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Base prices range from $21,955 to $24,725
Mileage ranges from 21 miles per gallon in the city to 35 miles per gallon on the highway.
What it is: Toyotas flagship family sedan, and a perennial bestseller.
Whats worth knowing: Toyota played it safe when it redesigned the Camry, which is new for 2012. That was probably fortuitous, given that the once-mighty Japanese automaker has lost market share in the aftermath of safety recalls involving sticking accelerator pedals and other issues. Most of the changes in the new Camry are incremental improvements on a model that was already considered proficient and highly reliable.
Who its for: People who want comfortable, dependable transportation and dont feel a need to make a statement with their car.
Whats good: The Camry has a lot of interior and trunk space for a car that averages 33 MPG with the standard four-cylinder enginewhich ought to provide plenty of power for most drivers. The dashboard controls and cabin materials have an upscale feel, and the XLE trim line comes with an audio touch screen, dual climate control and other plush features for a reasonable $25,000 or so. If you want more power, the optional V-6 will provide it.
Whats bad: Its boring. If you havent noticed all those new 2012 Camrys on the road, its because nothing about the exterior styling stands out. The ride is extremely pleasant but not at all exhilarating.
How it stacks up: Toyotas appealputting those recent safety scandals asidecomes largely from its once-famous reliability. If the new Camry fulfills that standard, it will be a winner. This is a crowded segment, with offerings for drivers who prefer a sportier ride (the Mazda6 or Suzuki Kazashi), a stronger hint of luxury (the Volkswagen Passat), a ton of features for the money (the Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima) and other strong Camry-like sedans (the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion). The array of choices may seem daunting, but the good news is that its hard to go wrong when you choose a family sedan these days.
What to do if you want one: Test-driving every competing model would take up too many Saturdays, so do research ahead of time to narrow down your choices to two or three. If fuel economy is a priority (which it should be) make sure you drive the most-efficient four-cylinder models when you head to the dealership for a spin.
Rick Newman is the Chief Business Correspondent for U.S. News & World Report and a longtime car buff. He reviews automobiles here on a regular basis, as well as writing about all things vehicular.
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