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One should never mess with a winning recipe. Grandma’s pasta sauce must always contain the perfect doses of spices, garden tomatoes, secret ingredients and love. One mistake could screw up the entire batch and delay dinner, and nobody wants that. In the car business, mistakes could signify not eating at all…
Toyota’s used the same Camry recipe for decades, ever since it hit the road in 1982. The perfect blend of comfort, versatility (a wagon once existed) and reliability spawned not only a most loyal group of buyers but also gave birth to a car with one of the most enviable reputations in the business.
Midsize sedan sales are steadily declining and this has forced Toyota to take drastic action by revising said winning recipe and believe it or not, this new 2018 Camry is the best car to bare this name in history.
TNGA = Safety and confidence
In order to generate interest in the Camry and keep sales as strong as possible, Toyota’s decided to aim for those that wouldn’t normally consider one. To do so, they’ve transformed the car and by doing so, birthed two distinct personalities under the same name. Before I elaborate, it is important that I talk about the brand’s new TNGA or Toyota New Global Architecture.
The TNGA is the foundation upon which Toyota has built a car that shares only its name with the previous 7th generation car. This platform is stronger, lighter and let’s not forget, safer. The new Camry might be loaded with active and passive safety features but it’s the car’s newfound stability that truly makes one feel confident and safe.
From the onset, the car’s new chassis and solidity are evident. We’re no longer talking about a floaty boring driving car. The revised rear suspension and lower center of gravity convey a sense of control, that the car is glued to the tarmac, to the driver. And despite this, the ride remains very comfortable.
Time aboard
The cabin can accommodate five passengers with ease and all their gear. The new dashboard suffers from poor ergonomics, in large part due to the tiny buttons on each side of the standard 7” touchscreen. The layout also limits the passenger’s ability to reach the lower center cubbyhole. Fit and finish are good however certain plastics feel cheap to the touch, especially on the door cards. Forward visibility is improved thanks to a 40mm lower hood-line and thinner front pillars.
Setting up the baby seat on the rear bench is stress-free and the large trunk can handle almost anything, anything that is except my oversized stroller. The 45mm longer wheelbase makes life easy when accessing the second row.
On the technology front, Toyota has equipped the Camry with Entune, or their own infotainment system. Even if it does not include Apple CarPlay or AndroidAudio, it has built-in apps and more can be added. The user experience was not as good as I’d hoped however more time spent navigating menus would likely help.
Multiple personalities
If you’re not a traditional Camry buyer, Toyota wants to introduce you to the “S” line (SE, SE Hybrid, XSE and XSE V6). It was designed to stimulate an emotional rather than rational purchase however the battery of visual highlights, colour combinations (a black roof is optional) and a hyper-aggressive front grille likely won’t do the trick.
The “L” series (L, LE, LE Hybrid, XLE and XLE V6) will surely find more takers be they regulars or newly converted buyers. This car is far more elegant and despite its lack of adornment, is quite lovely.
Regardless of the selected trim, there are three powertrains to choose from and they are a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder, a 3.5-litre V6 and a 4-cylinder hybrid.
The 2.5-litre will account for the highest take rate, and with reason. Its efficiency and power (203-horsepower for the L, 206 for the S) are more than adequate. It’s far nosier than I expected in spite of Toyota’s efforts to make the car quieter but that would be its only real fault. The V6 is powerful and smooth but ultimately serves only for bragging rights because of its 301 horsepower. The standard 8-speed autobox does a great job in all situations.
The Hybrid version is by far the most appealing; no word of a lie. Not only is it great on gas but the car actually moves! The 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle mill, hybrid synergy drive and continuously variable transmission are on point for enticing passing and acceleration power. You must understand that I was so blown away by the punch that I had no choice but drive harshly. And even while being driven in this manner, the car still returned 5.9 liters per 100 km!
As though this wasn’t enough, it is important to note that the Hybrid’s batteries are now located beneath the rear bench. As such, the trunk’s volume is identical to the others. This car is no longer a comprise for efficiency, it is the best of the new Camrys.
