Toyota-Camry

Toyota's Indian flagship hasn't set the sales charts on fire like some rivals, but it sells in constant numbers each month. This number can only go up, now that the Camry has had a face-lift, which gives it more features and corrects the major omission of an automatic.
The big, very American Camry may not be the prettiest of the luxury cars, but it does have plenty of presence and an understated elegance, and the face-lift gives it some extra sparkle. The headlamps and grille have been revised, and the tail lamps now feature cylindrical 'meteor-shower' elements. Plus, there's the addition of standard fog lamps and an extra five millimeters of height, aiding ground clearance.
One big plus in the Camry's favor is its build, which is solid, and lacks the 'light' feel of many Japanese cars. Nevertheless, the Camry has an unmatched reputation for reliability and fuss-free efficiency, even more so than the Germans. The Camry has been designed primarily for the American market, which means it is big, cushy, with a decided preference for cruising instead of burning rubber.
New features include two curtain airbags, making for a total of six, electric lumbar support for the driver, and cruise control. The interior, mildly updated, with a two-tone dashboard, is a highlight. It is one of the largest in its class, and possibly the most comfortable, with cushy, commodious and highly adjustable seats and a surprisingly high-up seating position.
Both front and rear seats have an armchair-like feel, which goes very well with the relaxed nature of the car. The Camry also has power adjustments for both front seats.
The driver’s seat has electric lumbar support too. The cabin hasn't been styled to excite, however, and it can be a bit dull. The upside is that it is ergonomically sound and packed with both equipment and useful touches like an illuminated key-slot. It has a solid, high-quality feel inside.
The Camry may not have a V6 option like the Accord and Sonata, but its 2.4-litre, four-cylinder VVT-i engine more than makes up for the shortfall. It is whisper-quiet and very powerful, with a very even torque spread. With an advanced valve-timing system, the VVT-i motor provides a strong, linear burst of power at any speed, and feels comfortable both in the city and on the highway. The five-speed manual 'box is slick and easy to use, with a short, crisp throw. The new, four-speed auto makes the Camry a superb cruiser both around town and on the highway, and is advanced enough to make up most shortfalls of an automatic, such as a lack of acceleration and performance. A fifth speed would have helped it compete more directly with the Honda Accord, but it's not too bad at all. The manual even returns a creditable 8.2 and 11.7kpl, which takes it to the top of the class. This is not a driver's car — it doesn't have the sharpness or urgency in the chassis but it is a superb cruiser, which rides well and has enough power in reserve to make highway driving a breeze. You can cruise at high speeds all day without feeling in the least strained at the end of it, whether you're in the driver's seat or the capacious rear bench.
However, push it through a series of bends, and the bulk can quickly get unwieldy. The steering too is precise and positive, but isolates you from the road instead of connecting you to it, and you quickly learn that a dignified, measured pace is the way to go. The best thing to do is throttle back and enjoys the cloud-like ride; the suspension thumps over bad bumps, but it’s still the quietest. There’s no traction control, unlike the others, but the ABS-equipped brakes are fantastic.
The Camry does look very expensive, especially when compared to the Honda Accord, and isn’t the most sporty car to drive, but if comfort, refinement, performance and a hassle-free ownership experience are your priorities, you’ll have to do something special to go wrong with a Camry. The Camry recently topped a customer satisfaction study, and Toyota is justly famous for reliable cars and good service. This car may be a bit bland, but it does everything very well, and now, with the recent facelift and the addition of an automatic to its arsenal, there’s very little to complain about. Except the price, that is – it’s one of the most expensive in the class.