Toyota Camry (2019 – 2021) Review
Toyota Camry (2019 – 2021) At A Glance
A successor to the Avensis, the Toyota Camry is a hybrid rival to the Ford Mondeo and Skoda Superb, as well as attempting to compete with premium models such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.
On the face of it, the Camry's near-£30,000 start price is expensive compared to mainstream alternatives, but you do get a lot of equipment for the money. And the Camry feels very nearly as premium as the closely-related Lexus ES. The Camry's line-up is rather limited, offering just one engine and a choice of two trim levels
Said engine is a 2.5-litre petrol combined with an electric motor, capable of setting off under electric power alone and officially returning more than 50mpg while emitting less than 100g/km.
It offers a very refined drive, both around town and on the motorway. It's in its element at low speeds, where the comfort-focused suspension soaks up lumps and bumps without a fuss and the light steering makes negotiating city traffic a piece of cake.
While the CVT gearbox isn't any less frustrating than our experience in other cars, trying to hustle the Camry along still feels unnatural. Once up to speed, though, it's a perfectly refined cruiser, with little in the way of wind or road noise on the motorway.
Despite only being offered as a saloon, the Camry is a fairly practical car. Its 524-litre boot is almost as big as a Ford Mondeo's, while the interior feels rather roomy. Adults sat in the back are unlikely to find themselves wishing for more space - good news, as the Camry has the potential to be a very popular private hire car.
Up front, the seats are very comfortable and the materials used all feel of reasonable quality. The one big let-down is in the form of the seven-inch touchscreen media system, which offers old-fashioned graphics, clunky operation and no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. It simply isn't good enough in a car that's intended to rival premium manufacturers.
Still, many Toyota buyers rank reliability as more important than technology and we have no reason to believe the Camry won't be every bit as dependable as we're used to from the brand. Combine that with a car that's comfortable, cheap to run and relaxing to drive, and the Camry makes a strong case for itself.
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