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| 2007 Toyota Camry Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Inside & Out | |||
To witness the most revolutionary change to rock this sedan's existence, look straight at it. While the last couple of Camrys seemed like some devious experiment to test how nondescript an automobile can become and still succeed, an enlightened Toyota of 2007 has decided to use the concept of style in the Camry's favor. Hey, it's clean, it's sharp, it's aerodynamic (0.28 Cd), and it works. Favorable it is. Toyota also resisted the natural temptation to grow the Camry by more than an inch in any direction. In fact, like the new Yaris, the Camry is now a little less overtall.Just as much was done about the previous model's interior which, for all its functionality, looked frumpy and pieced-together. The new dash is far more presentable: the steering wheel got some shape and there's now a center stack to speak of. The instrument cluster - now featuring always-lit Optitron gauges on every model - morphed from bland into crisp, the climate control knobs grew to a proper size, and the more stylistically integrated stereo is now within an arm's reach. New chrome accents jazz up the place, and several objects from door to door (especially the doors themselves) have taken upon much cooler shapes. The automatic door locking / unlocking can get annoying, the soft motions of some controls and compartments aren't very pleasing, and the whole place is still a bit bland and monochrome, but it sure is easier on the eyes. The improvements are more seen than heard. This Camry was armed with the JBL Premium Audio system, which adds XM or Sirius radio, 6-disc CD capacity, increases speaker count to eight (in the same six positions: front doors, front pillars, rear shelf), and watts to 440. It sounds perfectly punchy when playing any digital source (CDs, MP3s) but the benefits to FM aren't especially clear; even less clear is why any sane individual would shell out the $1,000 Toyota's asking. Unless you really need its Bluetooth feature, conserve your cash. As for more mundane features, the cupholders still work fine and storage space remains better than average. The transmission shift gate sprouted one of those zig-zag patterns but now features the full range of positions: D, 4, 3, 2, and 1. An new MP3 player jack stands next to one of the two 12V power outlets (the CD player takes MP3s as well), and Toyota's thermometer handily rests under the speedometer as always. About all that's needed is some leather to dress up that steering wheel, which feels cheap and clammy. But combining that steering wheel - which finally telescopes - with a driver's seat that now goes farther back than ever before means nearly anyone can get comfortable, and the LE's now-standard power seat makes short work of that. This is a spacious place in perception and in reality - and in the back. Rear legroom is up all the way to 38.3 inches, and comfort remains high thanks to a high-enough bench, sufficient footroom, an almost-flat floor, and head restraints that score big on safety, comfort, and visibility all at once. XLE-grade Camrys are notable for their reclining rear seatbacks; other models retain the Camry's traditional laid-back seating position, which some will like more than others. Adults might like a slightly longer cushion (in any seating position), but the complaints end there. Some of the added room seems to have taken a chunk out of the trunk, which at 15 cubic feet of space (14.5 for SE and XLE) has dropped from great to good, and is still hung by hinges that don't help. It's a good thing all Camrys except SE models feature split-folding rear seats (40/20/40 on XLE, 60/40 on the others) to expand the space. And did I get a bad sample, or has there been some cheapening in other regions? A rattle plagued the lower part of the dashboard, and a peek under the hood unveiled a surprisingly rusty intake manifold a car with only four digits on the odometer, and one time the stereo's volume control stopped working entirely. All give credence to rumors of the new Camry's questionable initial quality. Luckily, safety went in the opposite direction. Instead of two airbags standard with four more optional, all Camrys return this year with no less than seven: fronts (dual-stage), sides, curtains, and a bonus knee bag for the driver. The NHTSA and IIHS both awarded it max scores in every crash test. All five head restraints adjust, all seatbelts are three-pointers, the front seats absorb rear whiplash, antilock brakes with EBD and BA are standard, there's a tire pressure monitor, and there are Daytime Running Lights (with an off switch). |
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