A Frugal Person's LexusWith Korean auto manufacturers, Hyundai and Kia, dispatching an array of impressive sedans to North America, re-tooling the
Camry was critical if Toyota intended to maintain their supremacy in the mid-size sedan market. The all-new 2007 Camry is the sixth generation of Toyota's highly acclaimed moderately priced sedan. In this version, Toyota has tried to shake the vanilla milquetoast image of the ultra-reliable 4-door by drafting sportier lines and upping the under-hood V6 ante. What hasn't changed
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
to any significant degree is the vehicle's size and pricing structure. Also, it remains front-wheel-driven while offering either a four or six cylinder powerplant depending on trim level. This week's tester is a top-of-the-line XLE, powered by the six-cylinder mill.
Regardless of trim level, the '07 Camry projects an image more inline with recent Lexus styling exercises. I find the car quite appealing from all angles except the front. For some reason its smile-shaped grille dominated by an intruding "Toyota" badge looks malformed to me. Apart from this single oddity, Toyota stylists succeeded in giving the staid sedan a more athletic, stimulating appearance- certainly more so than any preceding generation of Camry, and thank goodness. Some earlier editions were less inspiring than a leaky faucet, but "inspiration" isn't, nor has ever been, the Camry's raison d'être. As with Camrys of yore, the 2007 version is focused on the elusive pairings of comfort and refinement, and quality and value not arrhythmia-inducing
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
looks and performance as in Nissan's hotter Maxima. In fact I would describe today's Camry as the frugal person's Lexus, it's just that good. And of its many virtues, refinement stands-out most notably. Each press of the "push-to-start" button in my XLE tester reaffirmed this perception.
The leather-clad interior of the XLE is a classy joint that provides very impressive room for limbs of length and craniums of circumference. Looking and feeling more like Toyota's premium brand, Lexus, the Camry's cabin features high quality finishes and some tasteful touches, such as very convincing wood-like trim and centre stack, which provides a warm glow at night. Thanks to tilt and telescoping steering as standard equipment and infinitely adjustable front seats, it's
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
easy to dial-in the perfect driving position. The upscale front buckets in the XLE model offer plenty of support but are a wee bit shy in seat length and side bolstering. Nonetheless, they held my frame very comfortably.
From the driver's seat I absorbed a sense of openness in the Camry's cabin. It seems to impart larger-than-life sizing, leading me to feel as though I was seated in a full-size sedan. Although rear seat quarters are considerably tighter, they are by no means merciless. In fact rear seat accommodations are quite satisfying. Curiously, the rear seatback in my tester didn't fold down, giving unimpeded access to the trunk. I assume the limitation was related to the slight bit of recline they offered. The seatback of the standard, non-reclining rear seat drops, giving much better cargo accommodation than was available in my test unit. Despite this trade-off, the Camry's trunk is large; unfortunately the portal giving access is less so.
