This week we are reviewing the Toyota Camryl in XLE trim. Our vehicle was assembled at the Georgetown plant in Kentucky, USA and has an approximate MSRP of $35,005.95 CAD.

















Fun Factor:4

Can it Family: 7

Fuel-Friendly: 8

HWY-warrior: 8

Karaoke Friendly: 6

Baby friendly: 7

City Cruising: 7

















Our first impression of the Toyota Camry, it looks sporty, it was also comfortable, provided a pleasant ride quality and efficient fuel consumption now when it comes to the “Fun Factor,” it isn’t the car that will procure the most enjoyment while driving. Let’s start with the exterior looks, Toyota added some very daring curves on the Camry, making it look swift without overdoing it. Our vehicle was equipped with a 4 banger with a displacement of 2.5L producing 203hp and 184 lb-ft of torque coming from an 8 speed automatic. In our real life 0-100km/h we’ve achieved 8.0 seconds. For someone who’d like more power and don’t mind the penalty in fuel consumption, there is the V6 available with 301hp and 267 lb-ft of torque which can achieve a 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds. In our opinion, the 4-cylinder engine will be enough for most people that need to get from point A to point B and in return, enjoy an excellent gas consumption.

















How will it be driving the Camry in your day-to-day, when bringing the whole family? The rear seats offer lots of room for 2 adults, you’ll also have plenty of legroom too, and for short trips, an additional adult could sit in the middle. On the other hand, 3 children will have enough space in the rear. The maximum number of child seats that can be installed is 2, in this case, the middle seat will become obsolete, the space will be too narrow for any child that is old enough to ride without a booster. As for the trunk, we were able to place 2 full-size suitcases in the trunk and still had sufficient space. With 2 carry-ons you’ll also have space for a stroller.

















If you want an efficient car that brings joy at the pump, the Toyota Camry will surely make you happy, we’ve been able to reach consumption as low as 5.3L per 100km on the HWY and in the city we achieved 8.2L per 100km with an average of 6.1L per 100km. Our test was done over 500km and included 70% HWY and 30% city driving. City driving included driving in heavy traffic bumper to bumper. We think the non-hybrid version will be the one to buy if you’re not going to drive a lot in the city and that your primary use will be driving on the HWY vs the price difference of the Hybrid version. The numbers announced by Toyota for the Camry are as follow; 8.1L per 100km in the city and 5.7L on the HWY and a combined result of 6.9L. Making the numbers advertised by Toyota either equal or lower than announced. Something other manufacturers still have trouble achieving and that Toyota has totally nailed.

















As mentioned above the Camry received a high score for HWY driving; it might not be the most engaging choice for your drive; however, it will be the more ecological and comfortable choice. Let us explain, when testing cars for this category we try to make sure prolonged drives don’t hurt your back and that the vehicle stays stable at higher speeds and that all security system work as designed. This is the case with the Camry where the driver seat is adjustable for any size driver. We tested the seat adjustment for drivers that are 5ft1 to drivers that were 6ft tall, and all of them were able to find a comfortable position to drive. We had the unfortunate opportunity to test the brake assist system as an elk ran in front of us; we were so glad to observe how the Toyota Camry braked before we even hit the pedal braking. You can easily see how Toyota safety sense products that come standard may save lives and how important they are in today’s world. Other safety sense products like line departure with steering assist are not intrusive and are well balanced for everyday driving helping you take corners like a champion following a natural apex. We really think that Toyota has upped their game with this updated Camry making long road trips pleasant with the family.

















The sound system in the Camry is of standard quality; for this price point, the quality of the sound system is well balanced. It is balanced in a way that all types of music styles sound decent; maybe on the lower end bass, the sound could be little richer in quality. Now, where we had more difficulties with is the infotainment, the touchscreen layout is not the most logical layout and in certain instances has a half a second delay before responding, this can be a source of annoyance especially if you need to take your eyes off the road to verify if the command worked. On a more positive side, most of the climate controls and everyday buttons are available as physical buttons that have a quality feel to them. The heated seat button is laid out a little further back on the central console than what we would like to see because if you’re not used to them, it will require your eyes to be taken off the wheel to find them. The cup holder is set up to accommodate smaller drinks and larger drinks without having to worry about any spills or difficulties taken them out.

















Car seat installation is simple as the rear doors open wide making it easy to enter the car seat. Once the car seat is in place, the ISOFIX covers need to be removed. We personally don’t like that option as with time the clips may get lost. However, the ports are easily accessible and have the right angle to attach a variety of car seats. Even the rear anchor attachment can be found easily behind the headrest. The front passenger will have enough space in front of them when a rear-facing child seat is installed. As for young children entering the car by themselves, it will a child’s play as the door stills are placed low enabling them to get in and set themselves into the car, our youngest toddler was able to open the door handle by himself.

















The Camry is an all around car, not only does it's performance shine on the HWY, it can be used as a daily driver in the city without ruining your fuel budget. Parking is simple; you can easily gage the dimensions of the car, without necessarily using the backup camera. Talking about the backup camera, the quality of the screen could be described as being low resolution and somewhat pixelated.

















Why would we buy the Toyota Camry and what we liked about it: Great gas consumption, because of the interior comfort, the standard safety features and the revamped exterior look, it’s made in North America.

















Why would we not buy the Toyota Camry and what we didn't we like: The infotainment has a long learning curve and looks dated and less engaging driving experience.





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