Reliable. Quality. Comfort. Value. 2009 Toyota Camry

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Summary

Quality. Reliability. Value Retention. All of these characteristics describe the 2009 Toyota Camry. It is dependable. It has and will retain its excellent value. It does everything well and it is comfortable and carries a pleasant ride. For 2009 the Camry is a winner.

Full Review 2009

The 2009 Camry remains a best-seller among midsize sedans.  This mid-size sedan does just about everything well; furthermore, it carries Toyota's well-earned reputation for quality, reliability and value retention.  The Camry 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. The Camry's aerodynamic styling shows more style than ever.  The 2009 model is mostly a carry over, although the Camry's entry-level model changes its name from CE to simply Camry.
  

The Camry is a vehicle which owners know they can depend on.   This four-door sedan seats five in reasonable comfort, yet it's relatively compact and easy to park. It's smooth and quiet, and has a very impressive and functional cabin.  The Camry's is performance could not exactly be called thrilling or even outstanding.  Yet it's good enough to offer an excellent value.  

The 2009 Toyota Camry is pleasant to drive in all situations.   Models range from the well-equipped Camry to the near-luxury Camry XLE, with nearly all the bells and whistles.  The Camry Hybrid features a combination electric motor/gasoline engine powertrain and a super-efficient continuously variable transmission, or CVT.  The Hybrid is a good performer and one of the most fuel-efficient mid-size vehicles on the market.  Since its debut in the United States nearly 25 years ago, the Camry has earned a reputation for smart design, build quality, and durability.

The Camry's main competitors include the Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima.

Camry Trim Levels

Camry features a 158-hp four-cylinder engine. It's equipped with cloth upholstery, air conditioning and pollen filter, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, manual tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, a multi-function information display with outside temperature, a 160-watt stereo with six speakers, single CD player and auxiliary jack for MP3 devices, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and 16-inch steel wheels.

The Camry LE and LE V6 add an eight-way power driver's seat and remote keyless entry. All Camry V6 models get a 268-horspower 3.5-liter engine and a six-speed automatic with manual shift feature.

The sporty Camry SE and SE V6 add a firmer, lowered suspension, flashy styling cues, unique interior trim, fog lights and P215/55R17 tires on 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels.

The upper class Camry XLE features glossy wood-grain interior trim and comes standard with the automatic. Leather comes standard on the XLE V6.  The XLE models add dual-zone auto climate control with an electronic ion filter, a JBL audio upgrade with 440 watts, 6CD changer, Bluetooth wireless telephone interface, power passenger seat, power sunroof, split 40/20/40 reclining rear seat, rear reading lamps, manual rear window sunshade, 16-inch alloy wheels.  An automatic comes standard on the XLE.

Driving the Camry

The 2009 LE V6 will feel very familiar to longtime Camry owners: just a little smoother, tighter and more powerful than older models.  The LE with four-cylinder and automatic is competent, but well short of inspiring. Performance-wise, this isn't surprising, given the weight burdening the Camry's relatively small engine, which is no better than average in power output.

Toyota Powertrain

A four-cylinder engine is available on all models, while the optional V-6 is available on all but the base Camry. The SE has firmer springs, shock absorbers, stabilizer bars and bushings to improve handling and limit body roll compared to other trim levels.  The manual transmission in four-cylinder models shifts cleanly, if not with sports-car crispness.

Design and Style

The 2009 Camry's nose is blunter and the overall profile is sportier than its predecessors.  The front end is fresh, and easily the boldest element of the new look, with sharp points and curving cut-lines.  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 average.  The side view of the Camry is less fashionable and somewhat bulky looking, with a high beltline, symmetrical windows and square doors.  The bumper wraps around the back end, capping the corners beneath the taillights and sweeping into a soft, horizontal indentation that, on the V6-equipped models, finishes in cutouts for the chrome-tipped dual exhausts.  The grilles distinguish one trim level from another. The SE also has rocker-panel and front-end extensions and larger wheels. Exterior length is 189.2 inches and width comes in at 71.7 inches, putting the Camry on the small side of the midsize market.

Camry Cabin

The Camry's steering wheel both tilts and telescopes. XLE standard fabric is treated by the Fraichir process, which gives it a natural moisturizing component. The SE trim level gets its own sport-trimmed interior in darker colors with amber gauges and a three-spoke steering wheel.  The thick C-pillar looks less imposing to the driver than from outside the car. Low-profile rear-seat head restraints leave the view in the rearview mirror mostly unblocked.  The cabin offers lots of usable cubbies for storing things. Cup holders and assorted nooks and covered bins are located all around the center stack and console .A large glove box spans the lower dash between the center stack and passenger door. Only the front doors get map pockets.  The cabin is trimmed with a brushed metallic finish in the Camry, LE, SE, and Hybrid.  Real-looking glossy wood grain is used inside the XLE, including surrounds for the door-release handles. The fabric upholstery combines breathable, waffle-texture insets with smooth bolsters and backing.  The Camry and LE trims have split, folding backseats. The XLE 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 window switches are clustered nicely on the driver's door armrest, just below the mirror switch and door lock, so they sit right where the hand rests when the driver sets forearm on the door.  There's 101.4 cubic feet for passenger space putting the sedan in the middle of the pack in terms of space. 

Safety Features

Safety features include standard side-impact airbags, standard side curtain airbags, standard driver's knee airbag, and standard daytime running lamps.  All models come with anti-lock brakes (ABS), which aid steering control during a panic stop. The ABS features Brake Assist, which applies the brakes more quickly and consistently when it senses the onset of a panic stop, and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), which balances brake application front and rear for optimal stopping distance.  A tire-pressure monitor is also included. 

Conclusions

The 2009 Toyota Camry sedan remains fresh from a complete redesign for 2007. It does nearly everything well, 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 is one of the most fuel-efficient mid-size vehicles available.  Car and Driver calls it "the crown prince of mainstream."And with Toyota's reputation for reliability, the Camry is not likely to surprise you with unexpected expenses in a few years. The Camry is a front-wheel drive, five-passenger, four-door sedan with an impressive list of standard safety features. "To keep ahead of the pack, the 2009 Toyota Camry remains one of the most style-conscious Camrys to date, with an abundance of interior room and marked improvements in the areas of steering, braking, handing and ride comfort." adds Kelley Blue Book The 2009 has an MSRP of $19,145 - $28,695.