Camry

What is it?

The Toyota Camry is an iconic car from the Japanese automaker that has sold well all around the world. Even with the peak popularity of SUVs around the world, Toyota manages to sell over half a million units globally. In India, it’s the sole seller in the premium sedan segment and has no natural rivals. Yes, the Skoda Superb is expected to make a comeback, but the launch dates are largely unknown. The Camry sold in India is offered in just two variants—Sprint and Elegance—and the changes are largely cosmetic.

It seems Toyota’s flagship sedan lacks the brand snobbery of the Germans and sits in a segment that has been taken over by SUVs. So why is the Camry still sold in India? Let’s identify what’s keeping the demand alive.

Who is the Toyota Camry for?

Imagine you are a 40-something entrepreneur who’s looking for a plush, comfortable ride to be chauffeured between meetings. You appreciate luxury and don’t really care if your ride isn’t something German. You value reliability and don’t want the fuel bills to burn a hole in your pocket. Adding to the reliability factor is the 8-year or 160,000 km warranty (whichever comes first) on the hybrid battery, providing long-term peace of mind.

How are the Toyota Camry interiors?

Like the exterior, the inside follows a clean design mantra. The overall dashboard layout is conventional, with a large touchscreen and a digital display for the instrument cluster. What makes one fall in love with the car’s cabin is the choice of materials used. The dashboard is draped in leather and soft-touch plastic, and there are physical buttons for the temperature controls and a volume knob, so you won’t have to shuffle through an array of menus just to change the radio station.

The infotainment system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the wireless charging pad is placed right next to the gear lever. The driver’s seat has a 10-way power seating adjustment.

While the driver’s seat is a nice place to be, it's the back seat that will be preferred by the owners. And here is where we would like to talk about the elephant in the room. Given the Camry’s low profile, getting in and out of the back seat can take some getting used to. Once inside, you are treated to the same plushness. The front passenger seat can be moved ahead with the boss seat function for better legroom.

The back seat armrest houses the controls for the audio system, air conditioning, and rear-seat recline. So yes, overall, the rear seat is a nice place to be.

Engine and Transmission

As with Toyota’s premium lineup, the Camry’s hybrid system is the talking point. The battery pack is all-new, using a lithium-ion battery for weight saving and better energy density. In simple English, that translates to a claimed ARAI efficiency figure of 25.45 km/l, and a combined output from the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine of 230 PS and 221 Nm of torque. Power is channelled to the front wheels via Toyota’s smooth e-CVT transmission.

Ride and Handling

While the Camry is a sleek-looking sedan, Toyota has tuned the suspension well for Indian roads. On the highway, the car feels planted at triple-digit speeds, and even going down broken, patchy roads is not a big issue. In most of our drives, the car managed to absorb undulated bumps, with only the nastier ones seeping into the cabin.

The 145 mm ground clearance also helps, as even with a full load of luggage and passengers, most speed breakers were not an issue.

Is the Toyota Camry safe?

The safety list is long here, and going through the spec sheet would be the better option. A few noteworthy features worth mentioning include 9 airbags and the advanced Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 3.0 ADAS suite, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Trace Assist/Departure Alert, Pre-Collision System, and Automatic High Beam.

Usual tech includes a 360-degree parking camera, ISOFIX mounts, and hill start assist, to name a few.

Should I buy one?

If you are in the market looking for a spacious premium sedan that offers features rivaling cars like the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series at under ?50 lakh, then this is the car to go for. Yes, you don’t get the snob value of the Germans, but if you value great fuel efficiency, sleek styling, a comfortable cabin, and—last but not least—excellent reliability and strong resale value, then the Toyota Camry is the car for you.