The Camry is back. After a long time, specifically after fourteen years, Toyota returns to the European market with this sales-successful model.
It is currently the eighth generation of this successful model, which has sold almost 20 million units.
We currently tested the Camry in a hybrid version, i.e. with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, which worked together with an automatic e-CVT transmission. The car also had the highest Executive equipment and an optional VIP package.
Elegant and calm lines for a new generation
At first glance, the basic contours of the new generation Toyota Camry give a very calm and even slightly settled impression. The front part will offer a more significant revival, specifically the voluminous ribbing in the front bumper. The elegant horizontal lines taken from this part are subsequently also applied within the front mask or in the discreet division of the front headlights.
The side profile of the car then lets the handsome and simple curves stand out, as well as the significant overhangs of the bodywork. The proportion between the glazed and solid parts of the side doors is also worth noting. The Camry here, by today's standards, offers fairly large glazing, which you will subsequently appreciate in the interior of the car.
The rear part, these are the voluminous and horizontally oriented lamps and the gentle tear-off edge of the trunk lid. Otherwise, this party has a moderate and peaceful impression.
Toyota knows how to work very well with the design of their cars, and their exterior expression is always clearly legible. The same applies to the new generation of the Camry model, which comes with a conservative but generally pleasing exterior.
Spacious and well-crafted interior
The new generation offers a large interior space that is very comfortable. The seats of the car are generously dimensioned, and in the tested version, they were also upholstered in light leather, which contrasted very effectively with the dark color of the car. The optional VIP package offers electrically adjustable backrests on the rear seats. The controls for this function, as well as the controls for the heating or the car's audio system, are located on the folding armrest between the backrests.
The dashboard features first-class workmanship and a classic layout, including a dynamic wave that stretches from the instrument cluster in front of the driver to the center panel between the seats. The central part of the dashboard is then equipped with a large number of individual controls, which are quite unnecessarily large by today's standards.
Unfortunately, the somewhat outdated graphics of the on-board infotainment touch screen continue to be a common weakness, and the display between the alarm clocks in the instrument cluster in front of the driver is not much better.
Thanks to the larger overhang of the body, the luggage compartment has a very decent volume of 525 l. It is already worse with its accessibility, the trunk is quite deep and the access defined by the lower edge of the rear window and the upper edge of the bumper is not very large, loading bulky items then becomes somewhat more difficult.
It is in the interior of the new Camry that the sibling relationship between Toyota and Lexus is most evident. High-quality workmanship and a large interior space in this car let you peek into a higher premium category.
Economical hybrid drive
The drive of the tested car was taken care of by a hybrid system, currently the only one offered. This is already the fourth generation of this drive, which consists of a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Atmospheric gasoline with a volume of 2.5 liters works in the Atkynson cycle and offers 177 horsepower, the electric motor itself then 88 horsepower. The total combined output of this hybrid system then has 218 horsepower.
The maturity of the hybrid drive itself is inherent to the Toyota brand. It continues to work just as well in the tested Camry. The hybrid system with 2.5 liters under the hood is very user-friendly. The performance of the power unit is not at all "breathy" and at a leisurely pace the performance is adequate, very refined and quiet.
A sharper pace traditionally brings quite unpleasant and significant revving of the drive unit. However, this is a "hybrid bug", which we have become quite accustomed to over time and we know that the advantages of this powertrain lie elsewhere than in dynamic driving. A hybrid is simply best in the city, where it will fully utilize its potential, mainly the saved electrical energy.
On the other hand, it must be said that the internal combustion engine, in the tested Camry, got into action very quickly, but quietly and smoothly. The car can also drive purely on electric energy, which, however, does not last very long, mostly due to higher demands on acceleration, or due to exceeding the speed of 50 km/h. However, the car's electric motor can help even at higher speeds and easily support the performance of a car already in motion.
In the urban environment, the hybrid Camry is therefore at home, the consumption of the car here is slightly above the value of 4 liters. As part of the weekly test, I drove it for a still decent 5.9 liters.
The car's harder chassis has a lower center of gravity, which gives it a fairly confident impression. The Camry was also equipped with a choice of driving modes. The classic Normal mode is complemented by the Sport and Eco modes. However, I practically did not use the choice of driving modes. Sports mode will limit the effect of the power steering and the gearbox will rev the engine more, while economy mode will dampen the entire car noticeably. Neither of these positions suited the character of the tested car.
The hybrid drivetrain remains for the calm and prudent driver. Such a driver will certainly appreciate the driving performance of the new Toyota Camry, which offers a very comfortable and, in the context of its size, quite economical driving performance.
Conclusion
The basic purchase price of a car with Comfort equipment starts at 920,000 CZK including VAT. You can purchase the top-of-the-line tested Executive equipment from CZK 1,050,000 including VAT. For the VIP package, which our Camry also had, you will pay an extra CZK 100,000. In addition, however, you get a premium audio system from JBL with nine speakers, a multifunctional rear armrest, electrically folding rear backrests, a 10" head up display, an electric sunshade on the rear window, manually operated sunshades in the second row, or three-zone automatic air conditioning.
The new generation of Toyota Camry will certainly not have it easy with its competitors. However, its advantages are clearly readable and hopefully effective. The Camry will offer a very comfortable and spacious interior, a fairly conservative design and, last but not least, an economical hybrid engine.
