Auto Review: 2012 Toyota Camry SE

By Ron Amadon, MarketWatch

DAMASCUS, Md. (MarketWatch) — It’s time to take a look at the best-selling car in the U.S., the Toyota Camry.

In fact, in May the Toyota sedan

/quotes/zigman/199376/quotes/nls/tm TM
-0.60%

/quotes/zigman/199438 JP:7203
-0.31%

was the second-best-selling vehicle in the U.S., topping the Chevy

/quotes/zigman/1466682/quotes/nls/gm GM
-1.12%

Silverado and trailing only the Ford

/quotes/zigman/264304/quotes/nls/f F
-0.73%

F150 pickup. Strong sales continued in June, as Toyota posted a 60.3% increase from the earthquake/tsunami devastated figures of the previous year.
See story: Auto makers report June sales in U.S.

So while the Camry may not delight the enthusiast, it certainly is the favored car among those who are more interested in getting from point A to point B with a minimum of fuss and in a touch of luxury.

2012
Toyota Camry SE

/conga/story/2012/07/07072012toyotacamry.html
215241

The test car was an SE, a model that ranks fourth in the six-model Camry lineup. Under the hood was a refined 3.5-liter V-6 packing 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. The six was seldom heard from in normal daily driving, the kind that most owners will face. There was more than enough power to move quickly into interstate traffic. Teamed with a six- speed automatic, the engine produced 0-60 mph in just a touch under six seconds.

Fuel economy will range from 21 mpg to 30 mpg according to the EPA. During the weeklong test period, I got 26. It should be noted that most customers buy their Camry with the base four-cylinder engine. It knocks 90 hp off the total and increases fuel economy to the 25-35 mpg range.

It was easy to see the reasons why the Camry is so popular just by getting in one.

The interior is posh enough to convince most people that this is a more expensive auto. It is let down only by rather ordinary looking hard black plastic around the audio and ventilation controls. But stars and bars, both are controlled by knobs and not fancy-dancy electronic brain teasers. Congrats to Toyota on that one.

The leather eight-way adjustable front sport seats were all-day comfy and there was more than enough room to the rear for a 6-foot passenger and then some. Four adults would be most comfortable in this car, and the rear 60/40 seats fold down for extra cargo space. All this comes as part of the $1,050 “leather package” that also gives the front-seat passenger a four- way power adjustable seat. It also adds seat warmers for those who live in colder climates.

Other options on the test car were a $915 tilt and sliding moon roof, and an $895 convenience package that included a backup camera. I strongly feel is one of the better safety enhancements in recent years and I would be hesitant to buy a car without one. The view to the rear pops up on a nice, 6.1-inch color screen in the center of the dash. It also plays a role in the selection of favorite channels or stations in the audio system, and of course, the available navigation system.

Your $895 also brings an auto-dimming rearview mirror and antitheft system with alarm among other goodies. Camry owners get some good value with this package.

Out on the road, the Camry was quiet and would be an ideal candidate for covering long distances. USB and Bluetooth came with the SE model for hooking up your favorite kind of music. Road and wind noise are no problem and there is ample storage in the cabin for all the extras you might need on a trip.

Unlike some tested cars of late, the Camry cup holders are nicely situated to the right of the shift lever on the center console and a very easy reach away.

Handling was a bit better than expected thanks to the “sport tuned” suspension, but this is hardly a car that will keep up with a 3-series BMW

/quotes/zigman/143329 DE:BMW
-4.03%

or similar set of wheels on a twisty road. This is of little concern to a typical Camry customer, who will probably be drawn more to the brand by the “recommended” rating in Consumer Reports.

Add up all the extras, and the test car would go out the door for $30,601 including shipping, a nice price for a car that excels in day to day errand-running, commuting, and weekend and vacation trips.

Well-built, comfortable, with good power, and the expected long life of a Toyota, the Camry has earned its long-standing popularity in the U.S.

Vehicles tested for this column are on loan from the auto companies through local distributors.

/quotes/zigman/199376/quotes/nls/tm

Add to portfolio

TM