Review of the 2020 Toyota Camry | Car Reviews

Auto123 testimonials the 2020 Toyota Camry, in its hybrid, AWD and TRD variants.

It is receiving really repetitive to say, but it’s no a lot less genuine for the repeating: today’s sedans are, total, improved-built, improved-performing and far more fuel-effective than they’ve ever been, at exactly the time when they’ve been unceremoniously shoved aside as individuals stampede in direction of SUV formats.

The outcome is some mighty good 4-doors fighting for their share of a substantially more compact pie. This is the whole lot of the Honda Accord, the VW Passat (soon to be absent from our industry), the Kia Optima-turn out to be-K5 and… the Toyota Camry. The trusty, stable Camry.

We had celebration to take a look at out various iterations of the 2020 Camry, every single very distinctive within the lineup: the hybrid, the new AWD variant, and the TRD, all decked up for a day at the keep track of. The first two could be desirable to a broad swath of Canadian consumers, even though the final one particular is far more of a specialized niche affair. We’re just not absolutely sure of the specialized niche.

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The search
No subject which version you get, the Camry is a well-place-together, comely 4-doorway with its lines and proportions in the right place. At the very least, which is so in my eyes. I’m specially a supporter of the car’s again close with its slinky-eyed rear lights and modest lip overhanging the Toyota badge and pleasingly built and font-ed C-A-M-R-Y lettering on the trunk. From the aspect, the lines are well-proportioned, the fenestration not currently being absolutely squeezed out by the tall doorway panels as they are on some other products.

The entrance close is… well let’s say there is variety of a whole lot likely on in that entrance close, what with the slanted headlights, air intakes down very low on every single aspect of the very low-hanging grille, and grille openings farther up in the centre. But don’t count me between these bothered by the search, considered much too aggressive by some for what is, immediately after all, a mid-dimension sedan built to go men and women all around in comfort. Why shouldn’t your cozy sofa be a sharp-on the lookout one particular as well?

Note that the XLE variant gets its individual entrance grille, which may be the major-close trim in the product or service featuring but is in my perspective a duller-on the lookout affair. In the eye of the beholder, as they say…

The versions
The parade begins with the LE foundation version, priced at $28,889. Subsequent appear the SE ($30,819), the XSE ($37,259) and and finally the XLE, which begins at $39,059. All versions can he had with all-wheel travel (LE at $31,119, SE AWD at $32,559, XSE AWD at $38,919 and XLE AWD at $40,659). Those people interested in the hybrid configuration can get it with all trims as well (LE at $33,819, SE at $32,599, XSE at $37,259 and XLE at $43,619).

For these who may search askance at a 4-cylinder or hybrid powertrain, there is certainly the solution of the V6-outfitted XSE, priced at $40,659, or the XLE, costing $43,859. The XSE can be gussied up with the TRD deal (far more on that beneath), in which circumstance you are going to pay out $38,259 – a lot less than the XSE mainly because some other attributes are removed.

The Camry Hybrid

2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid, badging

This is for these who want mid-dimension spaciousness and much less visits to the gasoline pump for each thirty day period. It delivers the comfort and dependability you be expecting from a Toyota sedan, but there is an further charge to receiving that gasoline-preserving know-how for instance the typical version of the Camry SE (the version I drove) begins at $30,819, even though the hybrid system provides that up to $32,599. Now, which is not a substantial jump, and it will, with this hybrid system that quickly toggles amongst electric powered and gasoline-motor travel, attributes regenerative braking and needs no plugging in, indicate you gain from considerably reduced fuel usage. My typical immediately after a 7 days of metropolis-significant driving was five.6L/100 km. Absolutely nothing to sneeze at.

Toyota has mounted a perform in the Camry Hybrid that I experience just about every car or truck of this kind must have: an EV button for controlling when you travel in all-electric powered method (in site visitors in the metropolis) and when you don’t (on the highway). Sad to say, this individual system does not do what I’d desire. Press the button and it means only that the car begins from a quit on electric powered power, but it extremely immediately switches to gasoline power as soon as you get the slightest bit energized with the throttle. And, it does that anyhow even if you don’t drive the EV button. I’m absolutely sure that if I could control the circumstances in which the electric powered motor is made use of I’d increase fuel financial system, but right here I don’t have the possibility.

2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid, interior

If not, there are 3 travel modes, Eco, Regular and Activity. The first is self-explanatory, and the final is bogus promotion. Adhere to the center one particular, it’s the porridge which is just right for this model.

The Camry Hybrid operates on a two.5L 4-cylinder motor mixed with an electric powered motor as well as a constantly variable transmission (CVT). On its individual the combustion motor delivers 176 hp, even though whole output from the two motors is 208 hp. In our take a look at travel this powertrain never felt both specially energetic or flaccid it’s ample for the position, is what it is, and which is cemented by the existence of the CVT and the limitations that structure provides with it.

The Camry AWD

2020 Toyota Camry AWD, profile

Toyota has returned the all-wheel-travel notion to the Camry sedan (and to the greater Avalon), which is very likely tunes to the ears of Canadian sedan enthusiasts, specifically considering that it’s readily available at the buyer’s discretion on all 4 trims of the model (however not with the V6 motor, get observe). Do not go anticipating a far more-fascinating travel or just about anything like that from this version, this is strictly to increase even far more protection and peace of thoughts to an now protection-targeted car.

In this configuration, output is 202 hp from the two.5L 4-cylinder, and the transmission is an 8-speed automatic. That final bit of gear does enable develop a small far more dynamism when you’re powering the wheel than you get from the hybrid. But let’s be clear: even though this new Camry is a tighter on-highway handler than the model was in a long time past, it’s still not a sporty affair. And hold in thoughts that AWD inevitably means bigger fuel usage. My 7 days of primarily metropolis driving sent a mediocre 12.7L/100 km. I’m absolutely sure I was just one particular or two stretches of highway driving from bringing that whole down to a far more fair amount, but still.

The version of the all-wheel-travel Camry I drove currently being an XSE, it really appears to be like very a bit snazzier than the SE hybrid many thanks to the further sport styling that incorporates a sport entrance grille, rear spoiler, dual exhaust and 19-inch aluminum wheels. What’s far more, it arrived with a dual-tone external end that is seemingly the bane of some critics’ existence but does not bother me one particular bit. I carefully appreciated on the lookout at this car the 7 days I had it. Intellect you, I spent a whole lot of time on the lookout at the Camry TRD as well, but which is one more story. Speaking of which…

The Camry TRD (XSE with V6)

2020 Toyota Camry TRD, 3-quarters entrance

This is the first time the Toyota Racing Advancement (TRD) crew has gotten its crafty paws on the Camry, and it’s done very good perform. This matter grabs notice wherever it goes, having a really sharp-on the lookout but sober sedan and creating it search, at the very least, like it’d be right at home on the keep track of. That’s having it a bit significantly, but still the Camry TRD is a considerably more substantial performer than both of the other Camrys we tried using this 12 months.

The TRD deal is an increase-on that can be tremendous-imposed on the XSE trim with V6 motor. It gives the Camry distinctive and far more-aggressive styling and an aerodynamic overall body kit. The latter incorporates a entrance splitter, aspect skirts, a trunk lid spoiler and, most in-your-experience element of all, a rear diffuser.

But what Toyota giveth, Toyota taketh away: this version gets rid of from the XSE it’s dependent on various objects, this kind of as the power moonroof, the 60-40 break up folding rear seats and some tech like the blind place monitoring and head-up display devices.

2020 Toyota Camry TRD, rear

Between the patties, the beef normally takes the sort of upgraded suspension and shock absorbers, braces to stiffen up the chassis, greater brakes (brake calipers are purple) and entrance and rear sway bars.

In phrases of appears to be like, right here once again there is a two-tone end that pleases me, and the badging and C-A-M-R-Y lettering on the again are black to increase a smidgen far more menace. I spent a whole lot of time on the lookout at this matter and vacillating amongst admiration and amused fascination, as it felt in some way much too substantially. In the close I made the decision I appreciated all of it help you save for the diffuser, which just appeared like silly, inappropriate grandstanding to me. Too substantially. Take it away however and you’re remaining with a really rad-on the lookout sporty sedan.

Inside are a quantity of touches that tell you the TRD folks have been in the home, so you get black leather with purple stitching, purple seatbelts, TRD logos on the seat backs, etcetera. Then when you flip on the motor you get an motor rumble which is evidently distinctive from the typical Camry V6.

2020 Toyota Camry TRD, interior

That stated, the search and audio may be overselling what the car can really do. The motor is the Camry XSE’s 301-hp 3.5L V6, together with the 8-speed automatic transmission, and even though it gets a crisper-managing overall body to propel down the highway and all around corners, it does not really make the matter any more quickly.

For what it’s really worth, I totaled a mixed 8.6L/100 km in the Camry TRD, which is really extremely stable fuel financial system from a V6.

Conclusion
The 2020 Toyota Camry is a extremely nice-on the lookout sedan that delivers the interior place, comfort and protection you want from a relatives car, and it drives, regardless of some looseness in the steering, relatively crisply. The hybrid solution is excellent for preserving on gasoline, and try to remember these financial savings will continue on thirty day period immediately after thirty day period and 12 months immediately after 12 months as you travel this supremely trusted car. I’m partial to the AWD configuration for the small further charge it involves and the extra peace of thoughts it delivers in wintertime. As for the TRD version, well, it will charm to these who like to draw notice on the highway even as they gain from practicality. But that spoiler may also earn you a few giggles. Just saying…

2020 Toyota Camry AWD, 3-quarters entrance

We like

Stable looker with pleasing proportions
Comfortable, stable travel
Roomy interior
Cavernous trunk
The 8-speed automatic transmission is discreet and capable
All-wheel travel returns to the Camry
The hybrid version for its absolutely sure-hearth fuel financial system

We like a lot less

The TRD version is enjoyment and all, but would you deliver it home to meet the folks?
The CVT is… well, it’s what it is
Not overwhelming power from the two.5L 4-cylinder
Steering a small loose

The level of competition

Honda Accord
Hyundai Sonata
Kia K5
Mazda Mazda6
Nissan Altima
Subaru Legacy
Volkswagen Passat

2020 Toyota Camry TRD, spoiler

Specialists

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