The sedan is an easy car to drive. There is nothing untoward or strange about the Camry; it does everything just right. An enthusiast driver would complain that it lacks character, but for the average driver that's a plus. No one driving a Camry has to think much about what's going on.

The Camry's ride is pleasant, verging on luxurious, with enough cushioning to make passengers feel comfortable. The steering is light but not sloppy. Enthusiast drivers find it a bit soft, but that same tuning makes for a smooth, soft ride on bumpy pavement. Those who like sportier, more precise handling will notice that the different suspension setup and tires on the SE sedan do make the car feel crisper, though it's still far from a sports sedan.

The Solara is sprung softly as well. The suspension filters bumps and noise yet it doesn't isolate the driver from valuable road feel. It's no sports car. It corners fairly flat, but the tires start squealing when driven hard.

Camry's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is a 16-valve dual overhead-cam unit rated 157 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 162 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. More than two-thirds of all Camrys are sold with the four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. This is an inexpensive and fuel-efficient combination and it provides plenty of power. Computer logic controls the automatic transmission; the car can tell when it is going up hill or down hill and the transmission shifts gears accordingly. It can hold a lower gear longer when necessary to avoid the annoying shifting up and down that occurs in some automatics. And the automatic transmission exacts a penalty of only 1 mpg in fuel economy.

Optional in the Camry LE sedan and XLE sedan is a 3.0-liter V6 that develops 210 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 220 pounds-feet at 4400. But order a V6 in the SE sedan, or in any Solara model, and you get the new 3.3-liter V6 rated 225 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 240 pounds-feet at 3600 rpm. Those are better numbers, indicating a more flexible, more powerful engine that's more responsive in any given situation.

For 2004, both V6 engines come with an all-new five-speed automatic transmission. Five-speed automatics generally offer better response and better fuel economy than four-speed automatics.

All three Camry engines are equipped with Toyota's VVT-i system (variable valve timing with intelligence) for optimum power and efficiency and lower emissions. All are cast from lightweight aluminum, and all achieve an ultra-low ULEV II emissions rating. Four-cylinder models sold in California produce only 151 horsepower, but meet Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standards.

You'd never know from driving the car, but the gas pedal is a drive-by-wire affair: Instead of being connected to the engine by a cable, the gas pedal activates a sensor connected to a computer, just like the controls in modern aircraft. One advantage of this arrangement is that the optional Vehicle Skid Control system can take over the throttle in an emergency and apply just the right amount of throttle and braking to keep the vehicle on a more stable path.