“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s sound, if not particularly articulate, advice. Advice that Toyota claims it has ignored for its complete redesign of the sixth-generation, 2007 Toyota Camry, which was unveiled at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. But in reality, the company has taken it to heart more than ever. The Toyota Camry ain’t broke because it’s the best-selling midsize sedan on the market. In the years since 1983, when the Camry first arrived in America, it has proven itself a dependable mode of transportation, constructed of quality materials yet providing value to the car’s 6.5 million buyers during its 23-year lifespan. Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., noted during the Camry’s introduction that the car has “evolved into the quintessential family sedan.” Esmond further explained that “Camry owners love their Camrys, recommend them to friends and family,” and often hand them down to sons and daughters. The one thing causing Camry owners dissatisfaction, according to Esmond, is the car’s vanilla image. To combat the Camry’s tendency to induce naps, Toyota is trying to shake things up with the redesigned 2007 model. Esmond says that the styling pushes the envelope, but only that odd-looking grille, which makes it look like the hood melted and dripped down the front of the car, is even close to adventurous. The rest of the car is contemporary but generic, handsome and inoffensive like every Camry since the 1992 model debuted and redefined the family sedan. Ditto for the interior, which could double in a luxury car except for the Toyota logo emblazoned on the steering wheel hub. The 2007 Toyota Camry is a car you buy today, drive for 10 years, and sell without concern that it’s going to go out of style. And it’s likely to retain a healthy chunk of its value, too, especially if you follow the scheduled maintenance intervals. But we’re off topic. The 2007 Toyota Camry is offered in base CE, popular LE, upscale XLE, sporty SE, and Hybrid trim levels (see our separate story on the Camry Hybrid). The standard engine in the CE, LE, XLE, and SE is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 158 horsepower (155 horses for PZEV-rated motors). It’s connected to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, and gets 24 mpg regardless of transmission choice. The manual transmission gets 34 mpg on the highway, while the automatic musters 33 mpg. If you want more power than the four-cylinder engine can provide, choose a 2007 Toyota Camry equipped with the available 3.5-liter V6. It generates 268 horsepower, runs on regular unleaded fuel like the four-cylinder, and carries a ULEV rating. The V6 is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, and is expected to deliver 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Other hardware highlights of the 2007 Toyota Camry include larger wheels and tires (with optional 18-inch rims offered on the sport-tuned SE model), bigger brakes, and suspension upgrades to improve ride and handling. Toyota is particularly proud of the work that has gone into the Camry SE, which the company claims is now a true sports sedan. The SE gets structural reinforcements, and everything is tightened and stiffened for sharper response. According to Esmond, “The new Camry SE is an absolute blast to drive.” That’s an uncommon statement when talking Camrys. But safety, quality, and spaciousness are current hallmarks of the car that are carried over in the new 2007 version. The front seats are redesigned for added comfort, and feature increased seat track travel to better accommodate taller drivers. Antilock brakes with EBD and brake assist is standard on all 2007 Toyota Camrys, along with a Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seat design, stability and traction control systems, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side-curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions, and even a driver’s knee airbag. We could talk about other Camry goodies, like the Sericin-coated Fraichir seat fabric on the XLE four-cylinder model, the Plasmacluster ionizer technology in the dual-zone automatic climate control system, and the 440-watt JBL audio system with Bluetooth wireless communications capability, but that’s our time. Suffice it to say that, as it always has with every redesign of America’s favorite family sedan, Toyota is providing more car for the money than ever in the new Camry. The 2007 Toyota Camry goes on sale in March, and pricing will be announced closer to its arrival in showrooms. Don’t fall asleep on your way to the dealership.
Photo by Ron Perry
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