Toyota interiors have long been considered to be among the best in the industry in
terms of appearance, function and finish. The cabin of our top-of-the-line Camry XLE
test car was no exception. Everything looks right, from the shape of the dashboard and
door panels to seats and center console. All controls are placed where they should be,
and are clearly labelled. Fabrics, carpeting and plastics are all of good quality.
The Camry scores high marks for comfort. Sufficient space is available for driver and
front passenger to stretch out; those in the back have to make do with a little less
space, but three will fit. The front bucket and rear bench seats--the latter with a
split/fold feature that opens cargo space up considerably--are well-padded and
supportive.
Camry wagons offer an optional rear-facing third seat that is best left to very small
children and pets. It's awkward to climb into and out of, and once the passenger is
there, it's none too pleasant to sit on. It's best to use the back as a cargo bay;
there's 40.5 cu. ft. available in back for that purpose, and just under 75 cu. ft. of
stowage space when the center seat is folded.
Nothing emphasizes the Camry's solid-citizen image as effectively as a drive. It
matters not at all whether the trip is across town or across the country; in any
driving situation, the Toyota is rock-solid, smooth and efficient. Most of the time,
it's quiet, too, though the engine (we're talking about the V6, mind you) gets noisy
when asked to pick up speed quickly, as on freeway on-ramps.
On the other hand, pickup is something the V6 does very well, out-performing the
standard V6 engines offered by its Detroit rivals.
On a long cruise, the Camry is thoroughly pleasant. Wind and mechanical noises were
nicely subdued in our test car, and we encountered no squeaks or rattles. About the
only noise to be heard was generated by tire treads, a little more than we expected.
The Camry is a soft-riding car, one that won't jolt its occupants even when travelling
over poor road surfaces. The downside to the pillowy ride is a distinct shortage of
driving pleasure. Despite its light curb weight, the Camry feels ponderous, floating
over bumps and leaning heavily through turns. The steering is light and not
particularly precise.
If that lack of driving fun matters, the Camry SE has stiffened suspension and much
sharper steering. While not quite as crisp as, say, an Accord, the SE is more of a
driver's car, with minimal loss of comfort.
Unless your driving is done largely around town, we think the extra $2300 or so Toyota
charges for the V6 engine makes sense. It's a refined powerplant, one that copes well
with even a full load of passengers and luggage. The V6 requires premium-grade fuel, a
definite consideration for high-mileage drivers, but uses little more than its
4-cylinder kin. A 4-speed automatic transmission is standard with the V6, optional for
4-cylinder Camrys, which come equipped with a very good 5-speed manual.
In many applications the base 4-cylinder powerplant would be a standout, delivering
impressive power with smoothness unusual even among today's highly developed
4-cylinder engines. But an engine that needs to be kept at fairly high rpm to be
effective, as this one does, may not be what most people want or need in a decidedly
non-sporty passenger car.
A side benefit to ordering the V6 engine is the replacement of the rear drum brakes
with discs. The all-disc system provides sure stopping power, and can be augmented
with optional ABS. Four-wheel discs are also supplied when ABS is ordered on
4-cylinder models.