For nearly twenty years, from 2001 to 2020, the Toyota Camry was the best selling car in the massive US market, and although it has now dropped several places down the charts, dethroned by the RAV4 just as its arch rival, the Honda Accord has lost out to the CR-V, it remains the biggest seller in the full-size sedan market, with around 313,800 of them and a further 46,400 Hybrid versions finding a home in 2021. The latest version of the Camry, the eighth generation since the model name debuted in 1983, was premiered at the 2017 North American Auto Show in Detroit, with sales starting in the summer of that year. Toyota did not deviate much from the formula of the preceding 34 years, so this is an utterly conventional three box saloon with front wheel drive, focused on ease of use and dependability rather than thrills and excitement. The eighth generation car did look really quite different from its predecessor, and Toyota even went to the expense of producing different front end designs for the different trim versions, as well as different rear bumpers for the more sporting trims. The new car was based on an-new platform, and indeed, it was said that the only parts carried over were the large Toyota badges used on the front and back of the car. This version of the Camry introduced a number of new technologies including a new Linux-based and more easily customisable Entune 3.0  infotainment platform as well as including a package of the latest ADAS safety systems. The Camry used to be the doyen of the rental car fleets, but there have been far fewer of these eighth generation cars on offer, so it has taken until now for me to get to test one and by now there has even been the usual mid-cycle refresh that came in 2020. I do have to admit that as previous Camry models were so anodyne to drive, I had not been looking that hard for one, but when I had to return to LAX following an issue with the tyre pressure system in a Buick Encore, when I surveyed a relatively empty facility, a brand new 2023 model year Camry SE in a very distinctive colour that Toyota calls Cavalry Blue was the car I selected. My time with this car was going to be a bit limited as it was late morning by the time I collected it and the booking was only for one day. Here is what I thought:

Toyota still offer a choice of either a 4 cylinder of V6 petrol engines in the Camry, as well as a four cylinder Hybrid model. Needless to say, it is the smaller unit that sells in far larger quantities and that is what powered this test car. It is 2.5 litres in capacity and puts out a healthy 203 bhp. It is coupled to an 8 speed automatic transmission. There is no manual option. Slightly surprisingly, you still need a conventional ignition key to start it up. The ensuing engine note is pleasing and there is a refined sort of roar to the car when accelerating. The engine here is very smooth and quite willing, meaning that there is good acceleration available, and with the gearbox well matched, you are generally unaware of it changing ratios. Noise levels when underway are well controlled, and although I have read comments about these elsewhere, I thought the usual sources all quite well suppressed. As I only had the Camry for part of a day, I covered just 120 miles, and it needed 3.11 gallons to return it to full, which works out at 38.58 mpg US or an impressive 46.09 mpg Imperial.

This is the first time I have used the words “genuinely good to drive” in describing the experience from a Camry, but honestly, it was. Whilst not quite as sharp as a Mazda 6 or a Ford Fusion, both of which have ceased production, up on the curvy roads of the Angeles Forest Highway, there was actually some fun to be had. The steering is well judged, proving to be nice and light when parking but with decent levels of feel once underway. The Camry grips the road well and the handling is so much better than on previous generations of the car. The SE has slightly stiffer suspension and larger 235/45 R18 wheels than the entry level LE, but there is no comfort penalty here, as the ride proved to be good even on some of the less than smooth surfaces of the area. The brakes were nicely progressive in operation. I had no particular issues with the visibility and there is a Blind Spot Monitor, as well as a rear-view camera, to help out. All Camry models have a package of safety features which include Lane Keep Assist, which proved a little over-zealous like almost all such systems.

The dashboard is quite neatly done, and looks quite different from what has come before, with something of a wrap around look thanks to the angle moulding that extends into the centre console. There are plenty of soft touch plastics as well as some leather surfaces and there are some decent quality black inlays. The steering wheel is leather wrapped and was pleasant to hold.  The instrument cluster is pretty straight forward with two large dials for the speedometer and rev counter, with smaller fuel level and water temperature gauges set in the lower part of these. There is a trip computer display area between the main dials. There are a couple of column stalks for indicators, lights and wipers and the centre of the steering wheel houses buttons for audio repeater and cruise control functions. The centre of the dash contains the 7” colour touchscreen which is set up high and angled towards the driver. It runs Toyota’s Entune system and thankfully is supported by buttons to either side, making it easy to use. XM satellite radio is included as is support for Apple Car Play and Android Auto but although there is a button for navigation when you press it you find that you need to use an app on your phone to enable it. Lower in the centre of the dash are the buttons for the dual zone automated climate control. Overall, the layout here is simple and easy to use, a hallmark of the Camry over many generations.

In SE Spec the seats are trimmed in a mix of synthetic leather and cloth. There is a feeling of space when you get in and there’s a wide range of adjustment. That is electric for the driver’s seat and manual for the passenger. The steering column has a good range of adjustment up/down and in/out so it was not hard to get the optimum driving position. The seat itself proved comfortable.

Those in the rear seats will find the area spacious. Even with the front seats set well back, there is good legroom, with the centre console not coming back as far as some of these units do, so even a middle seat occupant should find adequate space. Headroom is also not in short supply. There is a drop-down armrest with cupholders in the upper surface, and bits and pieces can be stowed in the map pockets on the back of the front seats are the door pockets which are shaped to be able to take a large bottle.

There is no external release for the boot. Access is either via a button on the key fob or a release lever in the cabin. The boot itself is spacious, in particular being long from front to back. It is quite deep, too which means that the floor is somewhat lower than the base of the boot lid. There is no space under the floor for an extra items but you can create a whole lot more carrying capacity by dropping the asymmetrically split rear seat backs. There is also good provision for odds and ends inside the cabin. The glovebox is a good size, and the door pockets are generously sized. There is a cubby under the central armrest, a small one over the driver’s left knee and a recess in front of the gearlever.

The 2022 Toyota Camry is available in six trim levels: LE, SE, SE Nightshade, XSE, XLE and TRD. A four-cylinder and an available V6 engine are offered. You can also get all-wheel drive with the four-cylinder. Even the entry level LE has a good standard of equipment. Standard feature highlights include: 203 bhp four-cylinder engine with eight-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, a power-adjustable driver’s seat; dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen including support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and 60/40-split folding rear seats. All Camrys also come standard with a suite of driver aids that include: Forward collision mitigation, Lane keeping assist, Adaptive cruise control, Automatic high-beam headlights and Road sign recognition. The SE adds sporty touches and extra features, such as unique exterior trim, 18-inch wheels, simulated leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, sport-tuned suspension and automatic climate control. The SE Nightshade aims for a more stealthy look, adding distinctive 18-inch wheels, black exterior trim and a boot-mounted spoiler. The XLE adds more upscale features to the LE, such as: Full-speed adaptive cruise control; blind-spot monitor; keyless entry and push-button ignition; leather upholstery; a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats; an upgraded driver information display; a 9-inch information touchscreen; a wireless charging pad and rear air vents. The XSE is similar to the XLE but adds a more sporty look and feel with 206 bhp for the four-cylinder engine, sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels, a gloss black grille, a dual exhaust and metallic interior trim. The TRD is the most athletic of Camrys with a 301-hp V6 engine, black-painted outside mirrors and exterior trim, unique 19-inch wheels, aerodynamic body trim, TRD-specific simulated leather upholstery and red seat belts, a sport exhaust and special sport-tuned suspension. Some features on the XLE and XSE are available on the LE and SE as options. Toyota also offers the 301-hp V6 engine as an option for the XSE and XLE trims. Other notable optional features include a Driver Assist package which comprises a 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Camry and its surroundings for tight parking situations), a head-up display (standard with V6), rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) and ventilated front seats. There is also a Cold Weather package with heated front seats, heated mirrors and a heated steering wheel. Other options include an integrated navigation system with nine-speaker JBL sound system, a panoramic sunroof (standard with the V6) and performance tyres (TRD only).

No question, this is by far the best Camry that I’ve ever driven, and I’ve sampled at least one example of each of the last four generations. All those previous models were worthy, but dull and forgettable – probably exactly what a lot of people who want reliable transport that has no serious vices are looking for, but hardly the sort of car to appeal much to an enthusiast. And whilst you could argue that the full-size sedan market is not exactly the place where the enthusiasts’ priorities come to the fore, cars like the Ford Fusion, Mazda 6 and even the Honda Accord proved that you could come up with something that was good to drive as well as hitting all the practical requirements as well. Toyota have clearly studied these cars hard and decided to move closer to their attributes than ever before, and the result is a car that I actually rather enjoyed. The interior feels a cut above what went before, and the car was surprisingly good to take on the swooping curves of the Angeles Forest Highway and Angeles Crest Highway. And this was with the 4 cylinder 203 bhp car. I do wonder what the top spec TRD, with nearly another 100 bhp and 2 more cylinders is like. There are a few of them in the Hertz fleet, so now rather than eschewing a Camry, I think I may actually go and seek one out.