The 2010 Toyota Camry demonstrates once again why it's still one of the top family sedans available. Its highway ride is just plain plush and the optional V6 engine's combination of refinement and fuel efficiency makes it the best in the midsize sedan market. And you can then toss in cabin roominess, a quiet ride, excellent crash test scores, and a longterm reputation for reliability as additional important positives.
What's more, the Camry keeps getting better. New features for the 2010 model year include a 2.5 liter four-cylinder base engine, replacing the previous 2.4 liter. In addition, both transmissions, manual and automatic, now have six speeds instead of five for improved fuel efficiency and riding comfort.
Other changes include a new optional audio system with satellite radio and Bluetooth for base and LE models, auto up/down windows on all four doors, standard stability control, as well as a restyled grille and taillights.
Standard Features And Options:
The 2010 Camry is classified as a midsize four-door sedan and is available in four trims: base, LE, SE and XLE.
The base Camry is equipped with a four-cylinder engine only, while all other models offer either the four-cylinder or a V6 engine.
Standard features on the already well-equipped base Camry include full power accessories, cruise control, air conditioning, 16 inch steel wheels, four-door auto up/down windows, a six-speaker CD sound system with an auxiliary input jack, a til/telescoping steering wheel, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.
The LE model includes all of the above, plus keyless entry and an 8-way power driver seat.
The Camry SE adds a sport-tuned suspension, 17 inch alloy wheels, and special interior and exterior styling accents.
The top-of-the-line XLE model comes with the LE's softer suspension settings and 16 inch wheels, and adds a moonroof, an upgraded JBL audio system with an in-dash CD changer and satellite radio, Bluetooth phone and music connectivity, a power passenger seat, leather seating on the V6, automatic dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, reclining rear seats, and wood-tone interior stylings.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower Camry Prices:
Toyota's sales have been on the weak side for months now, right along with the other car brands and evidence of a continuing slow economy. They've also taken a bit of a hit to their renowned reputation for durability due to the sticking gas pedal issue.
The bottom line? The current combination of a soft market along with Toyota's effort to prove their vehicles are still top-notch have created the perfect opportunity for nailing down some great deals.
Car dealers will "wheel and deal" bigtime right now if you know how to push their buttons.
How To Buy A New Camry At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2010 Toyota Camry, here's the best way to buy one at the lowest price, especially given the current slow car market.
Most of the XLE's upgraded features are available as options on the other models. And depending on the trim level, other significant options include a sunroof, navigation, heated front seats, keyless entry and keyless ignition.
Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:
While all Camrys are front-wheel drive, powering the LE and XLE models is a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that produces 169 horsepower, an addition of 11 over the earlier 2.4 liter. The SE's version of this engine has been tweaked to boost horsepower to 179. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual on all four-cylinder Camrys except for the XLE, which comes only with a six-speed automatic. The other models offer an automatic transmission as an option.
Optional on all Camrys except the base model is a 3.5 liter V6 engine that generates a hefty 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. This engine is only offered with the six-speed automatic transmission. In performance tests, the V6 Camry has been timed from a standstill to 60 mph in a very quick 6.5 seconds.
The EPA estimated gas mileage for a manual four-cylinder Camry comes in at 22 mpg city and 33 mpg on the highway. Gas mileage on the automatic is rated nearly the same at 22 city and 32 highway. Even with the V6, gas mileage performance remains impressive, coming in at 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
Safety:
Standard safety features on all 2010 Toyota Camry models include antilock brakes (ABS) with brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and a driver knee airbag.
In government crash testing, the Camry swept all categories with perfect five-star ratings in all frontal and side impact categories for both driver and passenger protection.
Interior:
The cabin of the 2010 Camry is comfortable, roomy and attractively designed. The main gauges and instruments are large and user-friendly, while there's plenty of storage cubbies as well. There's also ice-blue backlighting for the audio and climate controls that liven things up.
The SE has sportier cabin styling accents and the XLE has a more premium look and feel with features such as wood trim (not real wood) and reclining rear seats. Trunk cargo capacity for all models is 15 cubic feet.
Drive:
The Camry is not trying to be a driving enthusiast's plaything. Instead, it has been specifically engineered to provide outstanding ride comfort and noise reduction ... and it does so superbly well.
That said, the new 2.5 liter base engine and six-speed transmissions have added a notch of zest and refinement to the Camry's performance. And the optional turbine-smooth V6 makes the 2010 Camry one of the fastest mid-priced sedans available, while still producing impressive fuel economy results.
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