The Toyota Camry has an excellent reputation for reliability and a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive, making it a great choice for those who live where winter weather means snow and ice. Even if in mere rain, the all-wheel drive improves handling and is well worth the additional $1,400. There are two engines: a 203-horsepower 4-cylinder or a peppy V6 with 301 horsepower that is more fun to drive. EPA-estimated fuel economy varies depending on the configuration you choose, with a low of 25 mpg combined city/highway and a high of 32 mpg combined.
Infotainment features a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, six-speaker audio and Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity. Top trims get a 9-inch touchscreen with an upgraded nine-speaker JBL audio system along with navigation and wireless smartphone charging. While the upgrades are nice, especially the audio, they’re not enough to jump a trim level since the difference in screen size is so minor.
Front seats are supportive, with a standard eight-way power driver’s seat, six-way power passenger seat and dual-zone climate control. These key features are uncommon in a base trim and help make the Camry a good value. When it comes to cargo, there’s 15.1 cubic feet in the trunk, which is a bit smaller than the competition.
Standard safety offerings are extensive and include forward emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition and a rear-seat alert that reminds you to check the back seats so that kids or pets aren’t forgotten. Blind-spot monitoring, reverse automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert and a surround-view camera to help in driving through tight spots are available on select trims. Buyers can choose from eight trim levels.
- Starting Price: $26,420
- EPA-estimated fuel economy: 28/39 mpg city/highway
