2012 Toyota Camry: A paper-cup exec

To help it do so, the new Camry boasts massive improvements to cabin comfort, equipment levels and refinement. After a day at the wheel, we think the new Camry range shows promise. It’s vastly improved, and, while it doesn’t push any boundaries, it’s comfortable, swift and competitively-priced. This is where the most meaningful improvements have […]

To help it do so, the new Camry boasts massive improvements to cabin comfort, equipment levels and refinement.

After a day at the wheel, we think the new Camry range shows promise. It’s vastly improved, and, while it doesn’t push any boundaries, it’s comfortable, swift and competitively-priced.

This is where the most meaningful improvements have been made. Cabin quality of the 2012 Camry has been lifted with soft-touch plastics and new switchgear, much of it borrowed from the new Camry’s interior.

Equipment levels have also gone upmarket. All model grades get dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, USB inputs, iPod compatibility, cruise-control, a reversing camera and powered driver’s seat.

Further up the Camry family tree, features like a power-retractable rear sunblind, blind-spot monitor system, auto-dimming rear view mirrors, proximity key, rain-sensing wipers, dusk sensing HID headlamps, auto-dipping high beam, parking sensors, sat-nav and a digital radio tuner find their way onto the spec list.

While the spec sheet has grown, so too has the Camry’s internal dimensions. There’s now more rear legroom, headroom and shoulder room than before thanks to repositioned seats and scalloped front seat backrests.

There’s a wider range of seat adjustment, longer seat squabs for more under-thigh support and a greater range of movement for the tilt-reach adjustable steering wheel.

The rear seat cushions have also been resculpted to improve comfort and support; we found the back half of the Camry to be very accommodating.

The boot has grown to 515 litres – 11 litres more than the old model – and the rear seat backrest now folds down. Beneath the boot floor lies a full-size spare too, which will please regional drivers.

Toyota hasn’t taken any adventurous paths with this new Camry and it’s not right at the cutting edge of powertrain technology.

But, across the new range, the 2012 Camry is a massive improvement over the superseded model. The interior is spacious, cosseting and in the higher model grades there’s plenty of creature comforts to keep passengers entertained.

The adoption of safety features like a blind-spot monitor, standard reversing camera, rear passenger seatbelt warning and high-beam assist are also to be commended. My neighbor has one.