2010 Toyota Camry - A Reliable and Safe Sedan with High Value

The Camry continues to be Toyota's benchmark sedan for 2010.  The Camry is a vehicle with a reputation of safety, reliability, and quality while offering fuel efficiency, space, and power. It has earned this name time and time again, and for 2010 is even more improved; the 2010 Camry receives interior and exterior redesign, a new 2.5-liter engine, and six-speed manual transmission. Vehicle stability control is now standard on all trims. The Camry is a front-wheel drive, five-passenger, four-door sedan featuring four trims: Base, LE, SE, and XLE. Stability and traction control, six-airbags, and tire pressure monitor are standard. The 2010 Toyota Camry has a starting MSRP of $19,395 - $29,045.  The benefits of the Camry include a quiet cabin, good crash test ratings, a long list of safety features, and a very affordable base model.  The downsides to the 2010 Camry are its inconsistent cabin quality, lackluster handling, and a lack of a folding rear seat in the SE and XLE models.

Toyota Camry Power

A new 2.5-liter 169 hp four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission are standard; a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting is optional. LE, SE, and XLE models are available with a 3.5-liter 269 hp V6 and six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting.  The sporty SE trim comes standard with is a 179 hp 2.5 liter V4.

2010 Camry Design

The Toyota Camry is a sedan that is about average as far as size compared to its competitors.  Proud taillight lenses mirror the outline of the headlights, angling down and inward across the trunk lid seam, closely tracing the pattern set by the headlights and grille. 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. Exterior changes for 2010 are minimal, as the car's face looks essentially the same, albeit with shapelier crossbars on the grille and a more defined air dam across the bumper. In back, the white taillight strips have been moved a few inches down.  The sportier Camry SE is the easiest model to distinguish, and perhaps the boldest of all. An oversize Toyota emblem perches atop the license plate recess. The inference of aero treatment on the trunk lid is boosted on the SE with an honest spoiler. A black honeycomb-style grille appears forward from smoked-tint headlamps, while a full body kit flares the lower edge of the car outward, emphasizing the sport model's lower ride height. Base and LE models have steel wheels with plastic covers, while the XLE gets 16-inch alloy wheels. The Camry SE has 17-inch wheels, a mesh-like grille and additional lower body cladding. SE model is particularly aerodynamically designed. The engineers tuned the flow to balance downforce, or the aerodynamic force that presses the car to the pavement, nearly equally over the front and rear tires.

Driving the Camry

The Camry SE is fun and entertaining to drive. Steering turn-in is more precise than previous models, and cornering is solid and stable, with little body lean. The manual transmission in four-cylinder models shifts cleanly, if not with sports-car crispness. Clutch engagement is smooth and easily managed. The manual transmission makes for an engaging driving experience. The SE V6 is a car in which the driver might want to actually use the sequential manual shift feature on Toyota's new six-speed automatic. In manual mode, the transmission will hold the chosen gear without shifting up, and it will downshift immediately with a click on the lever. The shifts are smooth, but quick and reassuringly certain. The upper trim XLE gets more than just the plush interior; ride and handling are improved too. The XLE Camry is more soft and floaty than firm and planted.

2010 Camry Cabin

The cabin carries over largely unchanged. Inside the 2010 Toyota Camry the speedometer and tachometer are large, circular and easy to scan.  The SE gets black on white with sharp blue-ish backlighting, and are part of the sporty model's unique interior treatment, which features dark charcoal or Ash gray hues and a leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel. 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. Controls for audio and air conditioning are easily manageable, clearly labeled and logically positioned in the center stack, with audio above and climate below. The pastel blue-green lighting around the optional navigation system is nice. The Proud taillight lenses mirror the outline of the headlights, angling down and inward across the trunk lid seam, closely tracing the pattern set by the headlights and grille. The Camry cabin offers lots of usable cubbies for storing things. Cup holders and assorted nooks and covered bins are located conveniently about 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, which are fixed, hard plastic that allows most everything stored there to slide. A similar material forms the magazine pouches on the back of the front seatbacks.  A new optional stereo has USB compatibility for enhanced integration with iPods and other MP3 players. Express up/down operation for all windows, a feature typically reserved for premium cars, is now standard.

2010 Lineup

The base Camry for 2010 is 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 ($20,025) and LE V6 ($23,640) add an eight-way power driver's seat and remote keyless entry. The sporty Camry SE ($21,240) and SE V6 ($24,915) add a firmer, lowered suspension, flashy styling cues, unique interior trim, fog lights and P215/55R17 tires on 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The high level Camry XLE ($25,000) features glossy wood-grain interior trim and comes standard with the automatic. Leather comes standard on the XLE V6 ($28,120).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.

Summary

Now in its fourth model year of this generation Toyota Camry, the sedan got a number of mechanical and styling tweaks as part of a mid-cycle update. Chief among them is a larger four-cylinder drivetrain, more standard safety features and updated styling. Camry competitors include the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu. The Camry is a vehicle you can't go wrong with.  It has proven its reputation as a reliable and high value sedan.  As Toyota's trademark sedan, the 2010 model continues to carry the name well. For more details, visit the 2010 Camry official site.