Driving Impressions
Camry Hybrids and models with the 169-horsepower four-cylinder engine have perfectly adequate acceleration. Would you believe that the Hybrid can actually be the faster of the two in expressway merging or passing? The 179-horsepower SE brings welcome extra oomph to the four-cylinder lineup. With a vigorous 268 horsepower, Camrys with the V6 furnish acceleration on par with other sport sedans in its class.
The Camry offers predictable handling while providing a smooth, comfortable ride that is almost comatose. Four-wheel independent suspension is via MacPherson struts in front and a dual-link strut rear configuration. Camry, LE, XLE and Hybrid models ride on standard 16-inch wheels of either steel (Camry and LE) or aluminum (XLE and Hybrid), with the “I want to be sporty” SE model featuring standard aluminum 17-inch wheels.
Take a corner aggressively and you are answered with tire squealing nose plow. Add Camry’s numb steering, which is slow to react and communicates little of what’s taking place between the tires and the road. Moreover, steering effort is finger-tip light, which makes for easy maneuvering, but will annoy those who prefer a heftier feel.
Toyota designed the Camry SE model with sporty aspirations. Chassis modifications specific to the SE include springs, shock absorbers and bushings with firmer, sportier values than those used in other grades. The Camry SE also has a lower ride height than other Camry models.
Don’t be fooled by the marketing hype. The SE model is still a Camry. While the Camry SE’s stiffer suspension tuning reduces body lean and increases road feel, the antiskid system tends to activate prematurely for a car with sporty ambitions. It drains power and activates braking well before the SE approaches maximum cornering grip, frustrating the driver’s ability to exploit this model’s higher handling limits.
With its new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, the Camry returns an EPA estimated 22 mpg city / 33 mpg highway. Our observed fuel economy with the 6-speed automatic, after depleting a full tank of gas, was a very respectable 27 mpg.
| Engine |
Transmission |
Fuel Economy |
Price | |
| 2011 Toyota Camry LE | 2.5 L 169 hp I4 | 6-Speed Automatic | 22 / 32 | $22,100 |
| 2010 Honda Accord LX | 2.4L 177 hp I4 | 5-Speed Automatic | 22 / 31 | $21,844 |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS | 2.4L 198 hp I4 | 6-Speed Automatic | 23 / 35 | $20,195 |
| 2010 Mazda MAZDA6 | 2.5L 170 hp I4 | 6-Speed Manual Overdrive | 20 / 29 | $21,050 |
| 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS | 2.4L 168 hp I4 | 5-Speed Manual Overdrive | 20 / 28 | $18,990 |
| 2010 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT | 2.4L 169 hp I4 | 6-Speed Automatic | 22 / 30 | $21,825 |
| 2010 Dodge Avenger SXT | 2.4L 173 hp I4 | 4-Speed Automatic | 21 / 30 | $20,230 |
| 2010 Ford Fusion I4 SE | 2.5L 175 hp I4 | 6-Speed Automatic | 22 / 31 | $21,225 |
| 2010 Nissan Altima 2.5 S | 2.5L 175 hp I4 | Continuously Variable Transmission | 23 / 32 | $21,840 |
| 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SE | 2.5L 170 hp I5 | 5-Speed Manual Overdrive | 22 / 30 | $20,550 |
The 2010 Toyota Camry offers a reliable and predictable midsize car that continues to dominate the U.S. market in one of the most competitive categories. With a distinctive and inoffensive styling, a balanced ride and excellent fuel economy, the Camry is one of the best family sedans available.
| BUILD | INTERIOR | PERFORMANCE | HANDLING | STYLING | VALUE | OVERALL | |
| RATING | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9/B- |
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 The official website of Toyota – www.toyota.com |
I purchased this car last month. So far I am loving it.
Pros: Heated seats. Comfortable,quiet, smooth ride. Very fast acceleration. The color (metallic gray). Huge trunk space.Can listen to the songs on my Ipod thru speakers. (aux)
Cons: Interior area (dash and stereo) looks cheap. Defogger takes a while to defog.
My last car was a Lexus Rx300. I am loving my Camry waaaay more! That about says it all.
He’s right about the sound system, terrible. Worse fuel economy also a huge negative considering. Nice ride though and I don’t agree about the power, very quick for a 4 cylinder. Not worth the price though IMHO a bit on the expensive side for what it is.
Thanks for you feedback, Brad. Seems like the Camry took a step backwards from your viewpoint. And this is supposed to be one of the best sedans on the market today. Meh.
Bought this (2010 Camry) with insurance money received from my 03′ Camry (got totaled from hail damage).Totally unimpressed with this car. 2010 Camry’s have very little power via 4 cyl. engine, less gas mileage than my 03′ Camry (went from 30-23 mpg), less comfort (very firm seats,not good for long trips), audio sounds horrible with NO bass & very little midrange,and the suspension doesn’t soak up bumps very well. For the same $20,300,I believe I could’ve gotten a much better vehicle without all the recalls that came with this vehicle. Toyota’s worst vehicle yet. Toyota does have some good vehicles but this NOT one of them! Tried nearly a year for a refund but Toyota refused. I will never quit giving Toyota a bad name until I receive a full refund. Sincerely,mad Toyota customer.