Technical
Camrys of this generation could be delivered with one of two engines. The basic trim levels received a 2.2L inline 4-cylinder. It put out 133 hp and 147lb/ft of torque. This engine received a small increase of 3 hp and 3 lb/ft of torque in 2000. The optional 3.0L V6 developed 194 hp and 209 lb/ft of torque. Transmission choices were either a 5-speed manual or a
4-speed auto for the 4-cylinder and a only 4-speed automatic with the V6. I know that there existed a CE-V6 for 1997 with a manual transmission, however I believe that it was only available in the US. Braking was achieved with front discs and rear drums. Rear disc brakes were optional.
On the road
The small boost in output numbers for 1997 did little to improve performance. The 4-pot is a shinning star when it comes to fuel economy and smooth cruising. For most applications, the smaller engine will be more than sufficient. The V6 is refined and powerful. It is also fairly reasonable when it come to gas guzzling. The 4-speed automatic transmission is a trustworthy partner. As long as the suggested maintenance has been performed, it will carry you through hundreds of thousands of kilometres.
The Camry is by no stretch of the imagination a sporty sedan. Its purpose is to get the family to where it needs to go every time. What one can expect of the drive is a very soft spongy ride. The shocks are very relaxed and hate to be rushed. On our broken down roads, this behaviour actually ensures a certain level of comfort. The car will have a strong tendency to display body-roll in a curve.
The power-assisted steering is incredibly light. Precision is fair at best, however for Camry-style cruising, it is more than acceptable. A nice feature about the car is how quiet the interior is even when speeding along on the highway. Due to this desirable feature, Toyota decided to use this very same platform for their Lexus ES.
Safety
The Camry has standard dual front air bags, standard ABS brakes (all but
base CE trim), and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the car 4 out of 5 stars (a good result) for both frontal and lateral impacts in 1997. As of 1998, the passenger side frontal rating was increased to 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result). The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) rated the Camry "Good" in its category.
Camrys of this generation could be delivered with one of two engines. The basic trim levels received a 2.2L inline 4-cylinder. It put out 133 hp and 147lb/ft of torque. This engine received a small increase of 3 hp and 3 lb/ft of torque in 2000. The optional 3.0L V6 developed 194 hp and 209 lb/ft of torque. Transmission choices were either a 5-speed manual or a
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On the road
The small boost in output numbers for 1997 did little to improve performance. The 4-pot is a shinning star when it comes to fuel economy and smooth cruising. For most applications, the smaller engine will be more than sufficient. The V6 is refined and powerful. It is also fairly reasonable when it come to gas guzzling. The 4-speed automatic transmission is a trustworthy partner. As long as the suggested maintenance has been performed, it will carry you through hundreds of thousands of kilometres.
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The power-assisted steering is incredibly light. Precision is fair at best, however for Camry-style cruising, it is more than acceptable. A nice feature about the car is how quiet the interior is even when speeding along on the highway. Due to this desirable feature, Toyota decided to use this very same platform for their Lexus ES.
Safety
The Camry has standard dual front air bags, standard ABS brakes (all but
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