2012 Toyota Camry

This is a car that needs no introduction. It’s been the employee for life to numerous taxi and fleet operators around the world and a car that has single-handedly catapulted Toyota as one of the best car makers in the world. The car in focus is the seventh generation Toyota Camry that made its first appearance way back in 1983. The Camry has solidified Toyota’s dominance in the mid size car market and seldom do buyers look elsewhere when considering a car in this segment. Cars like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat have been playing catch-up for years but the Camry enjoys a lead that only a few cars have managed since the advent of the internal combustion engine.

Toyota follows the practice of building two cars on one platform. That means the 2012 Camry is built on the same platform as the outgoing version and receives a heavy dose of cosmetic changes and a bit of tweaking under the skin. Even though the architecture is the same, there isn’t much to complain since you can’t really point your finger at one of the best selling cars of all times, or can you?

According to Toyota’s PR manifesto, we are supposed to believe that the 2012 Camry is what they call a ‘dynamic wedge shape.” So, you can sit there all day trying to imagine a dynamic wedge in your head or you can take a closer look at the photographs and come up with your own version of how the car looks like. All we know is that this new car looks more akin to the Toyota Corolla with all the design lines being swept back to make it appear ‘faster’.

The new design aids aerodynamics and for the discerning reader, the size remains absolutely the same as the outgoing version. A quick comparison will reveal a millimeter-by-millimeter similarity to the older version. According to pundits, this is the first time that a newer Camry has failed to grow in size. Critics might be quick to point out that this means a lack of any additional space, not really. The 2012 Toyota Camry gets more real estate on the inside and this has been done by realigning components and using smart solutions like moving the pedals forward and installing deeper rear seats to name a few. These changes have resulted in more shoulder, knee and legroom for passengers.

The body is constructed using a lighter yet stronger material and the new Camry boasts of a significant weight reduction. Redesigned A and B pillars lend an aura of roominess to the cabin and it is quite noticeable once you are in the car. Toyota has done a good job in expanding interior space, which has been a forte of the 2012 Camry.

Every variant of the 2012 Camry gets the same 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 178bhp and 230Nm of torque. The power output feels adequate for this car. Lets face it; no one is going to buy the Camry for its sportiness so expecting this car to go ballistic is a no-brainer. This engine does a good job of accelerating off the line like a family sedan should and provides ample grunt when you need it. During our stint with the car we observed that the engine revs a notch higher than it should before any noticeable change in motion takes place. We were left scratching our heads wondering if this car had a CVT gearbox that usually displays these tendencies. However, the Camry, like its predecessor, gets a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Shift times are not the quickest and at those rare occasions, when you are faced with a challenge of overtaking a container truck, you feel that downshift should have been quicker.

Before we get to handling, let us talk about ride comfort. Since there have been minor tweaks in the suspension like inversely wound springs, new shocks and antiroll bars at the front and a revised suspension geometry at the rear, the ride is a tad better than before. There is no hint of any stiffness and every surface undulation is absorbed without letting it through to the passengers. The Camry glides on the highways carrying its passengers in the highest comfort level possible from a car in this category. Having tall people in the team, we ensured they spent some time in the back seat and even with a taller than average occupant in the front, there is ample knee and legroom for a six-footer to be comfortable at the back.

Enthusiastic drivers will notice a fair amount of body roll but not to an extent that it bothers you. Pushing the Camry around bends is not advisable but even if you do, the car responds with tyres and the engine wailing under stress but at no time will it veer off the line you set for it.  The steering feels relaxed and light at all speeds and it’s not what we would call sporty. For a day-to-day commuting duty, the 2012 Camry is an ideal workhorse and it has proved its mettle over the last two decades.

Four variants will share the showroom floor in the UAE with prices starting from AED 86,000 to AED 101,000. The base version Camry comes with the usual 15-inch pressed steel wheels, a six speaker audio system with AUX/iPOD/USB connection and dual airbags. As you go higher up you get cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, reversing camera and 16-inch alloy wheels in the car. Top of the line 2012 Toyota Camry also gets in-built navigation which is pretty accurate and up-to-date.

The 2012 Camry doesn’t lose any of the attributes that made it the best selling car in Toyota stable. In fact, the fresh face and interior appointments make it an even more desirable car for the discerning family man. Toyota has skimmed on quality at certain places but only a keen eye will notice these discrepancies. However, the car maker has ensured that every time your fingers touch a knob or a switch, you are greeted with quality. Even though the competition is not paltry by any margin, especially when it comes to design and features but from what we feel, the Camry has that touch of thoughtfulness that makes it the ultimate winner.