Toyota Camry first drive: Competing with rising electric car prices

• Price: NIS 210,000 (LE), NIS 227,000 N (XLE)
• Competitors: Skoda Superb, Hyundai Sonata
• What We Liked: Cabin space, rear seat comfort, ergonomics, safety systems, option to extend warranty to 15 years
• What We Didn’t Like: Engine, transmission

When the first generation of the Toyota Camry was introduced in 1982, Israel was witnessing significant events: The establishment of the Baker Committee to investigate the murder of Arlosoroff, the launch of Bus Line 100 to Cairo, Economy Minister Yaakov Meridor promising a mysterious energy revolution, the Soviets launching spacecraft to Venus, and astronauts to the Salyut 7 space station, while Israel raced towards chaos in Lebanon and other captivating news. Fast forward to 2024; no one still knows who murdered Arlosoroff, and few travel to Cairo, certainly not by bus. We have yet to see an energy revolution. The Soviets are gone, and the Russian space program is mostly a mix of low-cost atmospheric flights and space taxis. And guess where Israel is racing in Lebanon?

That generation of the Camry was not seen here, just like all Toyotas of its time due to the Arab boycott. It reached us in the late fourth generation in 2001. It took time to settle in, but in recent years, as the Volkswagen Passat faded and the Hyundai Sonata suffered from inconsistent imports, it became the main competitor to market queen Skoda Superb. The economical hybrid drive attracted not only executives with CFOs and vehicle officers who understood the economic advantage but also taxi drivers looking for a reliable alternative to diesel vehicles that lost tax benefits for diesel fuel.

We will definitely see the new ninth generation of the Camry here in a few weeks. And concerning it, the world can flip, change, collapse, and rise again— it will still be a large, conservative sedan that follows that exact recipe, one that has helped it sell around 21 million units to date. In summary, we will tell you if this is good or bad.

Design: Compared to previous generations, especially the first ones that were as appealing as a tax form, the new Camry is a bold display in its exterior appearance. The front resembles Toyota's current model line, which is very attractive and includes the C-HR, Crown, Prius, bZ4X, and the American version of the Corolla. The upper front end looks like that of an electric vehicle, while the trapezoidal lower part resembles Lexus's "hourglass" design. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Even in profile, it seems the designers aimed for a fine line between a dynamic look while keeping it in a classic sedan configuration without resorting to the tricks of a "four-door coupe."

Interior: If the Camry dares to explore areas less frequented in its exterior design, it is much more measured and cautious in its interior design. The overall look is nice, and there are attempts to create an interesting design, such as the arch delineating the passenger's foot area and the lines across the cabin.

However, regarding the driver's environment, there is a clear (and welcome) conservatism, with large physical buttons that are easy to understand, locate, and operate, without any gimmicks—this is exactly what we expect from a place you should be able to operate even while driving at 120 km/h. The large, clear 12.3-inch screen earns points for its location and ease of use. The digital instrument panel, also 12.3 inches, provides clear and readable information (7 inches in the base version). But like in the Corolla Cross, for example, it offers a display selection mechanism that ranges from complicated to annoying to use.

The quality of materials is reasonable, reminding us that in the U.S., it is considered a mid-range large family car, not a premium product aimed at the management tier. Most places where hands wander will encounter good plastic, but here and there, there are odd appearances, such as front pillars with simple-looking plastic that feels rigid to the touch.

While its external length has increased by 3.5 cm, the fact that this is a heavy evolution of the outgoing generation's platform means that the wheelbase remains the same at 282 cm. Not that it's a problem, because there is plenty of legroom, and the planners and designers managed to create excellent headroom despite the visual illusion of a low and early-dropping roof. The wide rear seat will comfortably accommodate two adults. The launch cars were equipped with a control panel in the rear armrest, including electric seat adjustments, climate control, rear curtain, and sound system controls; it’s unclear if the local versions will offer it.

Trunk: With a wide and convenient opening, the 493-liter trunk allows for very good usability. Two suitcases fit easily with significant excess space. And while it may seem so, the large wheelhouses do not take up significant space. It should be noted that some of the launch vehicles had a spare tire, while others had a puncture kit. We hope the importer will provide the first option or at least offer it to those who do not want to wait on the side of the road when the puncture kit fails.

Equipment: The launch vehicles were exhaustively equipped, but the equipment list in the Israeli specifications is also very nice. The base LE version comes with a 12.3-inch multimedia system with Android and Apple connectivity, an analog instrument panel combined with a 7-inch screen, LED lighting, 17-inch wheels, and heated front seats, with the driver’s seat being electric, keyless entry and ignition, and a wireless charging pad for the phone. The higher XLE trim adds an inch to the wheel diameter, leather seats with ventilation and electric adjustment for the passenger, a fully digital instrument panel of 12.3 inches, and electric steering wheel adjustment.

Safety Equipment: In the Camry, Toyota offers the third generation of its advanced safety systems—the TTS—with a series of improvements. The list includes cross-traffic detection at intersections (vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists), steering assistance during emergency maneuvers, acceleration prevention when detecting obstacles ahead, improved adaptive cruise control that "sees" up to two vehicles ahead to help achieve smoother acceleration and braking, autonomous braking, lane departure correction, blind spot detection, and a system that detects prolonged inaction on the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brakes—then the driver receives a visual and audio alert, and if no response is received, the car will slow to a stop and activate the hazard lights. Like the multimedia system, updates are available over the air (OTA), allowing for future enhancements to the system’s functionality or capabilities.

Performance: The Camry is equipped with a heavy evolution of the outgoing generation's 2.5-liter gasoline engine, along with Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid systems, like the one found in the new Prius. The result is a 12 hp increase, with power standing at 230 hp, and a reduction in acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h from 8.3 seconds to 7.2 seconds, with the top speed unchanged at 180 km/h. The system is connected to a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) that manages to be annoying in its operation like all CVTs.

The improvements in the electric motor and gasoline engine keep it a comfortable cruising car, and when it operates on electric power, one can momentarily forget it is a not-small car (though not really heavy at 1,560 kg). However, once the car leaves the electric drive zone, the engine awakens and leaps to mid-RPM with a sound that is more refined than that of the previous generation, but still penetrates the cabin. There aren’t many sounds that convey "not premium" as much as an engine under load, even during very mild acceleration.

Fuel Consumption: Toyota claims that the new electric system, improved battery, stronger regenerative braking than before, and better energy efficiency bring the Camry to a combined fuel consumption of 20.8 km per liter. In the lenient launch conditions, we managed to squeeze a bit more out of it. But we will wait for local testing.

Comfort and Behavior: Comfort was a strong point in the Camry, featuring a relaxed and cushioned suspension, which I also remembered from the previous generation. This is something the current generation maintains and improves with enhanced noise insulation. This includes the sound of the engine, road noise, and what comes in from the tires. The seats are comfortable for long stays, although they are less "couch-like" in the American style of the outgoing generation.

After exactly two and a half turns, it was clear that, despite the promises of the TNGA platform for dynamism, this car is not designed for carving winding roads. The baseline expectations for it are also its benchmark, indicating predictable, safe behavior without any dramatic surprises—positive or negative (including the negative of losing your license). It is obedient, entering and holding a desired cornering line, and won’t really excite even if you need to make quick steering corrections. However, it is no longer in the age of chassis fun.

Bottom line

One might mock Toyota for its conservatism and wonder if, in a changing world that replaces sedans with crossovers and internal combustion engines with electric ones, it has anything to offer. But this doesn’t really concern the Toyota Camry. It’s not here to attract new audiences; it’s not meant to become a screensaver on the younger generation's phones, just as it was never a car to hang on bedroom walls in previous generations.

All the current generation needs to do is carry on what previous generations have done—a large, decent-looking sedan with a spacious, well-equipped passenger cabin, solid road manners, and primarily peace of mind for its owner from the showroom until the next visit to buy another Camry. Refreshingly and commendably, with the list of improvements it brings, the price remains the same at NIS 227,000 for the high trim level, which is certainly an uncommon occurrence in the local market.

The Camry will still lose at a stoplight to a Tesla Model 3 and an XPeng P7, but its driver will never experience range anxiety, and next year’s increase in the purchase tax in Israel will likely raise the prices of electric vehicles above its own. The Škoda Superb will continue to be its main competitor, also in a new generation that represents more of a comprehensive facelift than a complete overhaul.

Even after the criticism we have regarding the feel from its power unit, which we expected more from, it is overall a complete and successful product for its purpose and target audience. So even if it’s not our cup of tea, we can definitely say it is once again the right choice for its customer base, whose musical taste and car share the same name.

Technical Specifications: Toyota Camry

• Engine, Drive: Gasoline, Hybrid, Front-Wheel Drive
• Displacement (cc): 2,487
• Power/Torque (hp/Nm): 230/22.5 (gasoline engine only)
• Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Dimensions:

• Length (m): 4.92
• Width (m): 1.84
• Height (m): 1.45
• Wheelbase (cm): 282
• Trunk Volume (liters): 493

Performance:

• Acceleration 0-100 (seconds): 7.2
• Top Speed (km/h): 180
• Fuel Consumption (manufacturer): 20.8 km/liter

Safety:

• European Crash Test Rating: Not tested
• Active Safety Features: Autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure correction, blind spot warning

Warranty:

3 years or 100,000 km, with an option to purchase an extension up to 15 years or 250,000 km.