Introduction

Is there a "best-of" automotive list that DOESN'T include the top-selling Toyota Camry? For nearly 20 years the Camry has defined the family sedan. In its current iteration, the Camry offers a comfortable cabin, spacious trunk, and smooth and quiet-running engines. Plus, the Camry has a well-deserved reputation for high reliability. This is certainly a tough combination to beat. The current model is getting a little long in the tooth. An all-new 2002 model is just around the corner.

Walkaround

The Camry's exterior was slightly upgraded last year, but even with these changes this car is far from being a crowd-stopper. It's an attractive car and doesn't look stuffy, but its bland design does not break any ground and will not attract attention. It looks substantial without casting a big shadow. Angular lines stretch the car's profile and give it presence. Minimal overhang at the front and rear of the car push the wheels to the corners, giving it a sporty, dynamic stance. At the rear, a tall, square tail provides good aerodynamics. The lever-style door handles, popular in the 1980s, are hard to grasp and can snap painfully out of your hand when you're in a hurry. The Camry's rigid body structure is designed to offer crash protection as well as form a base for smooth ride quality.

Interior Features

Comfort, convenience and a high degree of safety are among the Camry's goals. Safety starts with avoiding accidents. To that end, anti-lock brakes are standard on V6 LE and XLE models and are a $610 option elsewhere. ABS allows the driver to maintain steering control of the car in a panic stop by preventing the wheels from locking up. Dual front driver and passenger air bags are standard. Front side-impact airbags are available as an option on all Camry models for $250; side airbags are designed to help reduce the likelihood of injuries to the driver or front passenger in case of a severe side collision. Three-point seat belts are standard for all passengers including the rear center position, which is not available in all vehicles. Front seat belt pretensioners cinch the belts tight upon sensing, while impact and force-limiters reduce the belt's load on an occupant's torso to help reduce injury. Convenience starts with the doors, all of which open wide to facilitate easier entry and exit than many other sedans. The interior is roomy, thanks to the Camry's long wheelbase. A generous amount of sound-deadening material makes the interior luxuriously quiet. The interior design and trim are pleasing, although edging on the ordinary. The flowing dash is no-nonsense, yet pleasing to the eye. It houses bright white-on-black instruments. Like most Toyotas, the Camry's controls and gauges are designed to be easy to use. All are right where you'd expect them to be and work just they way you'd expect them to work. Audio and climate control knobs are simple and within easy reach of driver or passenger. Thoughtful amenities abound. A second power outlet is located at the bottom on the front console, next to the built-in tissue dispenser. The sun visors have extension panels. The front cupholders hold 20-ounce bottles, and the rear cupholders can take either juice boxes or cans. There are numerous storage cubbies, and a capacious glove box. The LE seats are covered fabric and an optional power seat package (no charge) that is also available in leather ($1,710). Still, the LE's cloth seats lack support. The cloth upholstery, even in the CE, feels built for extended use, however. All three trim levels have AM/FM/CD/cassette audio systems standard. Audiophiles will want to check out the premium JBL six-speaker setup that comes on the XLE and is optional on the LE; a six-CD changer is also available. The trunk offers a convenient low lift height and a more than adequate storage area. We had no problem getting four golf bags loaded into the trunk; golf bags will even fit cross-wise. The rear 60/40 split seat folds forward, increasing the load hauling ability. The gooseneck hinges on the trunk lid, which intrude slightly into the cargo area, are less than ideal, however.