3rd place (tie) - 2011 Toyota Camry SE (77.9%)
Although a lot of us were astonished to discover a tie in our ratings, what specifically stunned us was that the Camry, a four year-old car, ended up this close to the top of the charts. Now, we're not saying that Toyota's ace is not that good in the hole, it's just that the Camry is, well, a Camry... It would appear then, that being a Camry is a fine thing. This SE-packed car included the right bits to bring the car up to snuff, at least putting it on equal footing with the more modern cars.
What bits? First and foremost, the "sport-tuned" suspension. Sport may be a strong term to describe the independent suspension, however it fared very well on the twisty uneven country roads that we tackled on test day. Steering lacked bite but will live up to the 99th percentile's expectations, as will brakes, displaying average performance and decent pedal feel. Imagine that, writing about a Camry's driving dynamics... The Toyota's 179-hp 2.5L (10 more hp than other 4-pot Camrys) is punchy (2nd quickest of the gang) but the price for getting excited is an aural barrage from the engine. Thankfully, the smooth-shifting 6-speed auto evens things out.
As mentioned previously, the Camry is getting on in age. Nowhere is it more obvious than inside the car's roomy lodgings. The huge aqua-blue gauges were novel, if for 5 minutes in 2007, but as they never caught on, they severely date the otherwise intelligently presented dashboard. What's more, the flimsy plastics and questionable fit and finish further tarnish what was once a reference in the matter. Front seats are short on thigh support, an old and common complaint, and the rear bench will accommodate 2 passengers with ease.
"I thought that the Camry was going to end up at the bottom but was I ever wrong. The SE package is what made the difference in my opinion. Anyone considering this car should seriously look into this trim." - Mathieu St-Pierre
Although a lot of us were astonished to discover a tie in our ratings, what specifically stunned us was that the Camry, a four year-old car, ended up this close to the top of the charts. Now, we're not saying that Toyota's ace is not that good in the hole, it's just that the Camry is, well, a Camry... It would appear then, that being a Camry is a fine thing. This SE-packed car included the right bits to bring the car up to snuff, at least putting it on equal footing with the more modern cars.
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| (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
What bits? First and foremost, the "sport-tuned" suspension. Sport may be a strong term to describe the independent suspension, however it fared very well on the twisty uneven country roads that we tackled on test day. Steering lacked bite but will live up to the 99th percentile's expectations, as will brakes, displaying average performance and decent pedal feel. Imagine that, writing about a Camry's driving dynamics... The Toyota's 179-hp 2.5L (10 more hp than other 4-pot Camrys) is punchy (2nd quickest of the gang) but the price for getting excited is an aural barrage from the engine. Thankfully, the smooth-shifting 6-speed auto evens things out.
As mentioned previously, the Camry is getting on in age. Nowhere is it more obvious than inside the car's roomy lodgings. The huge aqua-blue gauges were novel, if for 5 minutes in 2007, but as they never caught on, they severely date the otherwise intelligently presented dashboard. What's more, the flimsy plastics and questionable fit and finish further tarnish what was once a reference in the matter. Front seats are short on thigh support, an old and common complaint, and the rear bench will accommodate 2 passengers with ease.
"I thought that the Camry was going to end up at the bottom but was I ever wrong. The SE package is what made the difference in my opinion. Anyone considering this car should seriously look into this trim." - Mathieu St-Pierre
| STYLING | ACCESORIES | SPACE AND ACCESS | COMFORT | |
| Fusion | 76.3 % | 75.4 % | 78.1 % | 76.4 % |
| Accord | 74.6 % | 67.9 % | 77.6 % | 78.9 % |
| Sonata | 82.0 % | 79.1 % | 83.6 % | 76.1 % |
| Mazda6 | 75.4 % | 74.6 % | 74.9 % | 72.3 % |
| Legacy | 74.1 % | 72.3 % | 78.1 % | 75.2 % |
| Kizashi | 84.6 % | 80.6 % | 74.3 % | 79.5 % |
| Camry | 75.2 % | 78.9 % | 79.3 % | 79.3 % |