Toyota Camry Altise 2012 review

Yawn, it's a new Toyota Camry. It's a common reaction when Brand T revamps or revises its locally-made foundation model, even though it's been Australia favourite mid-sized car for the past 17 years - two more than the Commodore at overall number one.

Yet the latest Camry is surprisingly good in plenty of ways. Cabin quality is up and the sea of grey is gone, advanced safety equipment is available, it drives impressively and it has the potential to re-boot Toyota Australia's exports to the Middle East.

This Camry is the seventh generation to carry the name, the fifth generation to be built in Australia since 1987, and finally picks up the sort of stuff that makes the car worth buying and not something you get as a backhanded compliment in the company car fleet.

Explore the 2012 Toyota Camry range

• Toyota Camry 2012 review: road test
• Toyota Camry 2012 review: first drive
• Toyota Camry Altise 2012 review
• Toyota Camry 2012 review
• Toyota Camry 2012 review: snapshot
• Toyota Camry Atara SX 2012 review: snapshot

"We want to bring peace of mind to our customers. A car you could completely trust," says Keiichi Yoneda, deputy chief engineer on the car.

His team - together with a talented crew from Australia - have done well and the car now deserves to be compared with the Ford Mondeo, Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty on its considerable strengths, including an unchanged showroom sticker.

VALUE

The latest Camry pricing is sharp, with the basic Altise still going from $30,490 despite a major upgrade and more standard equipment. Even the fully-loaded Atara SL - which replaces the Grande - is only $39,990, although there are Camry hybrid and V6 Aurion models to follow in the first half of next year and they will definitely cost more.

Toyota has again tweaked the model lineup, splitting the range - as it has done in the past - with the newly-named Atara models to provide a slightly sporting look that is aimed at private customers and not the fleet buyers who sign the line for the majority of Camry purchases.

Toyota says the inevitable mid-range price increases on the Atara S and SX, which replace the Atevo and Sportivo, are more than offset by extra equipment.

On that front, the Altise has a six-speaker sound system with Bluetooth and auxiliary inputs - although there is only one power plug in the centre console - alloy wheels and the usual power steering and windows, while the loaded Atara SL gets leather trim, JBL sound, satnav on the seven-inch touch screen, digital radio, a reversing camera, blind-spot monitoring and automatic high beams, automatic mirrors and more in a package that as good as recent Lexus models.

Perhaps best of all, especially for people paying their own way, Toyota's capped-price service plan now runs for four years and 75,000 kilometres, with up to five services at $130 a time.

TECHNOLOGY

The new Camry is truly new, from the body to the suspension and powertrain. There is a bunch of good new stuff in the Camry, from the six-speed automatic gearbox and 2.5-litre engine to the safety equipment including seven airbags with new knee protection for the driver.

Toyota says the engine makes 135 kiloWatts and cuts fuel use to 7.8 litres/100km, although that's also helped by the six-speed auto, with paddle shifts on the three Atara models and a sports driving mode that even blips the engine on downshifts.

There is new electric power steering - to cut fuel use - a trip computer on all models, and the walk-up through the range includes keyless entry on the S and SX and the advanced stuff on the Atara SL.

DESIGN

This Camry is never going to win a style award, but it cuts a smoother line than previous models and shows Toyota is at least trying to do something about its reputation as a fridge-on-wheels. There is some veiled aggression in the Atara models but buyers are likely to be more interested in the giant boot - with a terrific opening - and the improvements to cabin space that come with the new model.

The driver's seat is down by 15 millimetres and there are also gains in rear-seat knee room and more space for a third adult on the back bench. The new interior is more plush, with colour contrasts instead of dull grey, and the latest dashboard display units look good and work well. It's the same story for the seats, which have slightly better shape and nicer trim.

SAFETY

The Camry is almost certain to get five stars from ANCAP, thanks to the improved strength of the basic body structure, and those seven airbags. There is also ESP stability control and traction control, while the rear camera and blind-spot systems are a worthwhile addition for an Australian-made car.

DRIVING

The new Camry is a car you can actually enjoy driving. And that's a big deal. It's quieter than before, more comfortable than its predecessors, but also has a sharpness that means you can have fun as well as trouble-free Camry-style motoring.

For the first time, I feel like I'm sitting in the car and not on it - thanks to the lower-set driver's seat - and there is good response from the engine with a slick six-speed shift. The new powertrain makes the Camry a touch more lively in city traffic and - once you flick across to the manual mode - the transmission responds well to driver commands for twisty roads.

The ride quality is a little compromised on the cars that ride on 55-series tyres on 17-inch alloys, with the most compliant feel in the basic Altise, but the cabin is very quiet in all conditions. Like the majority of good cars, the Camry experience gets better over time. It's not a rip-snorter out of the gate, but you could happily turn its nose across the continent and feel confident of making the trip with no fuss or bother.

It's going to take a Carsguide comparison to put the Camry into sharp perspective against cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Mazda6 - as well as all the other hopefuls crowding the mid-sized class - but it's a major advance with real potential to win new friends.

VERDICT

This is the car Toyota has needed to finally bury the Camry Chicken, which starred for so long in Australian advertising because a stuffed puppet was more exciting than the car.