2009 Toyota Camry Review

Specifications

For over twenty-five years, the Camry has been the bar that all other midsize family sedans have aspired to reach. It replaced the rear-wheel drive Corona, a Toyota icon, and was designed exclusively for the North American market. In the same class as the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Volvo S40, competition is steep but Toyota continues to keep the Camry close to the top of the list.

The 2009 Toyota comes in four models - the base Camry, the Camry LE, Camry SE and the Camry LXE. The base Camry comes with the 2.4-Liter DOHC 16-valve VVT-i 4 cylinder engine that produces 158 hp at 6000 rpm and 161 hp at 4000 rpm. This peppy little engine pulls the Camry along at 0 to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds while offering 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

The LE, SE and LXE all come with the 2.4-Liter engine or you can upgrade to the 3.5-Liter DOHC 24-vlave Dual VVT-i engine, increasing horsepower to an impressive 268 at 6200 rpm and torque to 248 lb-ft at 4700 rpm. This engine takes 2.5 seconds off the 0 to 60 test and manages a respectable 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The 2.4L engine comes with a choice of a 5 speed manual transmission or 5 speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) while the 3.5L engine comes standard with the brawnier 6 speed ECT-i transmission.

Ride and handling is solid and secure but not sporty while the overall crash ratings and avoidance protection are classed as ‘good’ across the board.

The base Camry comes standard with tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, fabric seats and door trim with multi-adjustable front bucket seats with driver’s height adjust and lumbar support. The 60/40 split rear seat folds flat to increase trunk space and the CD AM/FM, MP3/WMA playback with nine speakers and auxiliary jack give this base model a versatility and mild luxury rarely seen for the price tag.

The LE builds on the base model with increased comfort in power adjustable seats and multi-function remote keyless entry.

In the SE and XLE, choose from the optional heated seats and the JBL Synthesis AM/FM 6-dis in dash CD changer with MP3/WMA playback and satellite enable, auxiliary jack and hands free phone via Bluetooth. Speakers are upgraded to twelve units and a subwoofer. Or, choose the same as well as an integrated DVD navigation system.

In the XLE model, standard high end features such as the wood-grain interior trim with chrome accents and defroster-linked CFC-free dual zone auto climate control with dust and pollen filter, Plasmaclusterâ„¢ ionizer, steering wheel-mounted controls and rear-seat vents. Other options for these high-end models include Smart Key System with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry with puddle lamps.

The Camry’s comfortable ride, moderate price and unequalled reliability have kept it a consumer favorite for a quarter of the century and with the way Toyota is leading the pack, the Camry should stay on top for the next quarter century.