Redesigned Toyota Camry Gets Better Economy and Lower Prices Across the Line

The Toyota Camry has been the best selling car in the United States for 13 of the last 14 years. Combined with the Japanese tsunami this year that has caused lost sales for nearly all Japanese automakers, Toyota has a whole lot riding on the new Camry. 

Toyota is selling efficiency at a reasonable price, not power, for the new Camry. The base 2.5 liter four-cylinder is up just nine horsepower over the previous generation and fuel efficiency is up two miles per gallon both in the city and on the highway.  A lot of this is due to the decrease in weight. The base Camry is down to 3,190lbs, compared to 3,263lbs for the base previous generation Camry. 

The 3.5 liter V6 retains the same power but economy is up one mile per gallon. 

The big news is for the hybrid Camry. Power is up 13hp thanks to improved hybrid technology. Economy gets an even bigger boost with the new generation Camry Hybrid getting 43mpg city and 39mph on the highway in the LE model compared to 31/35 for the previous gen.

The other major change for the 2012 Camry is the price. The base model costs $21,995, which is a 3.3% increase over last year. However, all other trim levels on the Camry cost less or the same than their respective trim levels last year. The biggest reduction is for the normally aspirated version of the top-of-the-line XLE trim. It costs $2,000 less than last year, a 7.5% decrease in price. Even the hybrid models will be cheaper for the 2012 model. The hybrid LE model costs $25,900, 4.3% decrease, and the XLE hybrid is $27,400, a 2.8% decrease. 

The cause for the cost cutting has nothing to do with discontenting of the new Camry, in fact it comes with even more equipment than ever. The new Camry is made with 80% American-made parts keeping production and tariff costs down. 

The Camry is redesigned in and out for 2012. The exterior is wider, but all other measurements, including height and wheelbase, remain exactly the same. Gone is the trunk that always looked like it had been cribbed off of a BMW 7-series. It is not nearly as flashy or modern as the new Lexus GS that was introduced last week, but the new Camry certainly is not offensive. It is handsome but not showy. The 2012 Camry looks like a Corolla that has been massaged and stretched into a more adult car.

The interior gets a major upgrade towards modernity. The instrument panel is more sporty with chrome accents and red and blue lighting. Outward visibility has been improved thanks thinner doors and pillars. Rear knee room is up 1.8 inches thanks to the front seats being moved forward and reshaped. 

Trim levels remain the same with L, LE, SE and XLE. The one major change is that the hybrid will be available in either LE or XLE trims, instead of just LE as in the previous gen. Bluetooth is now standard on the L trim level. 

Bigger changes come to the LE trim for 2012 where a 6.1in touch screen that Toyota dubs Display Audio that allows for audio and vehicle control, as well as Bluetooth and phone book access. That plus keyless entry, auto on/off headlights, steering wheel mounted Bluetooth and audio control, and several other features add $545 is the base price of a Camry. 

The sporty SE trim adds paddle shifters, 17in allow wheels and exterior touches like chrome exhaust tips for $500 on top of the LE. 

Finally, the XLE adds heated exterior mirrors, fog lamps, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and dual-zone climate control. A back-up camera and navigation will also be optional on the four-cylinder XLE and standard on the V6 version. 

The 2012 Camry will go on sale in October, and Toyota will stage an advertising push for the new car. It will be the pace car at the Daytona 500 Nascar race and will be featured in the Super Bowl.