Once underway, occupants will undoubtedly be impressed with the Camry's outstanding level of operational refinement. It this aspect of the 2007 Camry XLE that I will take away over and above all others. The car is very quiet and smooth riding. The basis of its refinement is attributable to the polished performance of its optional V6 powerplant. Displacing 3.5 litres and discharging 268 horsepower and 248 foot-pounds of torque, the Camry's sophisticated V6 is larger and more potent that last year's. It is also an ultra-low emissions engine, meeting ULEVII standards. Variable valve timing and a variable induction system combine to give the engine a broad, flat torque curve. The result of which is a mill that hustles the vehicle's maximum curb weight of 1,669 kg (3,680 lbs) with surprising
 |
| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
vigor. Some of the get-up-and-go credit belongs to the assistance of the talented 6-speed automatic transmission that Toyota bolts to the transversely mounted V6. The autobox's shifts are so smooth, to be barely perceptible. When snappier performance is desired, the stick can be shunted into an electronic manual mode.
The two main components of the XLE's drivetrain work in wonderful harmony, producing a delightful 0-96 kph (0-60 mph) time in the sub 7-second range. When the Camry is equipped with the 4-cylinder powerplant, it's 158 horsepower and 161 foot-pounds of torque reach the front wheels through either a manual 5-speed gearbox or a 5-speed autobox- neither of which I've had the opportunity to test of late. Regardless of drivetrain, all 2007 Camrys are equipped with top-notch, 4-wheel antilock disc
 |
| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
brakes. The binders in my tester worked very predictably and were less sensitive to the touch than what I have experienced in many competing brands, and that's a quality I prefer.
Comparing the Camry to the Lexus, (specifically the ES model) as I have done in this review, is somewhat of an apples-to-oranges comparison; nonetheless it is not without merit. Yes the ES rides smoother and is more subdued in its operation, but not by much. The Camry is a gentle-riding sedan that doesn't loose its composure when a twisty road beckons. Hard cornering will undoubtedly coax body lean and tire wail, yet the Camry will continue to track its intended course- all within reason of course. This is not a sports sedan, such as the Lexus IS series, by any stretch of its independent suspension, which is comprised of MacPherson gas struts and a stabilizer bar up front and a dual-link setup bolstered with a stabilizer bar at the rear. However for those wishing to move closer to "sports sedan" performance, a sports
 |
| (Photo: Rob Rothwell) |
suspension setup accompanies the Camry SE V6. I don't imagine though, the sport suspension will improve the Camry's steering feedback, which I found to be overly springy and somewhat vague.
Reassuring to drivers of both the sport-suspended Camry SE and standard suspension XLE model is the presence of Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control System (VSC), that is capable of restoring control when the vehicle looses grip and begins to spin-out. More impressive than VSC is the fact that Toyota has equipped every 2007 Camry with a series of seven airbags including, frontal dual-stage airbags, front seat side-mounted airbags, front and rear curtain shield airbags and a driver's knee airbag- and that's remarkably good for a mid-priced sedan. When it comes to comfort and convenience, the Camry is well-stocked at the base level including, 16-inch alloy wheels, 6-speaker audio, power windows, locks and mirrors in addition to cruise control and air conditioning with a pollen filter. Moving up the Camry trim scale brings many fine accoutrements such as keyless entry and start, and a stunning, 400-watt audio system along with dual-zone climate control.
