A full redesign means a host of changes to America’s top-selling car, including new styling inside and out, chassis and suspension upgrades and a new powertrain for the hybrid. While the conventional 4- and 6-cylinder engines are carryovers for 2012, changes to the rest of the vehicle are significant enough to feel like a brand-new setup.
Upon first glance, many will scoff at the previous sentence as the “new” Camry looks so much like the old. While Toyota promises we’re looking at all-new sheetmetal, one can imagine a sculpting knife was simply taken to the old. Still, a crease here and a shave there add up, especially when implemented with sense rather than style. A small ridge on the rearview mirrors is a perfect example - a change Toyota claims came about thanks to knowledge gathered from their F1 forays – which they say will reduce buffeting around the vehicle and lead to a quieter ride.
The same attention has been paid to the chassis, which utilizes more high- and ultra-high-strength steel and lighter materials, as well as 55 new welds to increase rigidity and decrease noise. Overall, the Camry drops over 120 pounds in conventional models and more than 220 with the Hybrid, but exacting consumers will notice outside dimensions have remained the same.
Inside paints a different picture, where the engineers have reworked the roof, door openings, pillar caps and seatbacks to provide more interior space, and despite the thinning, more insulation and better attention to assembly has resulted in a further reduction in noise.
Plastic dominated the old interior of the Camry, and much of that has been dealt with. Soft-touch surfaces are mated with pleasant textures and faux hand-stitching to provide a significant upgrade to the overall ambiance of the Camry, with the SE and XLE offering unique trims that lend themselves to the sporty and luxury aspirations of both, respectively. The clumsy center stack is gone, and the shoddy upholstery that looked like it was stolen from the set of a '70s porn flick has likewise been replaced. Pay special attention to the newly optional Entune system, which integrates your smartphone into the entertainment system, providing additional features and services.
Performance has never been a target for Toyota, instead relying on safety, value, efficiency and reliability. Whereas many manufacturers would take a 100-pound weight loss as an opportunity to improve acceleration, Toyota saw it as a chance to add more airbags – now equaling ten in total. On top of that, the final drive gearing for the 6-speed automatic in both the 2.5-liter I4 and 3.5-liter V6 engines has been lowered for better fuel economy. With the 2.5, that means a 25 mpg city/35 highway rating, with 21/30 for the V6.
But if efficiency is what you’re looking for, the Hybrid is where you’ll find it. In 2011, the Camry Hybrid, with its 2.4-liter non-Atkinson engine and CVT, managed only a 31/35 mpg rating. Hardly impressive, especially when competitors were breaking the 40-mpg mark around town. This year, Toyota is employing a new, 2.5-liter engine which utilizes the Atkinson cycle for a much-improved rating of 43/39. All this, and the 2012 Hybrid actually gets a 13-hp increase over 2011, bumping up power to a full 200 hp. Improved regenerative braking is partially to blame here, and it’s a welcome upgrade. There have also been improvements under the hood with regard to hybrid component size, which allowed relocation of the converter from the trunk to the engine compartment, increasing usable space from 10.6 to 13.1 cubic feet.
There are some drawbacks, however. Toyota elected to source its electric power steering systems from different manufacturers for the 4- and 6-cylinder trims. While the V6’s steering is well-weighted and responsive, the same can’t be said of the system in the 2.5. Vague and lackluster, Toyota would be rewarded by utilizing the V6’s system across the board. On top of that, the manual transmission has been dropped entirely, following a disturbing pattern in the industry.
It's hard to argue the Camry needed improving, especially sitting as it does as the sales leader for nearly a decade, but perhaps this is the reason for such astounding figures. The Camry will not shock, will not scare and will not incite the passion we claim to love in our cars. But there is the secret. Small improvements year after year add up, and the Camry has little left to prove. While we shouldn’t hold out hope for the return of a manual transmission, the steering issues will certainly be dealt with, and the Camry will continue flying the flag of quiet competence.
