The Toyota Camry paid another visit to the cosmetic surgery department last month. The popular family car now looks even more attractive than it did at its relaunch 20 months ago.
More importantly, however, is that the price structure on the new range, reflects an 8% to 10% decrease.
The revised bumper, grille and headlights provide a distinctive new look, while the lamp shape and contemporary lens arrangement sharpen the frontal view of the car.
The new range doesn’t offer fancy gadgetry such as traction control and electronic brake distribution, but it does include a host of standard options and safety features.
The Camry is sold in a range of four variants covering two engine options and three specification levels: the 2,4 XLi; 2,4 XLi Auto; 2,4 GLi Auto; and the 3,0 V6 Auto.
Engine options are either the new generation 2,4-litre 2AZ-FE four-cylinder multi-valve engine with variable valve timing (VVT-i) and twin balance shafts, or the 1MZ-FE three-litre all aluminium 24-valve V6 engine.
The 2AZ-FE engine produces 112kW at 5 600rpm and provides 218Nm
of torque at 4 000rpm. It delivers 90% of the maximum torque from 1 500rpm to 5 000rpm. The 1MZ-FE V6 engine produces 145kW at 5 200rpm with 284Nm of torque at 4 400rpm.
The Camry 2,4 XLi is offered with the choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter and engine torque control. Advanced electronic control provides for high efficiency and a smooth shift action for the automatic transmission. The Camry 2,4 GLi and 3,0 V6 are only available with automatic transmission.
The suspension has been fine-tuned for better roadholding and comfort. The front suspension is of the independent McPherson strut type and is mounted via a cradle-type sub-frame to insulate the body from road noise and vibration.
Similarly, an independent McPherson strut system is used at the rear.
The brakes and suspension have been optimised to provide excellent handling characteristics and superb stopping power. Brakes are large diameter vented discs at the front (275mm) and solid discs (269mm) at the rear. ABS is standard. Cruising is effortless in all models, be it the gutsy 3,0 V6 or smooth four-cylinder 2,4, manual or auto in the case of the latter.
The standard fitment list is generous. There’s the usual electric windows, central locking, remote boot and fuel cap levers, trip meters and adjustable steering that make motoring a pleasure, while cruise control is a bargain too. Air-conditioning is standard in all models, and now boasts rear ducts too.
The Camry is a true family car, with lots of space, great legroom and a 567 litre boot, which can be further extended by folding the rear seats down in the conventional 60/40 split.
The comfortable ride belies the car’s handling capabilities, and even mid-corner bumps fail to upset the its composure. Hills are flattened with ease, and although the auto gearbox doesn’t offer a tiptronic/steptronic facility, the ratios seem well matched for the task at hand.
An added benefit are the leather-covered seats and door trim panels, which usually carry an add-on price of R5 000. These will be available at no extra cost on all 2,4 XLi and GLi models delivered until the end of January.
Leather bolsters and Escaine, mock suede cloth inserts are standard on the latest version of the top-of-the-range Camry 3,0 V6 automatic.
The service interval for the Camry is 15 000km. A three-year/100 000km warranty is provided while a five- year/90 000km service plan is included in the purchase price.
The range, with old prices in brackets, is as follows:
l Camry 2,4 XLi five-speed manual transmission: R192 240 (R213 600)
l Camry 2,4 XLi four-speed automatic: R211 180 (R229 545)
l Camry 2,4 GLi four-speed automatic: R225 710 (R244 355)
l Camry 3,0 V6 four-speed automatic: R296 980 (R322 165).Â