2015 Toyota Camry Review |
| Posted: 21 Sep 2014 05:00 PM PDT  Share this Article Would you believe that Toyota is an innovator when it comes to family sedans?
Perhaps not. You might instead say it's the Ford Fusion with its dramatic looks, or maybe the Hyundai Sonata with its turbocharged engines. Regardless, Toyota is staking its claim to the innovation title, so to put that assertion to the test we made the enviable trek to the big island of Hawaii for the launch of the significantly updated 2015 Camry. A Bold-ish new lookThe juxtaposition is dramatic. The Camry is the dictionary definition of automotive sensibility in the most mundane of climates but in a tropical paradise even the more dramatic new styling is one-upped by Mother Nature's exotic flowers and lava flows. We'd wager new looks should win new buyers and help attract those new car shoppers apprehensive of the car's conservative reputation and style.
And if one new trim level seems like a far cry from being a "game changer" in the segment, consider this. . .
From SE to XSE
Just three years ago Toyota rolled out a new Camry and introduced the SE trim level. We vividly recall driving it and highly recommending the specific car. And we weren't the only ones who saw its merits. The SE now accounts for roughly 45 percent of all Camrys sold, and it's likely the reason the Camry has been able to hold onto the position of America's best selling car for what is now 12 consecutive years. To keep the innovation ball rolling there's now the up-market XSE. So what's so special about it? Well, first it's important to know what the SE is.
Despite the upgrades if you want sporty you're better off looking at a Fusion or Mazda6. What the Camry SE offers is a more premium look, feel and drive for a minimal upgrade. In fact, it starts at less than a grand more than a base model Camry at $24,665 versus $23,795 for the LE (all priced including destination). The SXE will cost you quite a bit more, however, priced at $26,975. With that you get heated front seats, a 4-way power passenger seat, custom 18-inch wheels with even wider and lower profile 225/45 tires and a leather interior with "ultrasuede" inserts that looks almost as nice as the Alcantara you might find in a Mercedes-Benz. Upgrade to the V6 engine ($32,195) and Toyota tosses in keyless access with a push-button ignition, a power moon roof, upgraded audio and 7-inch display screen with navigation and apps plus one feature you really won't find anywhere else: wireless charging for you phone! XSE Driving Impressions
Even with the big wheels it's a comfy ride. The steering has a nice on-center feel helping you place the car on the road and it's weighted so as to give a feeling of authority to the driver. Inputs feel organic, and it's not the overly stiff setup that some automakers pass off as a sport model. Overall the XSE is less floaty but we're still reluctant to use the S (sporty) word. If you're shopping at the higher-end of the price range you're probably interested in the new technologies available and there are plenty including lane departure warning, a blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert and an auto-high beam feature that turns out high-beams off automatically so you don't accidentally blind oncoming cars. Plus there's a new adaptive cruise control setting with a pre-collision system that will alert you of an impending impact and even apply the brakes if necessary. So How is New Camry in General?
Apart from all this confusing SE, XSE trim level stuff, you're probably wondering what the new Camry is like overall. Well, it's another big step forward. There are 150 new spot-welds to stiffen up the chassis and the track is roughly a half-inch wider to help all models driver more like the SE. There are new window seals, thicker carpeting and even redesigned mirrors to reduce wind noise. Overall it's quieter, more comfortable and both feels and looks a lot nicer. In fact, every body panel but the roof has been changed. Inside almost every surface the driver or passengers touch has been updated. The styling is still rather simplistic but the materials are top notch. And a benefit of the minimalist design is that all the controls are just so easy to use. Vehicle information is also more readily accessible to the driver with a new 4.2-inch color display screen between the gauges, which is standard on all but the base model. Under the Hood Innovation? Not So Fast
Sadly, there is one area Toyota isn't innovating with this new car and it's under the hood. There are no new powertrains, just the same old engines we've been seeing for quite some time. There's the same old six-speed transmission too, when some rivals have as many as 9-gears and even Honda has made the switch to a more fuel efficient CVT. At the same time, we really do love the feeling of a proper automatic like this. There's never any wondering how the car will respond, it just does. All that means fuel economy is unchanged and in an increasingly competitive segment that's not good. The 2015 Camry is three miles per gallon back of the Altima and Accord and is just behind the Sonata and Fusion in combined fuel economy… though considering the issues Ford and Hyundai have had with the legitimacy of their numbers lately, we'd wager the Camry's still competitive with those two. Speaking of Fuel Economy…
Unlike a lot of hybrids it gets a respectable 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds, while also achieving 41 MPG combined. For just about $1,000 more ($28,820 versus $27,615) it's an easy choice to make for hybrid buyers without coughing up the premium for the Camry Hybrid XLE ($30,805). |
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Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:00 PM PDT
Someone must be spiking the drinking water around the Detroit area with a combination of Red Bull, methanol and epinephrine. What else can explain the onslaught of American sports cars coming out of Michigan lately?
FAST FACTS |
| Engine: 3.7L V6 with 300 HP, 280 lb-ft. 2.0L Turbocharged Four-Cylinder with 310 HP, 320 lb-ft. 5.0 L V8 with 435 HP, 400 lb-ft. Transmission: Six-Speed Manual, Six-Speed Automatic. Fuel economy: 3.7 L Manual: 17 MPG city, 28 MPG Hwy. 2.0L Manual: 22 MPG city, 31 MPG hwy. 5.0L Manual: 15 MPG city, 25 MPG hwy. Price: $23,600-$36,100. |
Last year Chevrolet introduced the world class C7 Corvette Stingray while also creating the most track-focused muscle car of all time: the Camaro Z/28. Over at Dodge, a hydrogen bomb was lobbed into the horsepower wars with the introduction of the 707-hp Challenger Hellcat. Mopar fans looking for a bit more style and a few more cylinders, there's good news as the sinister Viper is still available.
A Legend Reborn
Meanwhile at Ford, a pair of ST hothatches are redefining front-wheel drive performance. But that's not the biggest news coming out of Dearborn. No, this year an automotive icon is being born anew: the Ford Mustang.
2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Mustang, which is quite an achievement. Not often does one nameplate survive a half-century in existence, especially one that has stuck to the same basic formula the whole time. But with sales totalling over nine million, no one can blame Ford for keeping each Mustang revision evolutionary instead of revolutionary.
SEE ALSO: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know About the 2015 Mustang
The 2015 redesign is much the same, but does include a few significant additions to the legendary Pony car. The first is who can buy it. Primarily sold in North America up until now, for the first time ever the Mustang is a global car that will be available in several markets around the world.
New Look, Familiar Look
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Longer, lower, wider and more modern, Ford's engineers wanted to ensure the new car would be instantly recognizable as a Mustang. Familiar styling elements have been added like the three-bar tail lamps, sequential turn signals and LED front accent lighting. The most obvious styling change to the new car occurs up front where one of three grilles is applied to the car's nose, depending on which engine is selected.
Like Mustangs of the past few decades, two body styles will be available for the 2015 model. Hardtop models are no longer referred to as coupes, but rather fastbacks thanks to the long sloping rear greenhouse. Joining the fastback later in the year will be a cloth top convertible.
Three Engines, Including a Turbo
Under the hood will be a choice of three different engines. The 3.7-liter V6 is still the base engine, making 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Stealing all the headlines is the new 2.3-liter, direct injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Ford hopes this new Ecoboost model will open the Mustang up to a whole new demographic.
But what would a Mustang be without a V8 option? Topping out the range once again is the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 that now makes 435 HP and 400 lb-ft of torque. Like the V6 and turbo four, the V8 thankfully runs on regular gas.
Choice of Transmissions, Choice of Gear Ratios
All three engines come with the choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. And like any good Mustang, a choice of rear-end gear ratios are offered starting with 3.15 gears for base automatics all the way up to the optional 3.73 gear in manual-equipped GT models. And there's more good news: all of these are paired to a standard limited-slip differential.
Ford claims the manual transmission comes with a new shift linkage that makes engaging a gear easier and more precise and the company is right. Nice short throws require little effort while engagement of the transmission is smooth and precise. This is not an old school clunky manual from muscle cars of yesteryear, but rather something I would expect more in a car travelling to our shores from Europe. Keeping the driver in mind, Ford has moved the shift lever closer to the driver and placed the cup holders further away so drinks placed there will not interfere with gear changes.
SEE ALSO: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Review
Despite the slight power bump in GT models, a corresponding weight increase offsets any performance gains and straight-line acceleration remains similar to 2014 Mustangs. That's not to say the new car is slow, far from it. It's still quite the V8 rocket for its price and the accompanying soundtrack is an audio delight. I do wish the exhaust emitted a bit more of that V8 burble though.
Corners Don't Embarrass Mustang, Mustang Embarrasses Corners
Aside from the Ecoboost engine, the other big newsmaker for 2015 is the new independent rear suspension. Gone is the solid rear axle that may make drag racers sad, but will delight those who include corners in their daily automotive diet.
Combined with a wider rear track, stiffer and lighter front sub-frame and larger brakes, it's clear the 2015 Mustang was designed right from the start to out-handle its predecessor. The poise and refinement experienced while hustling the Mustang GT through the mountain roads east of L.A. more than impressed me. With nicely weighted steering, the Mustang feels light on its feet and responds to driver inputs predictably and quickly.
Not a Muscle Car, a Sports Car
Let me make one thing perfectly clear about the new Mustang: it is not a muscle car. No, calling the 2015 Mustang a muscle car is almost an insult because this is a proper sports car. And like most sports cars these days, the Mustang comes equipped with selectable drive modes that can adjust steering effort, engine response, transmission mapping and stability control settings towards the preference of the driver.
Want more performance? The Mustang GT includes Track Apps, with features like an accelerometer, launch control, performance timers and line lock. The latter allows owners who want to take the Mustang drag racing the ability to warm up the rear tires in a cloud of smoke by keeping just the front brakes engaged during burnouts. If that's still not enough, performance packages are available for Ecoboost and GT that really turn the Mustang into a weekend track weapon.
Interior Overhaul
Inside, Ford claims this is the most premium interior ever put into a Mustang and I wouldn't argue. Soft touch materials dominate the door panels and can be found in various places across the dashboard, separated horizontally by a piece of real aluminum. Ford increased knee room for front passengers by making the dash thinner and finally, a telescopic steering wheel has been added to the Mustang.
In the back, the new Mustang fastback has an extra inch of legroom compared to the old model, but space is still tight and should be reserved for children or luggage. The trunk now measures in at 13.5 cubic feet and Ford claims it is a more usable shape than the old model.
The Verdict
With the exception of making the new Mustang a front-wheel drive fuel sipping hybrid, there isn't much Ford could have done to turn diehard fans off of the company's legendary sports car. But Ford set out to make the new GT a better performer than the Boss 302 and the company may have succeeded. Mustang fans rejoice; with power, poise, handling and refinement, this is the best all-around Mustang ever.
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