The classic multipart sequel under the name Toyota Camry has been extended. And yes, it does not lose its relevance over the years, but rather is in increasing demand. The best thing about this situation is that the basic concept remains unchanged.
Everything new is well-forgotten old. And Toyota sticks to this concept like no other. Perhaps that is why the brand’s reputation is only improving. So the Camry, like a well-aged whiskey, only gets better and stronger over the years. If you’ve ever owned a Toyota, you know what I mean. While other modern cars are increasingly moving towards gadgetry and intricate technology, the Japanese stick to good, proven standards and all units, buttons, and spare parts remain in their old places.
It seems that over the 40 years of its presence on the market, the Toyota Camry has changed a lot of faces, units, and broken a lot of hearts of those who couldn’t keep up with the change of generations. It’s not that new generations appeared very quickly, but rather that their predecessors simply did not have time to «wear out». Thus, Toyota models change owners surprisingly rarely. These are one of those cars that owners don’t part with anytime soon.
The fresh face of the XV80 can only impress those who lived somewhere in the remote areas of the Carpathians and rarely went out in public, let alone saw modern cars. There is nothing too fancy here. Everything is elegant and restrained. We can say that this is a deep restyle rather than a generational change: different bumpers, tick optics, fresh colors and a new interior configuration. But it seems to be more than that.
The overall look of the sedan has become completely different. Against the background of modern futuristic cars, the Toyota Camry will be lost, but it won’t stand out too much. There is less emotionality here than in the Hyundai Sonata, as well as technology, but there is enough elegance and sophistication.
Fresh features are striking, and in the new bronze color, the Toyota Camry attracts the eyes, especially of owners of other generations. Plus, it’s not so dull in cloudy weather and sparkles quite brightly in the sun. I really like this shade. Although, it seems that there will still be more black sedans, this is the trend.
The ninth Toyota Camry has grown in length due to new bumpers and extended overhangs. The wheelbase remained the same at 2,825 mm, as did the height and width. The body was hardly touched, except for the rear pillar: it was slightly narrowed and sloped more, which made it possible to increase the doorway and make it easier to sit in the second row.
Content
It’s worth noting that now, it seems, the emphasis is on the comfort of passengers in the back seat, at least in the Premium configuration. If you don’t see the nameplate and climb up on the porch, you might think you’re in a Bentley.
A soft sofa, an armrest with a touch screen. It is here that there are heated two seats at the edges, electric backrest adjustments, its climate, window blinds, and an electronic rear window shade. The only thing missing are monitors, which can be delivered for a fee by a third-party service, and soft mats for a cozy atmosphere.
This is the maximum configuration of the Toyota Camry and offers not only comfort for passengers, but also increased services for the driver and enhanced safety. This is where the new cross-traffic warning system will be available when passing an intersection and the driver monitoring system, which will bother you with reminders to look at the road. It seems that the algorithms should be adjusted because sometimes it is critical to look around, not just forward.
The main thing is not to get stuck looking at the interior itself. Originality prevails over style here, but everything seems practical. The architecture is really fresh with a modified torpedo and center console. The upper part of the Toyota Camry is narrower and higher, which adds legroom. The design element in the form of an electronic guitar is quickly guessed, and thanks to such horizontal stripes, the air deflectors are also lost somewhere in the design. An interesting move.
But the overall design and location of all keys remained unchanged. The climate control panel was separated. Each key carries its functionality and there are no unnecessary icons. Laconic, rich and simple. Why didn’t we think of this before? All you have to do is get used to it and not smear the keys. The climate, as usual, will be two-zone and only in the maximum configuration three-zone, but the front heating and ventilation will be in all versions.
The 12.3-inch center monitor is probably the best option and will be available in all versions, but the same size digital instrument cluster will be available only in the last two Prestige and Premium models. The smaller ones will get a standard instrument cluster with a 7-inch display. The practical thing is a color projection display with duplication of important information.
Of course, all security systems and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity will be available from the start. Wireless charging is located in a convenient enough place, has a limit so that the phone does not slip and is large enough for a large smartphone. I love new Toyotas for their adequately designed software that doesn’t overheat the phone’s battery or glitch during connections. Even some premium brands don’t indulge in this.
In general, the organization of space in the Toyota Camry is on the verge of premium, but still falls short in terms of materials. Although the soft upholstery is everywhere at your fingertips, and the difference between synthetic leather and plastic is almost imperceptible, something is missing.
Yes, there is too much synthetic, the steering wheel is rubberized, and the leather on the seats does not look very much like genuine leather, although it is indicated as such. Maybe in beige or brown colors it would look a little brighter, but the black interior didn’t really work for me.
The Premium feature will also include electronic seat and steering wheel adjustments, lumbar support, and memory for seat, steering wheel, and projection display positions. The only thing missing is a massage. They could have added it already. It’s not even in the options.
It’s good that the Camry remains itself. You can’t take away from the spaciousness of the cabin, which now has even more air. And the luggage compartment is quite spacious, offering 493 liters and the ability to fold the rear row backrest, but only in three versions. Our Premium does not have this option and offers only a central hatch for access to the trunk or transportation of long, thin things. Maybe one pair of skis will fit, but a snowboard will have to be mounted on the roof. And the trunk volume in the top sedan will be smaller at 469 liters due to the presence of a subwoofer for the JBL audio system, a folding mechanism for the rear curtain, and a spare tire under the floor.
Another advantage of the top version of the Toyota Camry is the presence of an electronic rearview mirror. It seems to be a practical thing and should improve the visibility behind, but the camera has too limited an angle and unrealistically zooms in on everything behind. Therefore, it is not worth focusing on it at all, which erases its practicality to zero.
In the same Hyundai, such a camera has a wide angle and shows everything perfectly in the dark, but here you want to turn it off and forget it. There are always 360 cameras that allow you to see almost everything around you, and the top models even have a camera washer.
You don’t expect any surprises from the ninth generation (XV80) Toyota Camry. And how great was my surprise when I noticed a tangible change in the behavior of the hybrid system. Indeed, the car is able to move longer on electric drive without turning on the engine, and this is in the standard Normal mode. What happens if you turn on EV-mode? I think it will be possible to ride like this for 5-6 kilometers if you don’t press the accelerator too hard. A good result, considering that this is a hybrid without recharging.
Yes, the Camry has a parallel hybrid in addition to the proposed 2.5-liter gasoline engine with 204 hp. Now it has a lithium-ion battery instead of nickel, as in the previous generation, but its capacity has not yet been announced. I think it’s more than 1 kWh.
But more importantly, there is a new control module, thanks to which the algorithm of the system has been changed. In addition, the electric motor now demonstrates improved performance: slightly increased power and torque. So the total output of the system is 230 hp.
I love that electric car effect of instant acceleration and how cool it is that this sedan is built for it. All of the torque is available immediately on demand, delivering 7.1 seconds to 100 km/h and available at any speed. It’s safe to say that the days of 3.5-liter engines in the Camry are over. Plus, the efficiency is simply outstanding. It’s so nice to drive and watch the consumption in the region of 6 liters.
And it’s even more pleasant to feel the softness of the suspension, which smoothes out potholes like a vacuum cleaner. Of course, it has the same GA-K base and the same chassis configuration with a multi-linkage scheme around the circumference. Nothing new here. Even the shock absorbers are the same as before. There will be no surprises in terms of technology. The downside of such softness is still there in the form of rolls and residual steering. And although the steering wheel is quite clear with good feedback, the large sedan does not twist into corners so well.
The advantage of sedans is most noticeable during long-distance travel. The Toyota Camry holds its course perfectly at high speeds, is precisely controlled and well insured. After all, the full range of Toyota Safety Sense safety systems will be available in all configurations, including adaptive cruise.
In terms of behavior and algorithms, they are very similar to Volvo’s systems, as they are among the best in terms of functionality and reliability. The car stays well in the lane, steers unobtrusively, turning into the lane and keeping the course in the center, and monitors the distance of previous cars. And this is even if you do not activate adaptive cruise.
I am very impressed by the fact that the Camry is only getting better over the years. Forty years on the market, millions of sales, universal love of the public — everything only suggests that the car will be relevant for a long time, even despite the boom in crossovers. And in the new generation, Toyota has implemented the best technologies of the brand, and the designers tried very hard to stand out from the masses, although it could have been better, in my opinion.
It’s worth noting that now, more than ever, there is a clear distinction between Lexus and the mass market, which can be felt in the Camry. All the sophisticated and rich materials have been given to the premium brand, leaving only practicality and maximum accessibility.
But how affordable has it become? I would say that it stays in the middle price category of the segment. The price starts at 1,462,480 hryvnias ($34,820) for the gasoline version, and our top-of-the-line hybrid costs 1,993,740 hryvnias ($48,000). For Europeans, the Audi A5, VW Passat, or BMW are even more expensive. And only the futuristic Hyundai Sonata at the top costs 1,589,700 hryvnias ($37,850), so there will be a game of tastes: classic versus extravagance.
PROS: dynamics, fuel consumption, comfort, safety.
CONS: An electronic mirror is no good, I want better materials.
| Body, type | sedan |
| Dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 4920x1840x1455 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2825 |
| Declared ground clearance, mm | 145 |
| Trunk volume, liters. | 493/469 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1670 |
| Engine | 2.5 Hybrid |
| Power, hp. | 230 |
| Torque, Nm | 350 |
| Electric motor power, kW | 100 |
| Torque, Nm | 208 |
| Type of drive | front |
| Pendant | independent Macpherson/multi-lever |
| Transmission | e-CVT |
| Dynamics 0-100, s | 7.2 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 180 |
| Fuel consumption, l (mixed) | 6,1 |
| Cost, UAH | from 1 462 480 |
| The cost of the test car, UAH | 1 993 740 |
| Competitors | Hyundai Sonata |
| VW Passat | |
| Audi A5 | |
| BMW 5-Series |