Why Camry has been our best-selling medium sedan for 20 years

The Camry’s reliability made it our best-selling mid-sizer for more than two decades

 

Call it boring, call it predictable or call it a fleet favourite, Toyota’s Camry has been Australia’s best-selling mid-sized sedan for more than 20 years for good reason.

Camrys have proved reliable, good value, suited to family use and, in hybrid form, truly advanced and frugal. Until weeks ago, they were Australian-made.

The eighth-generation Camry hits Toyota showrooms in the next few weeks, meaning there should be a glut of good value seventh-gen Camrys hitting the used market. We’ll look at the current generation from December 2011 to the mid-2015 makeover.

This brought fresher design, a new four-cylinder engine with more power yet better fuel economy, a quieter and more spacious cabin and a chassis and steering package to up the driver enjoyment.

Four grades — Altise, Atara S, Atara SX and Atara SL — shared the 2.5-litre and six-speed auto gearbox, with the Ataras tuned for slightly higher outputs.

2012 Toyota Camry Atara SX sedan.

Soon after came the Hybrid in entry-level H and highly specified HL grades. Its detuned engine was backed by an electric motor, for a 0-100km/h time of 8.0 seconds — the 2.5s laboured in 9.3 seconds. In the Hybrids, the constantly variable transmission contributed to a claimed 5.2L/100km, eclipsing the 7.8L of the purely petrol examples.

Prices started at a reasonable $30,490 for the fleet special Altise. Hybrids started from $34,990; $2000 cheaper than the predecessor.

You can buy a used MY2012 Altise from just $10k today, but many have high kilometres and are ex-fleet or rental cars so arguably won’t have been as well looked after as private cars. There are hundreds of white ones for sale.

The Altise was light-on for standard equipment. Positives were seven airbags, Bluetooth, USB for iPod connectivity, audio controls on the steering wheel and 16-inch alloy wheels (unless the fleet buyer was really stingy and saved $100 by optioning steel wheels).

Far better equipped, the Atara S was aimed specifically at private buyers and gained a sports front bumper, fog lights, side skirts, twin exhausts, 17-inch wheels and chrome door handles. Inside were paddle-shifters to change gear, smart entry and smart start, reversing camera, dual- zone aircon, 6.1-inch touchscreen audio and electric driver’s seat.

2012 SX interior.

The Atara SX, the sporty number, had leather-accented interior, sports rear bumper, rear lip spoiler and sports suspension.

The Atara SL, meanwhile, was the luxe version with leather trim, woodgrain inserts, JBL audio, seven-inch touchscreen, satnav, digital radio, live traffic updates, blind spot monitor, rear parking sonar, power front seats and more.

2012 Toyota Camry range front: Atara SX; rear (L-R): Atara S, Altise and Atara SL.

Hybrids are identified by the blue Toyota badge. The H models had a similar specification to the Atara S, while the flagship HL mainly mirrored the Atara SL.

In late 2012 a special edition Atara R gave the Altise sportier body kit and wheels, while undercutting the Atara S on price.

In mid-2014 the Camry RZ landed, again cheaper than an Atara S, but featuring moody black body parts and wheels, sport suspension, sports body kit and twin exhausts. Extrovert Camry buyers could have their RZs in Inferno Orange paint.

It wasn’t until November 2014 that all Camrys gained a rear camera as standard with an upgrade to the audio and touchscreen.

The Camry is certainly a conservative choice, but for those seeking a car that cruises in comfort, is fuss-free, spacious and well screwed together, it’s hard to fault.

Don’t be afraid of the Hybrids, a good introduction to such vehicles. The fuel savings, especially if you make plenty of short city traffic journeys, can make a huge difference via the selectable pure electric mode.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

2012 Atara SX.

There are hundreds of fleet special Altises on the market but aim for an Atara to get the better specification and higher likelihood of it being privately owned.

Hybrids tow next to nothing (300kg) and petrol versions are rated to 1200kg. Hybrids also sacrifice 94L of luggage space over the 421L of the petrol cars, due to the battery pack.

Pre-July 2012 Camrys were recalled for a fuel hose fix but, as you’d expect with such a modern Toyota, no common faults have been highlighted by owners.

Some suggest the Camry’s touchscreen and Bluetooth can be sketchy at best and the fuel economy doesn’t live up to expectations.

Hybrid technology is still relatively new, so there is the added concern hybrid batteries may fail before the full life of the car. Some mechanics may decline (or not be able) to work on them.

 

IAIN SAYS 3.5 STARS

The Camry’s a car to buy with your head rather than heart but comfort, space and reliability are key motivators for many shoppers. Shop for an Atara — the SX or RZ if you fancy a bit more sportiness — or embrace the technology and go for a Hybrid, especially for city dwellers.

OWNERS SAY

2012 Camry Atara SX.

RAY BEEBE: I bought a demo Atara SL in 2012 as I needed a replacement for my old six-cylinder with fold-down rear seat. It is great, with ample power and it tows enough for me. The only thing it has needed is a battery change.

ROB SMETHURST: I’ve owned a 2013 Hybrid since new and I’m happy I went hybrid after some fears. It has been comfortable and quite good on fuel, especially in Brisbane traffic. I like the kit but the interior is a bit cheap when I compare it to newer cars. I’d buy another one.

LUKE WOOD: I bought a 2013 Atara S earlier this year as a second family car. As you’d expect from a Toyota it’s had no problems, except the fuel use is high for a four-cylinder car. It’s comfortable and easy to live with on long journeys though, and was great value for its size.

 

THE EXPERTS SAY

2012 Camry Altise interior.

Toyota’s 50 Series Camry featured a modern 2.5-litre four-cylinder on its release at the end of 2011, along with a new six-speed automatic transmission, and has proven extremely popular with fleet and taxi buyers.

Before its midlife update, the 50 Series sold 83,000 examples in Australia and was exported to the Middle East from the Altona plant, which closed earlier this month. Of the cars sold domestically, 15.7 per cent were the fuel-saving Hybrid versions.

On current listings, about half of the conventional and Hybrid models are base-grade variants. It takes 64 days for Camry to turn over on average, but the hybrid models sell sooner.

The used value for the base Camry Altise of 2011 ($30,490 new) is $12,650 for a vehicle in good condition that has travelled 15,000km a year.

In contrast, the range-topping Camry Atara SL of the same year ($39,990 new) is now valued at about $16,100.

The last of the 2015 models before the major change are valued at $17,450 for the Altise and $22,900 for the Atara SL (new prices unchanged since 2011).

Camry Hybrids for 2015 are still fetching $20,300 for the base model ($35,490 new) and $23,700 for the high-grade HL spec ($41,490 new).

Resale value of the Camry in 2012 is on par with most competitors. However, it slips behind competitors such as Mazda6,
Honda Accord Euro, Ford Mondeo and Subaru Liberty approaching 2015.

 

AT A GLANCE

TOYOTA CAMRY 2011-15

PRICE NEW $30,490-$41,490

SAFETY 5 stars

ENGINES 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 133kW/231Nm and 135kW/235Nm; hybrid, 151kW combined/ 213Nm (2.5) plus 270Nm (electric motor)

TRANSMISSION

6-speed auto or CVT; FWD

THIRST 5.2L-7.8L/100km