irishcar.com - Toyota Camry review

Fond memories of a holiday ‘down under’ came flooding back as I collected the most recent Toyota Camry, the 2.4-litre V6, for a long test drive.

Two years ago my son and I hired an automatic Camry import from a garage in Auckland for about stg £20 a day. It became a home from home for us as we explored much of the north island of New Zealand.

On our 1100 kms journey, that car had served us well, and proved to be steady and reliable. We appreciated how well it coped with all the different types of roads we encountered as well as providing enough space and storage areas to be able to swallow up all our luggage, including Maori souvenirs - big and small - that we’d bought along the way.

Routes we travelled included highways with their designated passing out areas, country roads many steeply cambered up high mountain ranges such as north of Auckland to the Bay of Islands and south of Taupo, up the slopes of the volcanic Mount Ruapehu and its ski resort of Whakapapa (it was winter there and there was much snow even on lower ground). Everywhere the car proved itself, time and again.

Other roads in remote areas included what the locals termed ‘metalled roads’ with no proper surface, especially found in the breathtakingly beautiful Coromandel peninsula, where they more resembled a dirt track at the time. Apparently we’d taken a chance there as our insurance hadn’t covered such ‘roads’.

That was then. The latest model Camry I liked even more, if that were possible. The Camry is a big safe luxury type executive or family car which, to me, looks as good as it drives.

While it might lack the oomph that a ‘big badge’ means to some people, it is a car that suited me in every respect. It was easy too to get into a very comfortable driving position. Again, there’s plenty of space in the cabin, as well as ample head and leg room.

This time it came with manual transmission. Gears were precise and nice to use. Ditto for the steering.

The Camry is a car I felt safe in and came with great stability and roadhandling, down to the all-new chassis, long wheelbase and wide front and rear tread which allow the wheels to be positioned close to the corners of the car.

Nice too are the instruments, white on black in two big half circles with smaller quarter circles included.

The wood trim looks well throughout the cabin. But a small gripe was that the charcoal coloured material on the seats collected lots of white fluffy bits from my white fleece jacket. So don’t wear white fleece in the car.

Cubbies include a good glove compartment, a big open area under the radio with sides so things don’t fall out, and good door bins. Two huge cupholders are situated behind the gears which can be closed across with a wood trim lid. A non slip tray materialises under the front arm rest with a very big, deep bin below. When pulled down, the rear armrest reveals another two big cupholders.

The Toyota Camry comes very well specced. Standard equipment includes twin and side airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution, air conditioning and alloy wheels, a 6-disc CD player, and electric windows.

Other goodies include climate control, automatic wipers and automatic lights-on, electric ariel, remote central locking, driver and passenger illuminated vanity mirrors, tinted glass including UV reducing windshield, water-repellent driver and passenger side windows (unusual!), a sunglasses holder between the front flaps, and a light in the boot, to name just some.

As well as the safety measures above, the front seats are designed to lessen whiplash injury to the neck if you are hit from the rear in low speed.

As for luggage. The boot is a fine size, extending in further than you would imagine. A boon is that it is opened from the remote control. The lid just pops up a foot or so when you beep the remote control. You just push it up.

The power from the VVT-i engine ensured sufficient power is there when needed, whether out on the open road or during city driving. The car, although large, is easy to maneuver especially when parking. It’s a car that lends itself to being driven in a relaxed manner.

Maximum speed is 131mph (not here, you don’t!) and the car can accomplish the 0-62mph trip in 9.4 seconds. In combined driving conditions it will give a return of around 30mpg.

Prices start at 38,219 euros ex-works

The Camry is also available in a 3-litre version.

Maybe I’ll get to drive this model on those roads ‘down under’ again sometime in the future.