2012 Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is not only America’s favorite car, but has long been the benchmark for mid-size family sedans. But, in recent years, recalls, natural disasters, and new rivals like the Hyundai Sonata, have put the Camry on the defensive. Well, now the Camry is switching to offense with an all new 2012 edition. So let’s see if the Camry should stay a winner.
The 7th generation, 2012 Toyota Camry aims to keep you safe, secure, but also entertained during your efficient everyday drive. That last part foretells an alteration in Camry philosophy as Toyota wants this new era sedan to attract a younger, more tech savvy, as well as environmentally conscience, family car buyer. But, the new Camry has to first appeal to the visual senses before it can lure more youthful customers into the showroom. Rather than go for a swoopy look like the Hyundai Sonata, the Camry designers took an edgy, if still very evolutionary path.
Our Red Metallic Camry SE test car exudes modern cues with strong character lines, flatter sides, and a wider stance. The front end looks ready to inhale the road with an aggressive, spoiler-style, three port lower inlet. The wide, sharply contoured headlights connect a shorter mesh grill. Other Camrys, including the Hybrid, have an attractive two-bar chrome grille and a large single port lower opening. Wedgy fog lights are standard only on the SE and XLE. With a full length shoulder line up top, rocker panel extensions below, supported by handsome 18-inch alloys, the SE’s profile looks appropriately sporty. Same for the rear view with a trunk lid spoiler, sculpted lower facia, and dual chrome exhaust tips. Other models are less overt, but all include huge, talon-shaped tail lamps that are definitely distinctive.
Unlike newer competitors the Camry still offers a V6. The carryover 3.5-liter in our SE rates 268-horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. The base engine is the familiar 2.5-liter I4 with 178-horsepower and 170 pound-feet. Both the 4 and 6 are manual mode 6-speed automatic only, although the SE does add paddle shifters. The Hybrid’s 2.5-liter has been revamped for more efficiency, with a combined hybrid drive CVT output of 200-horsepower, a boost of 13.
Hybrid fuel economy jumps to 43 City and 39 Highway, now handily beating the Ford Fusion Hybrid. But, that’s due more to the new Camry losing weight, honing aerodynamics, and adding more efficient tires, than just powertrain tweaks. Even with carryover engines the I4 government ratings of 25 City and 35 Highway are up 3 mpg each, with the V6 gaining one each at 21 City and 30 Highway.
Every new Camry generation brings more comfort and luxury. While both exterior and interior dimensions have barely changed, the cabin feels bigger and is richer. The handsome dash is dressed with better materials and even real stitching. Details are more artful. The hooded, overlapping gauges with twin LED readouts are crystal clear. Switches are oversized and easy to reach. The user friendly center console puts the shifter and cupholders side-by-side. Bluetooth is now standard on all Camrys, along with a USB port with full iPod integration. But, a backup camera is an option.
SE and XLE V6 Camry’s includes a 6.1 inch touch screen for navigation, stereo, trip functions, and Entune. Entune, Toyota’s new multimedia system, links with smart phones for apps access to and Pandora and Bing as well as traffic, weather, and sports schedules. 10 airbags protect all those front and rear, while all seats more comfortable. Rear legroom is up slightly in the back, with standard split 60/40 folding seatbacks. Cargo volume is up slightly to a reasonable 15.4 cubic feet.
Driving alongside the Columbia River and on the twisty roads near Roslyn, Washington, we were impressed with the Camry’s effortless ride and competent composure. With the hybird’s electric steering now across the board, we found quick response and good feedback. The front strut, rear dual link suspension is up to every mission this car should typically endure. The car is also amazingly quiet. Our SE is the sportiest model, with a firmer suspension tuning and tauter ride, yet it still delivered a drive you can handle all day without fatigue.
And, here’s more good news. Most 2012 Toyota Camry prices are the same or lower than last year. The high volume LE drops $200 to $22,500. The SE at $23,000 is $965 less, while the XLE dives $2,000 to $24,725. Even the Camry Hybrid begins lower at $25,900, or $1150 less than before.
The 2012 Toyota Camry continues as a well focused solution to American family sedan needs. Only now it’s younger looking, more luxurious, more tech-savvy and more fuel efficient, plus for core buyers, less expensive. If that doesn’t put rivals on the defensive, we don’t what will.
Specifications
- Engine: 3.5 liter
- Horsepower: 268
- Torque: 248 lb-ft
- EPA: 25 mph city/ 35 mph highway
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota’s Go Anywhere Globetrotter Returns To U.S.
Every once in a while, we all need a reset. A time to get back to basics and prioritize the things that really matter. Well, for the Toyota Land Cruiser that time is now. So, let’s find out if that means bigger and better things for Toyota’s iconic off-roader.
The Toyota Land Cruiser’s status among the global off-road community is legendary, and it’s hard to imagine there’s any corner of the earth where a Land Cruiser hasn’t kicked up a little dust or mud. Well, 2024 sees the return of the Land Cruiser to the U.S. market after a 3-year hiatus, getting a major reset for the journey.
The reset comes mostly by no longer being based on the large three-row “300-series” chassis, but a new version of the smaller “200-series,” now known as the J250. As with the latest Tacoma, it uses the Tundra pickup’s full-size steel frame.
While the main Land Cruiser model, which goes by simply Land Cruiser, is packed full of luxury and convenience features, there is also a stripped-down model known as the 1958, honoring the first year the Land Cruiser made landfall here in North America. And it is that 1958 we have here, and we were glad to see it, as it also celebrates the original’s back-to-basics approach as a blank canvas for you to personalize as you tackle more and more adventures.
Not that it’s fully stripped down, as 8-inch touchscreen infotainment, a 7-inch full-color multi-information display, and automatic climate control are still standard. Plus, some seriously durable materials, and great heated cloth front seats that throw off some get serious 1990s Tacoma vibes.
But outside, there’s a definite lack of flashy trim and basic looking 18-inch wheels with Yokohama Geolander all-season tires; plus, big chunky bumpers and tilt-up back glass, which is a rarity that we appreciate. Though there is a little too much plastic in places that are sure to see some abuse if you do any significant off-roading.
It even feels a little rough around the edges, but for us it just adds to the rugged old-school utility vibe in a good way.
We did just that, both here in the Mid-Atlantic as well as in the California desert; and while there are some tech-forward driving aids, the actual hardware is in most cases plenty to get things done. That includes standard full-time dual-range four-wheel-drive, locking center and rear diffs, and 8.7-inches of ground clearance. A front stabilizer bar disconnect is also available to allow for increased articulation.
Who needs a V6 or even a V8 when you’ve got Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX setup at your disposal with 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque coming from a 2.4-liter turbo-four with an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and its eight-speed automatic transmission. Low speed torque delivery is impressive. It even feels a little rough around the edges, which may be a turn off to some, but for us it just adds to the rugged old-school utility vibe in a good way.
And it certainly feels quicker than an off roader needs to be, with an instant torque dump as soon as we eased on the throttle at our Mason Dixon test track; helping us get to 60 in 8.1 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 16.3 seconds at 86 mph. Considering the Land Cruiser’s terrain conquering mission, it behaved quite well in our handling course; it was plenty responsive to inputs, with less body roll than we expected and plenty of grip from the tires. The steering was light and quick but as expected didn’t provide much feel. Other than significant nosedive, braking performance was exceptional. Only 107-feet to panic stop us from 60 mph.
With the shift to the smaller size, there’s no more third row available, and cargo capacity now comes in at 46.2 cubic-feet with a max of a still healthy 82.1. Now, the best part of the Land Cruiser’s return is the entry price of $57,445. That’s about 30-grand less than what the last Land Cruiser went for back in 2021.
Whether it’s over the top fashion trends, mullets, or zombies; just when you think they’re dead, they come roaring back to life. Of course, we’re much happier to see the resurrection of this 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser than any of those things. Toyota is one brand that still recognizes the value of full-framed rugged rigs and has also acknowledged that sometimes less really is more. The Godfather of Toyota off-roading is back and better than ever.