The Toyota Camry has been the best selling midsize car in the country for several years and is quickly becoming Toyota’s bread and butter product. Like bread and butter though, the Camry has suffered from bland taste, and with increased competition from Ford, Chevrolet, and Nissan, many are beginning to wonder when the Camry will lose its crown.
It has been the choice of hundreds of thousands of buyers each year and we wanted to find out what ingredients Toyota used to make the Camry the top-selling titleholder for so long. For 2010, a slightly larger engine is standard, and some features that were optional are now standard.
The Camry comes standard with a 2.5L, 169 horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual or automatic. The automatic transmission offers manual shifting and is smoother than the previous five-gear unit.
We tested the manual shifting capability on a four-cylinder LE model and were impressed but its responsiveness, holding first gear and shifting up at the drivers command. Downshifts we less exciting though, and it sometimes would never shift below second until the car came to a stop.
The SE trim gets the same engine but is tuned to deliver 10 more horsepower because of its dual exhaust outlets.
Optional on LE and upper trim levels is a tire-spinning 268 horsepower, 3.5L V-6 that’s mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual shifting.
The base engine is powerful enough for daily driving and has very little NVH compared to the previous 2.4L unit. The V-6 is left for those that want the faster acceleration and burning out at traffic lights.
Highway driving was as smooth as butter and almost annoyingly quiet, except for some window noise above 65 mph. The electric steering had very little feel and made driving a bit of an exercise, especially when passing vehicles. It was hard to keep the vehicle from swaying side to side in light winds and small corrections made the Camry tilt a bit too much to the side.
The cruise control system is FINALLY like any other cruise control system in terms of how acceleration is handled. We had no issues with the Camry shifting down too many gears and revving like the 2009 LE with the five-speed auto gearbox.
Around town, the Camry was silky smooth and easy to drive, but suffered from a lagging throttle. The suspension absorbed impacts with a nice “thump†and the entire vehicle felt very solid and well built.
Braking performance was great. The ABS system works very quickly and stops the Camry very well in wet conditions. The pedal has a solid, linear feel right from initial depression and our only complaint is excessive nose-dive because of the suspension tuning.
The Camry has grown in every possible dimension since it was introduced here in the late 1980s. This has helped it become a class leader in useable interior space and cargo volume.
Our LE trim level featured an 8-way power adjustable seat with power lumbar, cruise control, and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. The gauges in front of the driver are LED backlit, and were very clear and legible. In bright sunlight though, they tend to be washed out and could be hard to read.
At night, the center stack illuminates in soft light blue that helps the interior feel like a little bit sexier. The climate control knobs are large, easy to use, and straightforward. The radio was simple to use as well, but the sound coming out of the speakers was probably the worst we’ve heard in a while.
The seats up front are OK but could use more thigh support for a 6-foot driver. The driver’s seat can get somewhat uncomfortable on a long drive and we think it’s because it needs more bolstering in the right places. The back seat is great though. It has tons of leg and headroom, and fitting three friends across the back seat is a cinch thanks to the almost nonexistent hump in the center.
One area that the Camry definitely shines is storage space. There’s room in the front doors, a small opening in the center console that features a 12V outlet, the closeable storage area in the center console and underneath the center armrest. The Camry has two cupholders up front and two more in a fold-down center armrest in the back. Trunk space is measured at 15 cubic ft and that grows even larger thanks to fold-down rear seats.
The base radio and speakers seem to have improved for 2010. Audi quality and bass were average, with clear sound and a decent amount of punch compared our 2009 tester. FM reception was great, and the Camry comes standard with an AUX input that’s recessed deep behind a closeable storage area. It’s great for keeping your music player safe but a hassle when you actually want to plug in the cord.
A new vacuum fluorescent display radio (pictured) is optional and introduces a USB input next to the AUX input, integrated satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio streaming.
A JBL Synthesis radio is optional on LE and SE, and standard on the XLE trim level. The upgraded radio offers a higher wattage output, two more speakers, a six-disc changer, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. If you want to keep the factory look, we’d recommend upgrading to this unit. It still doesn’t have the punch that other upgraded systems in this class have, but it’s definitely better than the base system.
A navigation system is optional on upper trim levels and isn’t worth the extra cost.
The Camry also comes with a keyless entry fob that is a part of the key, and optional keyless entry and start on the XLE. For 2010, all windows on are auto up/down with jam protection.
Automatic headlights are standard and they include Daytime Running Lights. The headlights themselves are projector type and offer good distance and intensity, and the high beams are some of the best we’ve seen.
Part of the Camry's recipe is its focus on safety. The latest generation comes with seven airbags. Dual front, side thorax, side curtain, and a knee airbag for the driver. The knee airbag is designed to reduce forces on the driver’s legs when they impact the lower dashboard.
ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, and brake assist are standard across the board on the Camry. Stability and traction control are standard for 2010 as well, finally putting the Camry on par with the competition.
A vehicle immobilizer is standard on all trim levels, which helps reduce insurance costs.
The Camry is a safe bet when it comes to buying a car. It has top safety scores, has better long-term reliability than the competition, and holds its value well. It's the car for those that don't want the headache of electronic gremlins, poorly designed mechanical components or constant visits to the dealer.
Just remember which Camry is yours as there are a lot of them in parking lots across the nation.
