Written by Marco Carvajal
Toyota newest Camry is part of the 8th Generation of the Camry Family. After 36 years of success, the Camry keeps selling and wining over the competition with other mid-size sedans. The new Toyota Camry is very comfortable, more sporty and stylish than its previous generations.
It is the #1 US mid-size selling sedan, a US champion title that is not easy to get in the current sedan market.
The Toyota Camry
The Camry keeps reinventing its style, for some people the model Camry can bring memories of parents or even grandparents’ car, but the new Camry is not grandpa’s car at all, it looks young, modern, and drives with power and confidence. the new Camry is enhanced by exterior character lines and a low center of gravity.
The Camry has been the best selling sedan in the United States for 16 years and it keeps selling year after year. It competes with cars like the Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, VW Passat and Nissan Altima. Buyers trust the Camry, it has been here for more than 36 years and it is here to stay.
The name “Camry” is an amplified phonetic transcription of the Japanese word kanmuri, which means “crown.” The Japanese automaker named this car the right way, anticipating the great success that this car would have in the future.
Being the best-selling medium sedan in the country for more than 15 years is a success very difficult to achieve and maintain. What is the key to Camry’s success?
Some of the reasons for the long-term amazing sales success of the Camry are reliability, quality, and resale value. Camry owners have tested this model during several years and the car keeps winning from generation to generation.
Toyota keeps creating a renewed Camry that keeps attracting new buyers with new features, new look, new trim levels, but keeping the same parameters that have made the Camry the best-seller, great fuel economy, low-cost maintenance, good performance, a comfortable size, and nice refreshed style.
The new Camry has a more sporty and sleeker attractive look. The new model has a slightly lower with a sportier profile that attracts new generations. This new Camry 8th generation looks great and seems to have the optimal size for the segment. The two-part grille has smoother lines and looks bolt, sporty and elegant.
The new generation is being built under Toyota’s latest-generation architecture, the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) modular platform introduced a couple of years ago in the hybrid Prius. Toyota has created the new Camry with the most expressive style, a sophisticated suspension for better driving and handling. The new Camry is safer and more fun to drive than previous generations.
Three powertrains are available on the 2019 Camry: They include a 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder D-4S gasoline engine and a 3.5-liter V6 with D-4S Fuel Injection. The eight-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission (8AT); and a next-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS II).
2020 Toyota Camry Received the NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating
2019 Toyota — Best Resale Value: Brand, According to Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com
The Camry is proudly made in the U.S. All Camry cars sold in the United States are built at the Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.
XLE Trim
The Camry was available with 10 trims for the 2019 model. For 2020, Toyota is giving more choices and configurations to Camry buyers. The 2020 Camry is available in 12 trims.
The model I am test driving is the Camry XLE, a great trim model in the middle of the Camry lineup. It has very good standard features and it has a good middle-budget price-range around 29K.
2019 Camry Trim Models
- L, base model
- LE,
- SE, a sports model
- XLE, better equipped
- XSE, luxury
- XLE V6
- XSE V6
- Hybrid Camry is available as LE, SE and XLE hybrid versions.
2020 Camry Trim Models
- L, base model
- LE,
- SE, a sports model
- SE Nightshade Edition (new trim for 2020)
- XLE, better equipped
- XSE, luxury
- TRD (new trim for 2020)
- XLE V6
- XSE V6
- Hybrid Camry is available as LE, SE and XLE hybrid versions.
Toyota Camry XLE
The XLE 2019 model is not the most luxurious car and it is not the most innovative car, but it is the optimal mid-size car for most American drivers. It has a nice exterior shape, comfortable interior, and good features. Even if the Camry is not supercharged with a lot of features, it has most of what the average driver needs.
In terms of fuel economy is amazing, producing 39 Miles per Gallon average when driving combining city and highway.
The new TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) gives more flexibility to the auto-maker, being able to offer more trims and options, helping produce a great XLE Camry trim.
Driving in the highway and fast roads, the XLE Camry delivers great performance, being comfortable and safe. The Camry delivers an excellent driving experience. Riding onboard the new Camry XLE feels more sporty and is much more fun to drive.
Pricing
Price for the Camry starts at US $24K for the base model L, and go all the way to around $35K for the XSE V6, one of the top models of the lineup. The XLE trim I am test driving has a nice middle-range price around $29K.
| Model | MSRP Price |
| 2019 Toyota Camry XLE | $29,174 |
| 2020 Toyota Camry XLE | $29,455 |
Highlights for the 2019 XLE Camry
- Direct Shift-8AT 8-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) with sequential shift mode
- 2.5-Liter Dynamic Force 4-Cylinder DOHC 16-Valve D-4S Dual Injection with Dual VVT-i
- Front-wheel drive
- Horsepower 203 hp @ 6600 rpm
- Torque 184 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm
- MPG city/highway/combined) 28/39/32
- Fuel tank capacity of 16 gallons.
- 3-mode switch (ECO, Normal, Sport)
- Free regular maintenance included during 2 years or 25,000 miles with ToyotaCare
- Free 24-hour roadside assistance included during 2 years with ToyotaCare
- Audio Plus, includes 8-in. touch-screen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatibility
- Six speakers touch-screen, AM/FM/HD Radio, CD player, auxiliary port.
Three USB ports (one 1.5A and two 2.1A) - 7-in. TFT Multi-Information Display (MID) with customizable settings
- 18-in. silver machined-finish alloy wheels
- Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC).
- Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- LED headlights with fully integrated LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with auto on/off feature
- Black front grille with sport mesh insert
- Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging
- Integrated backup camera108 with dynamic gridlines
- Leather-trimmed multi-stage heated front seats with seatback pockets; 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support; 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- Ten airbags
- Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) with direct pressure readout
Besides many interesiting and necessary features for a good ride, one of the key features that can impress when driving a Camry, is its great fuel efficienty. The 2019 Camry can ride 39 Miles with 1 Gallon of Gas combined highway/city, that is impressive!
Some features that some drivers may wish for a future Camry are to have a trim model with all wheel drive and manual transmission.
