2008 Used Toyota Camry Review

The mid-size Camry sedan does just about everything well, and it's supported by Toyota's well-earned reputation for quality, reliability and value retention. The Camry recently benefited from a complete overhaul for 2007, starting with a new, airy interior and continuing with more powerful engines, more transmission choices and increased fuel efficiency. Models range from the surprisingly well-equipped Camry CE to the near-luxury Camry XLE, with nearly all the bells and whistles. In between are the popular LE, a modest step up from the base CE and available with the V6, and the SE, decked out with suspension, tires and trim to please the sporty crowd. The Toyota Camry nearly everything well, and nothing badly, and it makes comfortable, pleasant, reliable transportation for up to five. There's a model for nearly every taste and budget. All are reasonably economical to operate, and the Camry Hybrid offers uncompromised fuel efficiency.

Powering the '08 Camry

The base, four-cylinder engine pairs with a standard five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic is optional. The optional 3.5-liter V-6 comes only with a six-speed automatic transmission. The transmission can be shifted manually. EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings for the cars are 21/31 mpg city/highway for the four-cylinder with manual or automatic, 19/28 for the V-6 and 33/34 for the hybrid. The SE has firmer springs, shock absorbers, stabilizer bars and bushings to improve handling and limit body roll over the other trim levels. The LE V6 eagerly spins all the way up to its programmed limiter at 6500 revolutions per minute, and it's silky smooth throughout. It pulls without stumble from 1000 rpm in any gear, which is why it's far more effective with the automatic transmission. The driver won't feel as if he or she is waiting for the transmission to find the right gear so the car can get going. The LE V6 will feel very familiar to longtime Camry owners: just a little smoother, tighter and more powerful than older models. The SE is fun and entertaining to drive. Steering turn-in is precise and cornering is solid and stable, with little body lean.

Used Camry Design

Among the few changes for 2008 is the replacement of the Titanium Metallic exterior color for Classic Silver Metallic. The current-generation Camry's nose is blunter and sportier than the version it replaced in 2007. The tail recalls the full-size Avalon sedan, and the fenders have shoulders that give the trunklid a hump - a style introduced on recent BMWs but executed better by other manufacturers, including Lexus on the GS sedan. The grilles distinguish one trim level from another. The CE's is black, the LE's is body-colored, the SE's is black with body-colored surround and the XLE's is body-colored with chrome accents. The SE also has rocker panel and front fascia extensions and larger wheels. A spoiler is optional on this trim level only. Fog lights appear on the SE and XLE. The flashy new styling starts at the Camry's nose. The front end is fresh, and easily the boldest element of the new look, with sharp points, curving cut-lines and entertaining surface planes. The hood dips broadly through the middle, pushing visual heft out over the front fenders. The grille wears a Toyota emblem prominently above softly slanted, horizontal slats. The single-piece fascia blends all the diverse elements into a smooth aerodynamic look that's several steps away from the pro forma, overly inoffensive, just-another-midsize-car-from-Japan look.

Toyota Camry Cabin

The Camry's steering wheel both tilts and telescopes. New standard upholstery fabric is treated by the Fraichir process, which Toyota describes as "coated with a naturally occurring component called Sericin, which is extracted from silkworm cocoons and refined. This substance is used because it contains a natural moisturizing component." If there is a way to market this feature without making it seem gross, Toyota clearly hasn't found it. For 2008, the top trim level, XLE, has darker wood trim. The backrests recline 8 degrees, but they don't fold forward to extend cargo space into the cabin. Likewise, the Camry SE's seats don't fold due to a V-shaped brace intended to stiffen the car's structure and improve handling. The Camry Hybrid has a small, off-center pass-thru. The CE and LE trims have split, folding backseats. The SE trim level gets its own sport-trimmed interior in darker colors, amber gauges and a three-spoke steering wheel. Almost everything inside the Camry speaks refined function. The speedometer and tachometer are large, circular and easy to scan, save for brief periods at dusk and under certain types of street lighting, when the luminescent instruments on all but the SE can wash out. Those in the SE, which are black on white with sharp blue-ish backlighting, avoid this eye-straining fade. They're part of this sporty model's unique interior treatment, which features dark charcoal or Ash gray hues and a grippy leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel.

Conclusions

The 2008 Camry, which is the long-standing best-selling car in the U.S., got a thourough redesign for 2007.  Competitors to the Camry include Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Saturn Aura and Volkswagen Passat, to name a few. The Camry trim levels, in ascending value, are CE, LE, sporty SE and premium XLE. The Camry Hybrid falls somewhere between the SE and XLE in terms of standard equipment. For the latest updates and more information, visit Toyota's official Camry site. Safety features are plentiful. All trim levels have four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution. Airbags include dual-stage frontal bags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag, the latter intended to keep the occupant from sliding down and forward (submarining) in a collision. Traction control and an electronic stability system are a single option available on any trim level.




Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com.