Toyota Camry Reviews

Maybe it's time to leave the cardigan in the wardrobe and whack on sunscreen instead of a hat - the new Camry is here.While it's not going to have the young hordes screaming into Toyota dealerships to sign up en masse, there's more to like and less to elicit adjectives like boring, banal or beige. The Atara SX replaces the Sportivo and that's what we're in this week - the second-to-top model of the revitalised Camry range.VALUEToyota says the Atara SX wears a $2000 higher pricetag than the outgoing equivalent Sportivo model but has more than enough gear to offset the rise. Aimed at private buyers and user-chooser lease buyers, the $35,990 six-speed auto-only sports model gets a model-specific rear bumper and lip spoiler, as well as sports pedals, sports-tuned suspension, black-tinted headlamps, trip computer, power-adjustable driver's seat,  sport-oriented leather-trimmed interior and a sports steering wheel has audio, phone and cruise controls.The SX features list also has a touchscreen-controlled six-speaker infotainment system, with Bluetooth, USB and 3.5mm inputs and while there's no standard satnav, the screen also displays the image from the reversing camera but there are no parking sensors.TECHNOLOGYTop of the list of technological changes is the engine, which has grown to 2.5 litres and is now running variable valve timing on both sides - it was previously only on the intake valves.  The engine offers 135kW and 235Nm in the Atara (up 2kW and 4Nm over the Altise thanks to the Atara SX's dual exhaust, says Toyota) and runs on 91RON ULP, but doesn't get direct fuel injection. Teamed with a six-speed auto, the fuel use claim is 7.8 litres per 100km - better by one litre than the 40kg heavier superseded model despite the extra 18kW and 17Nm.DESIGNThe new Camry hasn't grown in overall length or wheelbase but is 10mm lower in overall height and 5mm wider - despite that, Toyota is claiming an increase in interior space. There's a more angular snout design, which is reminiscent of the Accord Euro, with a squarer rump, but it's not a classically pretty or handsome car, but it's not bland either. The Atara SX has been given a sportier appearance with a new bumper, side skirts and a dual exhaust system.Toyota says the A-pillar is almost 10mm thinner to improve the driver's range of vision. The cabin is far less dull and claims by Toyota that there's more space, particularly for rear passengers, appears to have merit - despite a slight lowering of overall height, rear head and leg room are enough for me to easily and comfortably sit behind my own driving position. Boot space - even with a full size alloy-wheel spare - is 515 litres, more than a Falcon or Commodore, with a bootlid that goes well past the vertical for easier loading.SAFETYA five-star crash test rating is worn by the new Camry, which gets seven airbags (dual front, side and full-length curtain and a driver's knee bag), as well as stability and control systems that can no longer be switched off by the driver. The safety list also includes anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.DRIVINGGone are the days of the Camry being a dullard to look at or drive. Granted, it's no fireball either. What it is is an inoffensive, roomy, capable family sedan that is value for money. The new look instruments (set within a plush new dashboard) are easy to read and there's no shortage of information on offer to the driver (some of it even useful) from the trip computer beneath the speedometer or within the touchscreen infotainment monitor. The touchscreen (which can suffer a little from sun-glare) makes controlling the sound system and Bluetooth phone easy, but I'd have though satnav could have been standard. The seats are well-cushioned but need more lateral support, but there's no shortage of head or legroom, particularly in the rear, which is not always something that can be said in this segment. The cabin is quiet - except when the squealy tyres are complaining - and the boot is more than useful, despite the welcome full-size proper spare tyre. The driver has good vision and the external rearvision mirrors are an appropriate size (Holden and Ford, take note) and the driver gets automatic headlights but not rain-sensing wipers.Ride quality is well towards the firm side and can get a little jittery on smaller bumps and ruts - when engaged in more enthusiastic driving the bigger bumps are generally dealt with well. The sports model has reasonable body control and corners with cardigan-less enthusiasm, although the Bridgestone rubber was noisier than is ideal.One for the parents is the seatbelt use indicator for the back three seating positions - it's not unique to Toyota but it should be on any vehicle with more than two seats. The engine has got more punch than the outgoing car and carries a little less weight - it's not going to set hearts a flutter with its soundtrack but it tries hard and works reasonably well with six-speed automatic.VERDICTToyota's new Camry has been given more mainstream appeal with less inert looks - the same can be said for the drive experience - that will make the choices even tougher for those shopping in the medium segment. The criticisms are few for the sports-tuned Camry - it's roomier, quieter, has a smooth driveline and is capable and comfortable - but it still lacks the charisma that endears some of its opposition to the families they cart.

Mid-sized cars are not too small and not too big; they're just right. A perfect balance of power and efficiency, comfort and agility, and performance and environmental consciousness.

Toyota Camry Atara and Subaru Liberty Premium go head-to-head in this comparative 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."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.VALUEThe 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.TECHNOLOGYThe 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.DESIGNThis 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.SAFETYThe 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.DRIVINGThe 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.VERDICTThis 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.

Toyota's perennial Camry has been the best selling medium sized car for 18 straight years in Australia.But like other Toyotas it has come under increasing pressure from other car makers, particularly the Koreans who have delivered some outstanding competition in the past year or so.Lampooned in some quarters as the proverbial white-goods on wheels, Toyota has tried to get back to basics with the new, seventh generation Camry. The emphasis is on quality, reliability and durability, not to mention an effort to make the car more fun to drive.We've got to say is better than ever, with more power, better economy and a roomier interior. But fun? We'll let you decide . . .  The new Camry goes on sale this month but you'll have to wait until early next year for a new hybrid, petrol/electric version.ENGINEThe switch to a larger engine flies in the face of the current trend to smaller, force-fed units to achieve the same result. The 2.4 has been replaced by a larger, more powerful 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine with 0-100km/h taking a claimed 9.3 seconds.It's technically more advanced with dual VVTi and an acoustic control induction system (ACIS), but still misses out on the benefits of direct injection. Power is up 13 per cent to 133kW and torque has increased by six per cent to 231Nm in the Altise, with slightly more output in Atara models which feature a free-flowing dual exhaust system.ECONOMYDespite the power increase new Camry uses less fuel, down 11 per cent to from 8.9 to 7.8 litres/100km. In real life however the car is bound to use more fuel than this. We saw between 9.1 and 10.8 litres/100km during the launch program. Engine emissions meanwhile have been reduced 25g to 183g/km.CHANGESIt's the same physical size but weighs 35kg less than the car it replaces. The line up consists of four models starting with the Altise followed by the Atara S, Atara SX and Atara SL. The Altise looks different from the other three, with a different front radiator grille and apron and is targeted at the price conscious fleet market.The more expensive, twin-exhaust Atara models feature a three piece grille and twin exhausts and are aimed at the private buyer. S replaces the Ateva, SX replaces the Sportivo and SL replaces top of the line Grande. There's no manual and the five-speed auto has been replaced by a six-speed with steering wheel mounted gear shift paddles in the higher grade models. You can use the paddles at any time and in sport mode it blips the throttle on downshifts.The hydraulic steering has been surplanted by an all electric system, with a firmer, heavier feel (but not too heavy) that stays centred without the need for constant driver input. It also adds some weight in corners to help prevent over correction. The traditional handbrake has been replaced with a foot operated brake. Not a biggy but some people don't seem to like them and as one card suggested it means no handbrake turns. Really though it's just a matter of getting used to it.NEW STUFFThe top of the line model comes with auto high beam that dips the lights automatically when its senses on-coming traffic. It is also equipped with a blind spot warning system that flashes a warning in the mirrors when there is car beside you that you can't see with your exterior mirrors. It also adds a DAB+ digital radio system, complete with traffic updates.THE DRIVEIt has a solid, big car feel. Nice and smooth and quiet. Sits nicely on the road and corners flat with plenty of grip. Local suspension tuning and the recalibrated steering have been designed to produce a more engaging drive. Drop a wheel in the dirt and the stability system quickly sorts it out. Conversation is easy even on coarse bitumen and the car we drove had adjustable lumbar support.Both the i45/Optima and Accord Euro however still deliver more power, but 135kW is more than adequate for the job, especially in combo with the smooth-changing six-speed tranny. There's a 15mm bigger gap between seats and rear passengers benefit from 46mm more legroom.SAFETYHasn't been crashed tested yet but has been designed and is expected to receive five stars. Comes with seven airbags including a driver knee bag and full complement of safety aids. A reversing camera remains a $500 option on the entry level Altise. It's standard with the rest.GOODIESAltise is with 16-inch alloys, trip computer and an upgraded sound system with six speakers and controls on the steering wheel. Atara S also features foglamps, 17-inch alloys, smart entry and smart start, reversing camera, dual-zone air-conditioning, 6.1-inch touch-screen display audio, premium steering wheel and gearshift knob and an electric drivers seat with lumbar support.Atara SX is distinguished by unique rear bumper, rear lip spoiler, sports pedals, sports suspension, black-tinted headlamps and sports leather-accented interior. Top of the range Atara SL features JBL premium audio with 10 speakers, a 7-inch touch-screen display with satellite navigation, digital radio, RDS live traffic updates, reversing camera with back-guide monitor, blind-spot monitor, automatic high beam, electric front seats and rain-sensing wipers.HOW MUCHYou get all this for the same starting price of $30,490, with a four year-warranty that includes fixed price servicing at $130 a pop for five services. Atara S is $33,490, Atara SX is $35,990 and Atara SL is $39,990.

This Camry is the most impressive new model in a very long time.The bedrock car for Toyota in Australia - thanks to local production and extensive exports - has always been bland but effective, a result that's reflected in 17 years of sales leadership in the medium-car class but no real enthusiasm among people who like to drive.This one is more adventurous in design, more luxurious in the cabin, and considerably more enjoyable to drive.Highlights range from the six-speed automatic gearbox and whisper- quiet cabin to a boot that's both giant and easy to use. The new 2.5- litre engine, which goes into local production late in 2012 and will be added to the export roster, also brings better performance with a claimed economy improvement to 7.8 litres/100km.But don't go looking for a manual gearbox. It's gone, as only two percent of Camry buyers wanted one.PRICINGThe range starts with the Altise which has an unchanged starting price of $30,490. Toyota has tweaked the model lineup and dropped the Grande - which could easily re-appear when the Aurion arrived in the middle of 2012 - in favour of an Atara SL at $39,990.Among the buyer benefits are a seven-airbag interior, safety equipment that includes automatic high-beam and blind-spot monitoring at the top end of Camry, and capped-price servicing extended to four years and 75,000 kilometres at $130 a time for the whole range.First impressions always count and the new Camry does well.The looks is more modern and, once you get inside, the driver's seat finally sit low enough that you don't feel you're sitting on the car. It's only a 15 millimetre change but it alters the whole perspective. It's something driven by the Australian engineering team under Max Gillard that also got rear-seat air vents into the Camry, even though it meant convincing Japan that it was alright to cut CD storage space from 17 discs to 14.DRIVINGUnder way, 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 cabin is more plush than before, and not just a sea a grey plastic, with a big new dash display that works well. It's a pity, though, that satnav is not standard and the punchy JBL sound system is not available on the sporty models.The ride quality is a little compromised, too, on the cars that ride on 55-series tyres on 17-inch alloys. Actually, the ride is best in the basic Altise.The boot is truly huge and a lid that swings right up - even on old- fashioned hinges - means it's easy to load and unload. The back seat has plenty of space.It's going to take a Carsguide comparison to put the Camry into sharp perspective against cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Mazda6, but it's the seventh-generation car is a major advance and has real potential to win buyers.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.

You'd think about buying this one. With your own money, that is.That's the remarkable thing about Toyota's Camry (and that adjective sharing the same sentence as this car is, in itself, rather remarkable). Despite being as commonplace as sand in the Simpson, despite the plethora of four time owners for whom Camry is synonymous with “car”, some 60 per cent are white entry level jiggers flogged to fleets.These then proceed into the used market and faithfully serve their undemanding owners for up to a decade or far more. You see them daily, an endorsement of Toyota reliability but not a boon to Toyota profitability.The real money is yours and mine; that of the private new car buyer.But when it comes to the middle-size class segment, we're apt to head to the showrooms of Mazda, Honda, Subaru or if we've about $40K to spend to those of the German duo, Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. If this crowd was not enough, Camry's traditional constituents are being targeted by Hyundai's i45.These mid-size sedans are all visually appealing and (excepting the i45) dynamically adept, discernibly beneath the Euro prestige set, but commanding a bit of badge respect. This no one can plausibly claim for the Camry.If common associations include: “safe”, “solid” and “reliable”, another is: “bowling lady's car”.The difficulty for Toyota in grabbing a slice of the private pie is enticing first time buyers without alienating core punters.So how do you make vanilla interesting? It seems an insurmountable ask.Carsguide was among a select group of Australian journalists the first invited to Toyota's vast North American Proving Grounds outside Phoenix, Arizona to sample pre-production examples of the new generation Camry two months before this today’s worldwide unveiling.VALUETo the plethora of existing specification levels - some of which won’t survive - comes the new Atara, one crammed with standard fruit, very much the anti-fleet Camry. Its comparative opulence is reflected by the name.Camry as few of us know means “crown”. Atara is Hebrew for “new crown”. So a Toyota Double Crown needs to be fit for household's king and queen at a plebeian price.The latter we won't know until this week, but it's reasonable to guesstimate that while the range will continue to kick off from about $30K, the Atara will be in the region of 40, certainly in Hybrid form.For that, the user chooser will get kit that until recently was the preserve of prestige machines, including a blind spot monitor with wing mirror warning light, touchscreen audio, auto high-beam, shifting paddles and wing mirror integrated indicators.Moreover the Ataras we sampled were of a palpably improved, almost Lexus level of quality.DESIGNHead engineer Yukihiro Okane says the key words in developing the new sedan were “rational” and “emotional”.While hardly inspiration for lyric poetry, this Camry is more distinctive at any rate not invisible with a more purposeful front and angular rear. Aerodynamic measures, Oaken-san says, are derived from Formula 1, which makes this family car maker's involvement in elite racing seem slightly less bewildering.No panels are shared with the current device, but it's mainly a case of upgrading the Camry's off the rack suit to something sharper. Some of the tailoring works.Even on 17-inch alloys, the bulky body looks under tyred (though, practically speaking, it isn't). That pays off with ease of egress through huge rear doors.The only practical objections to the current Hybrid are an inability to tow and its truncated boot. Technically, the former can't be helped, but with 430-litres stowage the latter question mark over its family suitability is addressed.It's within that the changes are most marked. Occupant space is fractionally improved and the enhanced materials have a look and tactile feel that wouldn't appear out of place in Toyota's luxury Lexus line-up. When you hear yourself making approving noises about the door insert materials, you know you've landed in a comfortable place.TECHNOLOGYPerformance is up, juice use is down, due to a new 2.5-litre four cylinder that in conventional form puts out a class competitive 135kW/235Nm. “New”, that is, to Australia it's been in US-built Camrys for some time, hence Okane-san looks a bit abashed when we wonder why Toyota hasn't moved to a more efficient direct injection model a la VW, Hyundai and, soon, Mazda.Even so it will, he says, use less than 8L/100km of basic unleaded. Logically the Hybrid could challenge Holden's Cruze diesel manual for the title of the leanest locally made car the current Hybrid uses 6.0-litres over the 100, the cheaper and smaller Cruze consumes 5.6.SAFETYSeven airbags as standard is one better than the class average. These, and new items such as automatically dimming high beams, will ensure the current model's five star crash safety rating is readily retained.DRIVINGToyota's desert proving ground is a mighty facility, in which all conceivable road conditions are encountered. We take the opportunity to repeatedly push these pre-production Ataras on a high speed freeway run, then over broken (all too Australian) bitumen, through a skidpan dotted with witches' hats and along a coarse chip suburban-like strip.Never synonymous with performance, the new Camry's improved output is immediately apparent, getting it off the mark smartly and pulling quickly and cleanly through its six gears, cruising easily up to its electronically limited 180km/h. Backing way off for the slalom, it's almost bemusing to find a Camry responding this smartly to steering inputs (which will be further refined for Australian production), the stability program triggering only under determined provocation.Absent is the acquatic lurching half expected in an American made car. This bodes promisingly for locally developed and manufactured model.While we're by no means talking of sport sedan dynamics, this Camry clearly has a capability that will be more than enough for most people most of the time.It's the petrol electric version that most impresses though, with its almost instantaneous, completely linear power delivery and eerie quietness at speed, when the only noise is the whistle of wind past the wing mirriors. Now possessed of practical storage, this could be the pick of the Atara range and the hybrid sedan that breaks through to the mainstream.VERDICTThe Camry remains vanilla, but of a richer, creamier blend essentially the same but slightly more appetising. There's a bit more power, slightly better economy and appreciably more gear. Being a Toyota, ownership is devoid of excitement, but it's also going to be free of difficulty. Get past the badge and it's hard to see how the Hybrid is bettered a lean-running, two kid family conveyance.“The Camry remains vanilla, but of a richer, creamier blend essentially the same but slightly more appetising.”CAMRY HISTORYWHAT DOES IT MEAN?Camry - from the Japanese Kan-Muri, meaning "crown".WHERE IS IT BUILT?Camry and its four-cylinder engine are built at Toyota's Altona manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Victoria. Toyota directly employs 3,200 people in Victoria and more than 4,400 nationally.HOW MANY?Approximately 100,000 four-cylinder Camry sedans are produced at Altona each year. Approximately 70 per cent are exported, mainly to the Middle East. Camry has been produced in Australia since 1987.HOW SUCCESSFUL?Camry is now in its 18th year as Australia's best-selling mid-size car. It is also Australia's biggest automotive export earner, being shipped to more than 20 destinations.BACKGROUNDLaunched in the wake of the oil shocks of the late ’70s, Camry has established itself as a true world car. Planning for the Camry began in 1977, at a time when manufacturers globally were turning to smaller front-wheel-drive vehicles to overcome soaring fuel costs and stricter fuel efficiency regulations. The emphasis of the program was on aerodynamics and lightweight materials.Engine development focused on fuel efficiency, with engines built specially to drive the front wheels. Around the world, Camry production has now passed 15 million units.1983 – first generation (imported)The Camry was introduced to Australia as an import in liftback guise in 1983. It won several "best car" awards, including Modern Motor magazine’s Car of the Year. The car featured a new five-speed manual and ECT-equipped four-speed automatic transmissions with wide gear ratios. The front-wheel-drive layout, without a transmission tunnel, allowed for a spacious interior.Innovations in the first Camry included equal-length driveshaft arms, two-stage air conditioning and multi-adjustable seats. That tradition of innovation continued throughout the life of the Camry and the brand is now synonymous with world-leading sophistication and quality.1987 – second generation, but first locally produced CamryIt wasn’t until the second-generation Camry that the car was built locally. AMI-Toyota was the first Toyota subsidiary in the world to build the Camry and the local version incorporated extensive design changes – including three locally designed wagon variants. The Australian-made Camry made its showroom debut in April 1987, replacing the locally built Corona.With this generation, Toyota introduced a locally built twin-cam 2.0-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine, followed in May 1988 by a new 2.5-litre quad-cam 24-valve V6. The engine was the world’s first quad-cam V6 engine to feature in a mass production sedan. This generation also saw the release of a station wagon to replace the hatchback.Camry allowed Toyota to compete on equal footing with the other leading medium cars of the day – Mitsubishi’s Magna, Holden’s Camira and Nissan’s Pintara.The Australian-built car featured independent front and rear Macpherson-strut suspension, engine-speed-sensitive power steering and disc brakes front and rear. It brought a new level of sophistication and technology to the local market.A revised Camry appeared in August 1989, incorporating local steering modifications that were to gain international acceptance within Toyota. An Australian team revised the steering valve and geometry to improve driver feel and response. The changes were later adopted for worldwide Camry production.Toyota continued to push for quality improvements. It was determined that investment in a new plant was necessary to achieve further gains. The proposal to build a new Camry plant at Altona was presented to Toyota Motor Corporation, which approved the plan to build a $420 million assembly plant at Altona.1993 – third generationIn February 1993, the new wide-bodied Camry was launched publicly by Prime Minister Paul Keating, who described the car as “another quantum leap in the history of the Australian automotive industry”.Wheels magazine agreed and Camry came out on top in a comparison with Magna, Mazda 626 and Liberty. Camry was also the top-ranked local car in Wheels’ annual quality survey and won the NRMA’s gong for best medium car.Camry grew up for this generation. It was larger in every dimension than the previous model, and became classified as "mid-size". The car was wider and longer than Cressida, with better performance, improved fuel economy, ABS and reduced NVH. It also had more local input into design and development. Built at a cost of $140 million, the range also featured a new brand name – the Vienta – for its V6 models.Engines were now 2.2-litre four-cylinder units (producing almost as much power as the previous V6, but with four-cylinder economy), and 3.0-litre V6s.That same year, Toyota began exporting the Camry to Thailand. By 1994, Altona exports were worth $160 million and the company announced that, by the year 2000, it aimed to export 30 per cent of its Altona Camry production. The year also saw Camry take over the mantle of Australia’s best-selling medium car.The last Camry to be built at Port Melbourne rolled off the production line in December 1994. Two weeks later, the Camry was being built at Altona. There was little difference between the Port Melbourne and Altona vehicles, except for a new water-borne, environmentally friendly paint process at Altona.In 1996, Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett was on hand to send off the first shipment of Camrys to the Middle East.1997 – fourth generationA new range was launched in August 1997. It was quieter, lighter and more powerful with better ride quality and improved handling. With an additional 5cm in wheelbase, a lowered beltline and swept-back windscreen, the 1997 Camry’s cabin was more spacious and inviting. By this time, 40 per cent of Camry production was being shipped overseas to 24 destinations.The line-up of four-cylinder Camry models consisted of the CSI, Conquest and CSX models, available as sedans or wagons. Camry V6 models consisted of CSI and Conquest. Both of Camry’s engines received power and torque increases.In October 2000, a revised Camry range was launched with improved handling, higher feature levels, improved headlamps and reduced noise, vibration and harshness. Two models were added to the Camry line-up - Touring Series wagon and top-of-the-range sports-luxury Azura sedan. The Vienta V6 range was discontinued due to the launch of the Avalon sedan.

Goes to 2.5-litre, four cylinder engineSix-speed auto transmissionNew model called Atara in various gradesHybrid model continuesStriking new interiorSheds 35kg, has better fuel economy.Toyota's new generation Camry continues with a petrol and hybrid powertrain line-up, this time with a larger capacity 2.5-litre four cylinder engine (Atkinson cycle on hybrid) as the motivator for its front wheel drive. The arrival of a new Camry also heralds a new Aurion V6 which isn't too far away.Camry is a huge seller internationally and Toyota has a lot riding on the model. It has traditionally been a rather conservative four-door family sedan with broad acceptance, a formula that has been tweaked this time around to offer more emotional appeal thanks to the styling and also engine performance.TECHNOLOGYCamry has shed 35kg through the use of high strength steel and optimised design which also makes it stronger. Better aerodynamics and energy saving (fuel and emissions reduction) measures extend to low rolling resistance tyres and other hidden stuff like a variable output oil pump.The engine has been in US Camry for a few years and is designated 2AR featuring low friction, roller camshaft rockers and dual variable valve timing to generate around 135kW/235Nm, possibly a little more in Aussie spec'. It misses out on direct fuel injection.A new model called Atara in 2.5S, 2.5SX and 2.5SL replace Ateva, Sportivo and Grande while base Camry Altise starts the ball rolling. The “S” models feature a large touch screen, Bluetooth (probably on all models), rear view camera and other goodies. Radar driven blind spot warning is a likely starter as is high beam assist.Though not yet tested locally, new Camry should get a five star crash rating thanks in part to its seven air bags and stability control system.DRIVINGA "sporty" Camry family sedan? Well, almost. It's definitely more engaging to drive and stands out from the crowd, particularly from the rear view. Toyota has taken every aspect of the car and improved it - fuel economy, smoothness and quietness, safety, handling and ride stability and interior quality.It has stronger acceleration, particularly the hybrid model with maximum torque from its electric engine delivered from the get-go. Illustrating the new found urgency of Camry's performance is the hybrid model's 0-100kmh sprint in 8.4 seconds. The conventional petrol takes around 10 seconds. A six-speed auto is fitted to the petrol 2.5 while the hybrid gets a CVT continuously variable transmission.We were able to sample the new generation NG Camry in US spec' a couple of months ago in Arizona and came away more impressed than we expected, particularly with the hybrid which will be manufactured here alongside the petrol four.Exterior styling is a mix of evolution and revolution with the frontal area a refined version of the current model and the rear a totally new look. The side profile has an arcing coupe-like line to it and the car is quite handsome from all angles set off by side air intakes and well defined panel creases. The interior is where Toyota has made the biggest improvements lifting Camry from boring to striking with luxury European overtones to the dash and centre stack.It's a roomy sedan for five with a large boot, even on the hybrid model which has its battery pack mounted more towards the middle of the vehicle. Naturally, Toyota Australia is in the process of localising Camry with its own suspension and (electric) steering tune among other things.Along with the new look, expect more goodies inside, more room despite being roughly the same size externally as the current model and a quieter interior. All good...CAMRYWHAT DOES IT MEAN?Camry: From the Japanese Kan-Muri, meaning "crown".WHERE IS IT BUILT?Camry and its four-cylinder engine are built at Toyota's Altona manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Victoria. Toyota directly employs 3,200 people in Victoria and more than 4,400 nationally.HOW MANY?Approximately 100,000 four-cylinder Camry sedans are produced at Altona each year. Approximately 70 per cent are exported, mainly to the Middle East. Camry has been produced in Australia since 1987.HOW SUCCESSFUL?Camry is now in its 18th year as Australia's best-selling mid-size car. It is also Australia's biggest automotive export earner, being shipped to more than 20 destinations.BACKGROUNDLaunched in the wake of the oil shocks of the late ’70s, Camry has established itself as a true world car.Planning for the Camry began in 1977, at a time when manufacturers globally were turning to smaller front-wheel-drive vehicles to overcome soaring fuel costs and stricter fuel efficiency regulations.The emphasis of the program was on aerodynamics and lightweight materials.Engine development focused on fuel efficiency, with engines built specially to drive the front wheels.Around the world, Camry production has now passed 15 million units.1983 – first generation (imported)The Camry was introduced to Australia as an import in liftback guise in 1983.It won several "best car" awards, including Modern Motor magazine’s Car of the Year.The car featured a new five-speed manual and ECT-equipped four-speed automatic transmissions with wide gear ratios.The front-wheel-drive layout, without a transmission tunnel, allowed for a spacious interior.Innovations in the first Camry included equal-length driveshaft arms, two-stage air conditioning and multi-adjustable seats.That tradition of innovation continued throughout the life of the Camry and the brand is now synonymous with world-leading sophistication and quality.1987 – second generation, but first locally produced CamryIt wasn’t until the second-generation Camry that the car was built locally.AMI-Toyota was the first Toyota subsidiary in the world to build the Camry and the local version incorporated extensive design changes – including three locally designed wagon variants.The Australian-made Camry made its showroom debut in April 1987, replacing the locally built Corona.With this generation, Toyota introduced a locally built twin-cam 2.0-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine, followed in May 1988 by a new 2.5-litre quad-cam 24-valve V6. The engine was the world’s first quad-cam V6 engine to feature in a mass production sedan.This generation also saw the release of a station wagon to replace the hatchback.Camry allowed Toyota to compete on equal footing with the other leading medium cars of the day – Mitsubishi’s Magna, Holden’s Camira and Nissan’s Pintara.The Australian-built car featured independent front and rear Macpherson-strut suspension, engine-speed-sensitive power steering and disc brakes front and rear. It brought a new level of sophistication and technology to the local market.A revised Camry appeared in August 1989, incorporating local steering modifications that were to gain international acceptance within Toyota. An Australian team revised the steering valve and geometry to improve driver feel and response. The changes were later adopted for worldwide Camry production.Toyota continued to push for quality improvements. It was determined that investment in a new plant was necessary to achieve further gains.The proposal to build a new Camry plant at Altona was presented to Toyota Motor Corporation, which approved the plan to build a $420 million assembly plant at Altona.1993 – third generationIn February 1993, the new wide-bodied Camry was launched publicly by Prime Minister Paul Keating, who described the car as “another quantum leap in the history of the Australian automotive industry”.Wheels magazine agreed and Camry came out on top in a comparison with Magna, Mazda 626 and Liberty. Camry was also the top-ranked local car in Wheels’ annual quality survey and won the NRMA’s gong for best medium car.Camry grew up for this generation. It was larger in every dimension than the previous model, and became classified as "mid-size". The car was wider and longer than Cressida, with better performance, improved fuel economy, ABS and reduced NVH. It also had more local input into design and development. Built at a cost of $140 million, the range also featured a new brand name – the Vienta – for its V6 models.Engines were now 2.2-litre four-cylinder units (producing almost as much power as the previous V6, but with four-cylinder economy), and 3.0-litre V6s.That same year, Toyota began exporting the Camry to Thailand. By 1994, Altona exports were worth $160 million and the company announced that, by the year 2000, it aimed to export 30 per cent of its Altona Camry production. The year also saw Camry take over the mantle of Australia’s best-selling medium car.The last Camry to be built at Port Melbourne rolled off the production line in December 1994. Two weeks later, the Camry was being built at Altona. There was little difference between the Port Melbourne and Altona vehicles, except for a new water-borne, environmentally friendly paint process at Altona.In 1996, Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett was on hand to send off the first shipment of Camrys to the Middle East.1997 – fourth generationA new range was launched in August 1997.It was quieter, lighter and more powerful with better ride quality and improved handling.With an additional 5cm in wheelbase, a lowered beltline and swept-back windscreen, the 1997 Camry’s cabin was more spacious and inviting.By this time, 40 per cent of Camry production was being shipped overseas to 24 destinations.The line-up of four-cylinder Camry models consisted of the CSI, Conquest and CSX models, available as sedans or wagons. Camry V6 models consisted of CSI and Conquest.Both of Camry’s engines received power and torque increases.In October 2000, a revised Camry range was launched with improved handling, higher feature levels, improved headlamps and reduced noise, vibration and harshness.Two models were added to the Camry line-up - Touring Series wagon and top-of-the-range sports-luxury Azura sedan.The Vienta V6 range was discontinued due to the launch of the Avalon sedan.

The Ford Falcon wagon is dead. The Toyota Camry wagon is gone. Some like the Holden Sportswagon still survive, and there are loyal buyers in both the small-car and luxury classes, but the rising tide of SUVs has washed most station wagons out of showrooms.The distinction between the traditional sedan-based station wagons and Australia’s new favourite family freighter has become much more blurred in the past decade or so.However, there are still some important points of difference. And it's worth looking at some of the leading contenders on the rival teams to see what's happening and what works best for you.A sedan-based wagon is usually lighter than a similarly-sized SUV. This means better fuel economy and lower costs for servicing and tyres. It also sits closer to the bitumen, with a lower centre of gravity, so it’s more agile and stable, especially when cornering or in an emergency manoeuvre.However, you don’t enjoy the high-and-mighty driving position, with an unimpeded view of the road, that SUV drivers - and women in particular - cite as one of the breed’s major attractions.Who hasn’t sat in traffic, cursing the SUV blocking your vision? Booming SUV sales indicate more and more people are taking the view that, if I can’t beat ‘em, I may as well join ‘em.It’s a myth that SUVs are more space-efficient than wagons, however most mid-sized models - including the popular Holden Captiva and Ford's Territory - can come with a couple of extra seats in the back, a feature you no longer find in conventional wagons.Kids also love an SUV’s elevated seating position because they can enjoy the scenery, whereas many wagons have low seats and high side window sills, which, for nippers, can be like sitting in a hole.  So they get unhappy. And we know what happens then...Whether you choose a sedan-based wagon or an SUV - an Americanism for Sports Utility Vehicle, incidentally - the good news is that affordable family transport, with five star safety, can now also be an enjoyable drive.Among the wagons, the Commodore VE Series ll Sportwagon, priced from $41,990 for the 190kW, 3.0-litre V6 Omega, is a standout. It looks sensational - which, it must be said, is still a rare thing in wagon world.Recent improvements to drivetrains, including E85 ethanol fuel compatibility, direct fuel inection and a six-speed automatic - plus a flash new dash with hands-free Bluetooth and audi streaming as standard - have re-written the Commodore's technical resume to 21st century standards.Around town, the 3.0-litre V6 averages 12.6L/100km in official tests.  A big serve of additional grunt in the 3.6-litre V6 SV6 Sportwagon, plus tighter suspension, sports seats and other extras, justifies its $45,790 ask, and with a city average of 13.3L/100km, you’re not savagely penalised at the pump.Despite the Commodore's appeal, Ford’s Mondeo and the little-known Skoda Superb are the kings of outright space. Behind the driver’s seat, both are as big as the MCG.  Given their size, the fuel economy from their 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines is amazing.  The 120kW, six-speed automated-manual Mondeo, from $36,840, pulls like a train and averages just 7.7L/100km in town.The Skoda is VW engineering with a Czech badge, making  luxury wagon for half the expected price. The 125kW six-speed automated-manual Superb Ambition is $43,990, with a city average of 8.3L/100km and the 118kW 1.8-litre petrol turbo Ambition, at $40,990, offers respectable performance too, averaging 9.7L/100km.In the SUV showroom, Ford’s Territory, from $39,890, is still one of the best size/price/performance packages available - especially with the inevitable big discount ahead of the facelifted model - but the all-wheel drive’s 17.6L/100km thirst in town is a major disincentive.Later this month, a 140kW 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel engine, which averages 11.6L/100km, goes under the bonnet as part of a major upgrade. It will be worth a test drive.Kia’s Sorento, a classy, competent seven-seater with a brilliant 2.2-litre, 145kW turbodiesel, starts at $39,999, with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. Around town, it averages 9.5L/100 kilometres. The five-seater Subaru Outback now has enough interior acreage to keep a family happy.  This blue-chip, made-in-Japan SUV starts at $38,490 for the 123kW 2.5-litre petrol (11.5-litres per 100 kilometres), or $40,490 for a 110kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel, in manual only, with a 7.7- litres per 100 kilometre average.Load Lugger ChecklistRear camera: All cars should have one as standard, especially wagons and SUVs. The Sorento’s is a brilliant design, integrated into the rearview mirror.Curtain airbags: Essential protection against a side impact. In a seven seater, they should extend to all three rows of seats. In the Territory, they don’t.Child restraint anchors: Should be on the back of the rear seat, not in the load floor, or the roof (as in the Outback), where the tether straps get in the wayCargo bay: Check that the extended floor is flat when you fold the back seat, and that you don’t have to push the driver’s seat too far forward.Row-three seats: In SUVs most are pretty small, suitable for little kids only, or short trips. Check access, which should be easiest from the kerb side.Protection: You need some way to secure gear, because in a prang even small objects behind the back seat become lethal missiles. Options include a solid load cover, a net, a roll out mesh barrier, that clips into the roof, or an aftermarket barrier.Want to go off road ... really off road?Try these:Jeep Grand Cherokee from $45,000. The new Laredo 3.6-litre V6 petrol is great value, but the diesel, due in June, will be a better drive. Hard-core off-roading made easy, and the all-new Grand Cherokee is much improved on the bitumen too.Mitsubishi Challenger from $45,000. Lots of Pajero bits in this, with lower starting prices and a competent, if rather coarse, 2.5 turbodiesel. Seven seats from $49,390, a huge cargo bay, and a locking rear differential.Toyota Landcruiser Prado from $55,990. It’s a Toyota 4WD, so it’s pricey, but you get bulletproof reliability, unbeatable resale values and smooth, but leisurely, performance from the 3.0-litre turbodiesel.

SILENCE, they say, is golden. But it can frighten the beejesus out of pedestrians.  I found that out after nearly skittling a jaywalker who simply didn't hear the battery-powered Corolla Hybrid heading her way. Scary stuff for the startled walker — and me.Of course this silence was planned by Toyota. The Camry switches from petrol to battery power when the car is being driven slowly — or switches off completely when stopped — as a clever way of saving fuel.  For someone bought up on a diet of thumping V8s and rumbling sixes, all this silence seems weird. But the hybrid Camry goes about its business of saving fuel — and the environment, thanks to lower exhaust emissions — without fuss.To go, push the accelerator, life is restored, and the car silently moves off until eventually the petrol motor cuts in.  Toyota already has the hybrid Prius, but the new hybrid Camry opens up a whole new market for the market leader.At first Prius was considered too radical — a car designed for those greener than green. But it slowly won the hearts of middle Australia, giving buyers who want to save running costs a real option.With the pioneering work largely done and dusted by the Prius, world-wide recalls aside, the market is now ready to accept a larger family-sized model.  That's why I reckon the Aussie-built hybrid Camry will work wonders for Toyota, as it aims to capture Falcon and Commodore buyers who are downsizing.StylingThe hybrid looks like a regular Camry and it isn't complicated to drive. It's just eerie when you push the start button nothing seems to happen — but the word "ready" on the computer display is the signal all is well to go.Pricing and variantsAnd pricing isn't too bad either. There are only two variants, both automatics. The base sells for $36,990 — that's in the same pricing territory of a base six-cylinder Falcon or Commodore but the Toyota uses about a third less fuel.However it is about $3000 more than the conventional Camry Sportivo with which it shares many features — so its going to take a few years for the savings in running costs to compensate the price premium.The luxury version, which I have been driving, is $39,990 plus on-road costs. That's the same price as the normally aspirated Camry Grande so the price penalty disappears.DrivetrainThe hybrid marries two engines — a 2.4-litre 4 cylinder petrol motor with a 650V electric motor/generator.  The nickel metal hydride battery pack is topped up by capturing energy normally lost under braking or deceleration and if you really want to impress your passengers there's a nifty display on the dashboard that shows where the power is coming from or going to.The petrol engine uses an Atkinson cycle design (longer power stroke than compression stroke) which promotes lower fuel consumption but at the cost of performance.  The petrol motor is good for 110kW while two power sources combined produce about 140kW. The petrol contributes 187Nm of torque; the electric motor is rated at about 270Nm but Toyota is reluctant to give a proper figure because of the complexities of quantifying the torque.Torque is important because the Camry needs lots of it to shift the hybrid's extra weight.  And as for the true fuel saving? Toyota makes some bold claims:over 20,000km a year you can save about $14 a week from the family fuel budget, compared to a larger car and based on petrol being $1.30 a litre.DrivingIn a week of city running I made no conscious effort to save fuel. I wanted the car to return an honest consumption.  I was more than surprised: using 7.8l/100km or less than $20 of fuel for the week. My motoring colleagues have got that figure down to 6.5l/10km without trying too hard.Toyota's own consumption figure is 6l/100km for a mix of urban and city driving.  And fuel consumption is very much to the forefront when you are behind the wheel — the hybrid has four separate gauges to tell you if you are being green friendly.The hybrid's downsides? The only negatives I could find was an initial lacklustre performance from the CVT auto (there's no manual sequential shifting with this transmission), poor brake feel, a much smaller boot than the average Camry and you can't tow, not even a box trailer.  I also found out the hard way that the floor of the boot, made from hardboard, is easily broken.I got my first flat tyre in more than 25 years and managed to accidentally break the floor panel trying to lift it (you have to remove a central securing bolt first). And yes, I should have read the handbook first.  Driving the hybrid is a better than expected experience, albeit the ride is on the softish side. When you start off there's a whirring sound, akin to an electric trolley bus. Eventually the petrol engine cuts in with a slight vibration.You need a decent push on the acceleration to get the car up and running and the braking feels overly soft but you quickly get used to it.  The ride is excellent thanks to the extra weight of the battery in the boot, which balances out the weight distribution, and while the new electric steering is effortless, it is also lifeless.There's a little bit lacking in outright performance and some hesitation between pushing the accelerator pedal and forward movement but nevertheless the car is very liveable and without any major vices.  For the money, the luxury version of the hybrid Camry lacks for little: it has all the necessary safety features including stability and traction control, you get much-needed park sensors and rear-view camera for backing into tight spaces.The hybrid also features luxuries like push-button starting, leather upholstery, a decent audio system, power adjustable front seats and dual air conditioning.  Has the hybrid come of age? In this Camry there's no question.  Would I buy one? Absolutely, if I didn't need to tow a trailer.