s extra discounts likely make it a better deal while it’s still available.
And unlike the Honda Accord, its biggest competitor, the Camry is a decent deal. As tested, the Accord will set you back some $2,500 more than the Camry; with Fitzgerald Auto Malls offering Camrys identical to the tested car for $20,211, it’s no steal but it’s in line with most competitors. Also, even though it’s decently discounted from the sticker price, the Camry was one of only two cars of this eight to earn the top resale value rating from the Automotive Lease Guide.But one major reason many Camry buyers would likely supply to explain their purchase – reliability – is less of a class standout, just average in reliability surveys by Consumer Reports and TrueDelta.com. “Average” reliability among new cars already means it’s unlikely you’ll need repairs, but don’t spend extra on the Camry for the dependability promise the name provides.
But the other reason so many people buy the Camry every year? Limited cross-shopping is one likely explanation. Some people will drive just the offerings from the three Japanese big names: the Accord, Camry, and Nissan Altima. And the Camry is the only one of the three with its primary focus on comfort and refinement.
But there are more cars on the market than those three. And as nice as the Camry is, offering plenty of space, good gas mileage, and the best ride quality in its class, other cars will give you pretty much the same overall experience. Shop the Camry carefully against competitors that cost less or don’t miss the details.
Overall grade: B-
Vehicle tested: 2009 Toyota Camry LE
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $19,145
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $23,999
Estimated transaction price as tested: $20,211
Estimated transaction price as comparable:* $20,211
Test vehicle provided by: Toyota of Waldorf, of Waldorf, Md.
For more info:
http://www.toyota.com/camry/
http://www.toyota.com/camry/
Coming up tomorrow: Fourth Place
Sunday, Feb. 8:
Introduction
Monday, Feb. 9:
Eighth Place
Tuesday, Feb. 10: Seventh Place
Saturday, Feb. 14: Third Place
Sunday, Feb. 15:
Second Place
Monday, Feb. 16:
First Place
Tuesday, Feb 17:
Conclusion
*Note on pricing: when possible, the cars tested for this review were comparably equipped. It wasn't always possible. All are 4-cylinder sedans with automatic transmissions, but some have more options than others, which inflate the price tag.
The target for these eight was to have a power driver's seat and a sunroof. Four of them hit this accurately, one had more accessories, and three had fewer. Any discrepancies will be noted as they appear to ease comparison of the vehicles.
Photos by Brady Holt. Interior pictured is from a different Camry than the car driven for this review.
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