The Toyota Camry has been the sales leader in luxury sedans for years having only the Honda Accord meddling with its title in the past few years and the Nissan Cefiro some years ago. After a lot of foreign media hype, UMW Toyota has introduced this all-new Camry with two engine options. A 2-litre and a 2.4- litre with VVT-i technology. Both engines are carried over from the previous successful model however there has been some improvement in engine management and gearing to accommodate the new larger dimensions and provide better fuel consumption. The exterior design, the interior design, and the onboard controls systems are entirely new, and all of the safety systems have been upgraded and even further integrated. Only a few parts and systems carry over from the previous-generation Camry.
Walkaround
The new Toyota Camry is longer, wider and taller than the outgoing model with a longer wheelbase. Immediate impression with car enthusiasts is its similarities to the very desirable Lexus GS sedan. Most noticeable are the new chrome jewelry on the nose, door handles and rear boot lid. There are also subtle fender flares both in front and at the rear. New design cues include a more upright grille with thick horizontal bars running across, new headlamps with multilamps inside, larger side view mirrors with integrated turn signals and new LED tail lamps. Despite its increased size, width and height, it has a better aerodynamic rating. To keep weight down, weight saving materials has been used and ingenious design with panels and materials.
Interior Features
Inside this car absolutely nothing was taken from the outgoing Camry. Every gauge, indicator, lever, display and lamp has been changed. The most striking change is in the quality of the cabin in its use of materials and fitment. The combination of light colours on the bottom half of the interior and darker colour of the top half with the solid strip of wood veneer running in the middle across the dash and on the center stack around the gated gear shifter raises the luxury ambience of this executive sedan.
The new meter cluster is my only disappointment. The new look leads us to believe that a young designer from the Playstation era was let loose. Using Optitron meters it is clear but tends to be too distracting with its brightness and two-stage layout. Somehow it just did not gel with the rest of the classy cabin!
The revised center console now comes with a rather attractive ambient light around its various functions that moves the Camry up a rung on the luxury ladder. Incorporating a new 'Plasmacluster' air-conditioning system with dual zone climate control. An upgraded sound system has also been introduced providing a higher quality reproductive sound. The new steering wheel houses functions for the stereo as well as the climate system. The driver sits in a well-padded electric seat (the 2-litre 'G' comes with added luxury appointments over the base 2-litre 'E') that is able to accommodate most drivers' dimensions. There is also an electric buttons to adjust the front passenger seat both on the bottom left as well as the top right hand side of the seat to allow the driver to make the adjustments when there is no passenger. We found this function very useful and missing in many luxury cars.
Rear passengers are also pampered more this time. Legroom has increased and this time around 3 adults are able to sit in comfort giving the middle adult more legroom as the rear air-conditioning vent has been redesigned, sitting higher up freeing more room for the feet. Seats are also better padded and with three full sized headrests.
Driving Impressions
Out test Camry came with a 147bhp engine that churns out 190Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 4-speed Super ECT gearbox that returns a seamlessly smooth gear change action. At idle the engine can hardly be heard inside the cabin or even curbside. Only the air-condition and radiator fan is heard. It is a smooth silent engine and has been improved over the previous version. On the road the Camry is all about smooth ness and refinement. A soft and comfortable ride with a distant muted engine note provides serene progress in town as well as on the highway. Take a more spirited approach in your driving style and the Camry 2.0G starts feeling a little tired as the engine is not tuned for tarmac ripping performance rather it is a luxury executive cruiser. Traffic light burnouts can be achieved but without much fanfare and it will reach the government approved top speed with respect. Taking it beyond that is also possible and at illegal speeds the Camry is very composed and sure-footed. Cornering at respectable speed is good as the chassis and suspension work well to soak in the turn and bumps if any. However if you push the Camry into a tight fast corner it can feel a little unsettling, as the car is not designed for this. In an emergency situation the ABS works well with the Brake Assist. There is also Electronic Brake Force Distribution to distribute brake power when needed. Vehicle Stability Control (VSA) is however available only on the higher priced 2.4 version.
City parking for this large car is made all that mush easier with parking sensors that are now not only in the rear but also up front. We managed to squeeze into small tight mall carparks with relative ease and our exit was also quick.
Conclusion
Toyota has spent a lot of time on the quiet aspects of the car, and called in some of the experts from the Lexus ultra-luxury car team. At continuous cruising speeds up to 155km/h, the Camry is very, very quiet. If you are in the market for a luxury executive sedan that will get your clients or friends at the golf club and in the boardroom jealous without you paying the earth in monthly installments then this is the car for you. The all new Camry 2.0G that we tested here sells for RM145,047.50 without insurance. A 3-year warranty ensures trouble free motoring and a peace of mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment