An all-new 2015 Toyota Camry already? That’s what some current Camry
owners might think, as the current generation of this longtime
best-selling sedan model has only been around for three model years. Yet
today the Camry faces even stronger competition from recently refreshed
versions of the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, and others.
Toyota is in effect not resting on its laurels; it’s given what it
calls a sweeping redesign to the Camry for 2015—with a completely new
look for the interior and exterior, added noise insulation, and upgraded
driving dynamics.
While the change in appearance isn’t radically different, it looks
updated, more refined, and more contemporary inside and out. And the
most significant change are under the skin. The Camry gets what Toyota
calls an aggressive front-end appearance, with LED front running lamps
plus available LED auto-leveling lamps for the low and high beams.
Taillights get a new design that tapers in with the side sheetmetal, and
a ‘decorative garnish’—read chrome bar—runs across the trunk. Toyota
calls that cue sporty, although it’s a generic cliche.
The somewhat downmarket look and more ‘chunky’ feel of the outgoing
Camry’s dash have been wiped away, with a ‘high-tech’ look for the
center stack and a newfound attention to materials and details. Upper
dash areas now have soft-touch trims, and the area just ahead of the
shift knob gets an enclosed bin for personal electronics, with a USB
port and available wireless charging pad (as in the larger Avalon).
In all, it's not quite all-new, but as much so as mid-cycle updates
ever get. The 2015 Camry has nearly 2,000 new parts (out of more than
6,000 total, for those who want to contextualize) compared to the 2014
model. Toyota says that everything is new except the roof. Toyota claims
to have made some significant changes to improve the Camry’s
responsiveness. While the existing MacPherson strut, multi-link rear
suspension layout does carry over into the 2015 Camry, a new calibration
for the electric power steering and a retuned brake-booster system make
the Camry a better-driving car. So should a stiffer body structure and
additional spot welds; in the cushy Camry XLE especially, it all adds up
to a more sophisticated experience, much like what the Avalon received a
couple of years ago; while in the sporty SE and XSE the stiffer body
helps make more of it. As well, Toyota has added noise insulation at the
floor, improved window and door seals, and redesigned the side mirrors
for better airflow.
What’s under the hood carries over, mostly. The 2015 Camry will
remain powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or 3.5-liter V-6—both
hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission—or in the Hybrid model,
a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder and Hybrid Synergy Drive
system. New to the lineup this year is a new sporty SE version of the
Camry Hybrid. Overall, we'd say that the Camry V-6 and Hybrid stand out
as enjoyable, engaging cars, considering all the rest of the
improvements this model's been given, although the base 178-hp,
2.5-liter four-cylinder engine feels lackluster among present-day
rivals, as it lacks direct
WHAT'S NEW?
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