Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Toyota Camry Overview

When Toyota redesigned the current Camry midsize sedan for the 2002 model year, the TV commercials took an oooooh, aaaaaah, styling-that-moves-you approach. After a while they stopped that. It turned out U.S. consumers weren't particularly moved by the styling. It was different, yes, but still conservative - some would say bland, boring.

This didn't stop the Camry from being the best-selling car in the country for the intervening years. But there's tough competition in the field, and it's now clear that bold styling sells. Bland may now be riskier than taking a chance on a strong design statement. Finally, Toyota has heard the call.

The 2007 models hit dealerships in March 2006 equipped with upgraded drivetrains and other refinements. Roughly three months later, hybrid versions built right here in the U.S. hit the streets. The trim levels, in ascending value, are CE, LE, the sporty SE and the premium XLE.

Unfortunately, the Camry Hybrid follows the current formula: It's a hybrid equivalent of the Camry's top, XLE, trim level. So first you have to pony up the cash for the most expensive trim, then pay whatever premium is on top of that for the hybrid aspect. Someday hybrid technology will be a drivetrain option on any trim level, but not until costs come down dramatically.

Utility
Neither the Toyota Camry nor the typical midsize sedan has a marked advantage regarding seating capacity. The Camry outpulls the typical midsize sedan by a sizeable margin.

Dimensions
The typical midsize sedan is a tad heavier than the Toyota Camry. The average midsize sedan's tank is about the same size as the Toyota Camry's, though the Toyota Camry's is a little more capacious. The Camry and the typical midsize sedan compete for the same parking spaces.

Convenience
The average midsize sedan's fuel tank will need to be replenished more often than the unit in the Toyota Camry.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs about the same to get the Toyota Camry to the dealership as the average midsize sedan. There honestly isn't much of a difference in gas mileage here, but if you must know, the Toyota Camry is slightly more economical than the average midsize sedan. The typical midsize sedan won't tax your gas budget considerably more than the Camry will. In terms of MSRP, the typical midsize sedan doesn't cost much less than the Toyota Camry.

Handling
The Toyota Camry and the typical midsize sedan have roughly comparable tires. With their comparable turning radiuses, the Camry and the average midsize sedan quite certainly handle about the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Toyota Camry and the typical midsize sedan have similar-sized engines, with a slight advantage to the typical midsize sedan. Torque is the force that lets you accelerate quickly, and in this respect, the typical midsize sedan is markedly more powerful than the Camry.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Toyota Camry offers a bit more head room than the average midsize sedan, there honestly isn't much of a difference. The Toyota Camry is not particularly roomier for your passengers than the typical midsize sedan.

Overview
The basic warranty that comes with the Toyota Camry isn't quite as generous as the average midsize sedan's.

from here

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