X

2012 Toyota Camry XLE (photos)

The Toyota Camry update shows improvements in style and stability, but the biggest move forward is in the cabin tech. Toyota includes its new Entune system, along with improved navigation, audio system, and voice commands.

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.
Wayne Cunningham
35090245_OVR.JPG
1 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The Camry has been a bread-and-butter car for Toyota, selling very well, so the 2012 update is not changed radically from the previous generation. In fact, Toyota keeps the same engines, but adds new cabin tech and some design flair.

Back to review.

35090245_FT.JPG
2 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The previous-generation Camry had a bump on the front, topped by its badge. That bump has been deemphasized for 2012, and more aggressive-looking intakes sit below the bumper. Toyota also made the A pillars thinner for better visibility.

Back to review.

35090245_SS01.JPG
3 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

CNET's review car came with Toyota's 3.5-liter V-6, which makes 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Most people will probably want to go with the available 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which gets better fuel economy. Although we find the new Camry Hybrid is a perfect mix of power and stellar fuel economy.

Back to review.

35090245_SD.JPG
4 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The Toyota Camry's success is partly due to its practical size, easily fitting a family of five in a spacious cabin.

Back to review.

35090245_SS02.JPG
5 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The ride felt solid, but not luxury-car soft. It dealt well with road imperfections. Toyota has also improved overall stability.

Back to review.

35090245_SS05.JPG
6 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The trunk is quite large, and could easily fit multiple CNET editors.

Back to review.

35090245_SS06.JPG
7 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Toyota improved the interior of the Camry, using stitched leather over the dashboard, for example.

Back to review.

35090245_SS07.JPG
8 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The rear bench seat has ample room for three.

Back to review.

35090245_INT.JPG
9 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Toyota's biggest strides with the new Camry were in cabin tech.

Back to review.

35090245_SS11.JPG
10 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Toyota maintained a very predictable driving feel.

Back to review.

35090245_SS13.JPG
11 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Rather than going digital, Toyota keeps analog gauges in the instrument cluster.

Back to review.

35090245_SS12.JPG
12 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The Camry's six-speed automatic transmission comes with manual and sport modes.

Back to review.

35090245_SS10.JPG
13 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

This chunky controller on the steering wheel lets the driver adjust volume and make selections from the infotainment system.

Back to review.

35090245_SS08.JPG
14 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Toyota has a number of head unit options for the Camry. This fully loaded version includes a navigation system with maps stored on a hard drive.

Back to review.

35090245_SS38.jpg
15 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Voice command works very well with the infotainment system and lets drivers ask for music by artist or album name.

Back to review.

35090245_SS16.JPG
16 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Toyota increased the quality of its maps in this new system.

Back to review.

35090245_SS17.JPG
17 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The navigation system gets traffic data through its satellite radio connection, using it to dynamically route around traffic jams.

Back to review.

35090245_SS18.JPG
18 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The destination entry screen employs large icons with a nice aesthetic treatment.

Back to review.

35090245_SS19.JPG
19 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

You enter addresses using this touch-screen keyboard with predictive text.

Back to review.

35090245_SS21.JPG
20 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The infotainment unit includes a number of data functions, such as weather, movie times, and gas prices.

Back to review.

35090245_SS22.JPG
21 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The gas prices function lets the driver pick a gas station, then have its location fed directly into the navigation system.

Back to review.

35090245_SS25.JPG
22 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The Camry comes with iPod integration and Bluetooth streaming audio.

Back to review.

35090245_SS28.JPG
23 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The stereo has built-in HD Radio, and can receive multicasts. Drivers can tag songs for later retrieval through iTunes.

Back to review.

35090245_SS29.jpg
24 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Entune is Toyota's new app integration system. It relies on a paired smartphone's data connection to power its apps.

Back to review.

35090245_SS30.jpg
25 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

Using Entune's Pandora interface, you can pick stations from your personal account and give songs the thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

Back to review.

35090245_SS35.jpg
26 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

With the iHeartRadio app, you can tune in to a wide variety of Internet radio stations.

Back to review.

35090245_SS32.jpg
27 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

With Bing search you can search for a specific term, and find local businesses and places.

Back to review.

35090245_SS37.jpg
28 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The Bing listings bring in ratings, when available.

Back to review.

35090245_SS31.jpg
29 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

With the OpenTable app you can make restaurant reservations while on the go.

Back to review.

35090245_SS34.jpg
30 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The MovieTickets.com app not only shows schedules from nearby theaters, but also lets you buy tickets for a showing.

Back to review.

35090245_SS39.JPG
31 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The rearview camera in the Camry shows distance lines overlaid on the live image.

Back to review.

35090245_SS40.JPG
32 of 32 Josh Miller/CNET

The blind-spot detection system lights up an icon in the side mirror when another vehicle is in the Camry's blind spot.

Back to review.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos