The Camry has few tech features to recommend it. The engine is not terribly efficient, although the transmission is modern and capable. Cabin tech is hobbled by a slow iPod interface.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
The Camry has been a huge success for Toyota, a reliable midsize sedan with no pretensions. Little has changed with the car over the last decade: the engine has increased in power, the transmission got an extra gear, and the car got bigger. But will its average demeanor be competitive against upstarts such as Hyundai?
In a mid-decade update, the Camry got the Toyota bump on its nose, a convenient place to tack on the badge. The SE trim model signals its sport intentions with a black-painted grille.
The Camry can be had with one of two engines, either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V-6. In SE trim, the four-cylinder puts out 179 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, a little bit more than other trim levels.
From the side, the Camry is nondescript, a modern-looking sedan with bulky sides and a wide D pillar. It is a practical design, with easy access to front and rear seats.
The SE trim comes with what Toyota calls a sport suspension, but it falls short of track day worthiness. In fact, it feels soft and allows a lot of travel.
The Camry's steering feels nicely responsive. Toyota is still using a conventional hydraulic power-steering unit in the Camry, which draws on engine power, reducing fuel efficiency.