Despite Taking the 'Safe Road,' the 2012 Camry Seems Legit

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YSSMAN

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[URL="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/23/2012-toyota-camry-first-drive-review/]...Well, for a Camry Anyway[/URL]

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Okay, so stylistically, it isn't going to win any awards. But, it looks like Toyota is taking some of the sporting potential seriously inside and out. I'd say its the best-looking Camry since the '90s... But that's like saying a GE microwave looks better than an Electrolux. The NASCAR-ish looks of the SE is kinda cool, and with the weight-loss (150 lbs), new transmission, and power massages, apparently it goes like stink. In a family sedan. No way!

So, in the family sedan world that I love so much... We've got this Camry here, the new Tenessee-built Volkswagen Passat, and the upcoming Chevrolet Malibu. For the first time in a long time, the family sedan segment is kinda exciting again. I can dig it.
 
You're excited by the Camry, the Mediocrity and the Malibu when the Fusion and Mazda6 have been on sale nearly two years now?
 
As I said in the NASCAR thread, looks like a Civic.

Also, what's up with manufacturers leaving so much sheet metal above the rear tire.:crazy:
 
Toronado
You're excited by the Camry, the Mediocrity and the Malibu when the Fusion and Mazda6 have been on sale nearly two years now?
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Hey, there's always something new under the sun! But, when Toyota appears to have gotten serious about their best-selling car, that's a good sign. Especially since they phoned it in so terribly on the last two generations.
 
The price of all the 4cyl models dropped as well as the V6 models keeping their prices.
 
Not bad I suppose. I don't like the grilles (yes, plural) or headlights though. My aunt has a 2010 Camry SE and IMO looks better than this.
 
I really don't like the exterior styling but the interior is quite good... If they retain the current generation styling with that interior, it'd be good.
 
Front end looks :yuck:

By the way, the UK equivalent of the Camry, the Avensis, sums up Toyota today:

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Erm...yeah. :rolleyes: They just need to release the FT86 already.
 
That's still the same soul-sucking car as the last one. They just went all Pontiac with adding more plastic instead of making a cooler car.

Bet that pic in the OP is some sort of 'sport' package that adds on different wheels, a body kit, spoiler, and an "S" badge for a couple grand. The sad thing is that the new Camry is actually a pretty quick car if you stomp on it at a stoplight. Everywhere else; it's the queen of beige and as boring and unfulfilling as can be. Adding a plastic body kit & new headlights isn't going to change that.

They need to take a page from Mazda...not Pontiac.
 
Justin
Also, what's up with manufacturers leaving so much sheet metal above the rear tire.:crazy:
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It's the curse of practical packaging. Extend the wheelbase to increase passenger room and it pushes the rear wheel further back, and then the entire luggage space has to fit behind that point too, which gives you all the metalwork of the trunk sitting above.

Rising belt and window lines don't help either. Carmakers think a window line that gets higher towards the back of the car makes it look more "dynamic", "sporty" and "coupe-like" even when the car is a wheeled cure for insomnia like a Camry.

It also makes most cars look ridiculous now with anything less than 18" wheels.
 
BrutherSuperior
Bet that pic in the OP is some sort of 'sport' package that adds on different wheels, a body kit, spoiler, and an "S" badge for a couple grand.
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That would be the SE model, that adds about $850-1200 onto the price of an LE model. Toyota hasn't confirmed pricing on the packages, but they were happy to point out that the jump to the SE, and XLE packages is going to significantly decrease.

InsideLine
All versions we're driving, from the LE four-cylinder to the XLE V6 to the vitamin-enriched SE, perform better than the models they replace. They feel more locked down on the highway and less flustered by bumps. The SE is far and away our favorite, with larger tires (17s on the four-cylinder, 18s on the V6,) 15 percent stiffer springs, 50 percent firmer dampers, and a more rigid "pillow ball" connection at the forward lateral link. It's composed enough that we think it could serve as the base setup and no one would complain.
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They aren't going to take any awards away from Ford or Acura in the handling department, but it is nevertheless an improvement over the previous two SE models.
 
Toronado
You're excited by the Camry, the Mediocrity and the Malibu when the Fusion and Mazda6 have been on sale nearly two years now?
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Fusion? I was on the fusion train since it's been out but now having driven it, I must say it's quite pathetic. The steering is so detached, lacks any feedback. I wish I bothered to drive my friend's 2011 ahead as I would've rented something else.

I had high hopes for the camry as one of the guys who shot it months ago hyped it up quite a bit. Sadly, it just looks like a big yaris/corolla.
I much prefer the look of the previous gen SE to the pic above.

YSSMAN
That would be the SE model, that adds about $850-1200 onto the price of an LE model. Toyota hasn't confirmed pricing on the packages, but they were happy to point out that the jump to the SE, and XLE packages is going to significantly decrease.
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http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/23/2012-toyota-camry-pricing-brings-good-news-to-those-in-market-fo/


We've just given you our first impressions of the redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry. Now, Toyota is ready to give you pricing, and it's good news if you're in the market for this mid-size mainstay. Pricing stays the same for some of the 2012 trims, while it's actually gone down for a few others. The 2012 Camry family hierarchy shakes out with the base-model L before moving up to the LE, XLE and SE trims. The Camry Hybrid is only available in LE or XLE guise.

Pricing for the 2012 Camry L starts at $21,995. If you want to move up to the LE, you only need $545 more for a total of $22,500, which is about $200 less than the 2011 LE. Another $500 brings you to the four-cylinder-equipped Camry SE, which costs $23,000 and is priced $965 lower than the 2011 model it replaces. The V6 SE will cost $26,400, which is consistent with 2011 pricing. In the market for the top-shelf XLE? Have at least $24,725 ready for the four-cylinder model, and $29,845 if you prefer the V6. The 2012 Camry XLE four-cylinder is priced a full $2,000 less than the 2011 model, while the XLE V6 remains priced the same as the 2011.

If you're leaning towards the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid, you'll be saving $1,150 over the 2011 Camry LE. The 2012 Camry Hybrid LE starts at $25,900, while the Camry Hybrid XLE starts at $27,400, an $800 deduction compared to the 2011 unit.
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eSZee
Fusion? I was on the fusion train since it's been out but now having driven it, I must say it's quite the boring crap box. The steering is so detached, lacks any feedback.
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I've driven the Fusion Hybrid (and the Milan Hybrid) and it seemed fine to me. Far and away better than the Mediocrity, at the very least.
 
VW cheapened their line up down to the standards of ford and whoever they compete against and they become mediocre, just like the others you mentioned, I agree. Driving a 2012 jetta couple of years after the 09 left me with a bit of a puzzled feeling. At the same time, the quality still feels just a smidge above the rest, initially. I know they have a tendency to fall apart at a seemingly faster rate than others.
I'm no VW sack rider and have no interest in their product other than the r20 and maybe one of the diesel offerings.
 
^I like VW design and aesthetics, but their electricals are just straight 🤬, and maintenance on European cars are for some reason more complicated and expensive compared to our domestic and Japanese/Korean brands.
 
Yuck, more of the same boring uninspired ****. At least some companies are putting out something that isn't a cardboard box.

Toronado
You're excited by the Camry, the Mediocrity and the Malibu when the Fusion and Mazda6 have been on sale nearly two years now?
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Agreed. Don't forget the Nissan Maxima. I have grown to love the current gen's style and sporting engine, suspension and steering athletics.
 
We'll see how the updated Altima works out. Although they've gotten the mix right with the CVT and the 2.5L I4, we'll see how it all ends up working out. For that matter, we're only a year or so away from a new Fusion/Mondeo as well.
 
That is presumably because the Avalon is based on the Camry. The old Solara was as well, but that passed on quite a while ago.
 
YSSMAN
We'll see how the updated Altima works out. Although they've gotten the mix right with the CVT and the 2.5L I4, we'll see how it all ends up working out. For that matter, we're only a year or so away from a new Fusion/Mondeo as well.
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Autoblog is saying 2.0 turbo to replace the 2.5. Though, it is autoblog so......
 

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