- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
141kW, 279Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Camry with the Clark Kent exterior
FOR: Engine is quiet, efficient and powerful, suspension combines smooth ride with good grip, and the interior is roomy.
AGAINST: A missed opportunity to give the Camry some flair
RATING: three stars (out of 5)
Not many people will associate Toyota's Camry sedan with muscle-car qualities such as gut-wrenching performance, fat tyres that manfully try to hold back excessive horsepower or the sort of lairy looks which make young lads drop their Samboys on the pavement and stare.
As a matter of fact, it's the sort of car which, if parked in a driveway, is unlikely to even be noticed by the neighbours.
Let's face it. As far as street cred goes, the Camry is a dead duck. Which is a pity, because underneath that Clark Kent exterior beats more than a whiff of Superman. Even in bog standard trim, the V6 version has the legs to out accelerate its six-cylinder rivals from Ford and Holden and in many other ways is a wonderfully refined device, given its low price tag.
So Toyota has taken what is a good starting point and given us its performance version of the Camry, which it calls the Touring. Instead of being a red-hot conversion, however, the Touring is sort of a warmed-up makeover.
Unlike Ford and Holden, Toyota has no access to a V8 engine, which would appeal to the hoon brigade; instead, the Camry is more like a slightly quicker version of normal family hacks, such as the Mitsubishi Magna Sports, Commodore S and Falcon XR6.
So it doesn't get any tweaks to its drivetrain for increased engine power or lower gearing. The 3.0-litre V6 is the same as in any other Camry ranging from the $28,000 CSi to the $46,000 Vienta Grande. What has been changed is the suspension, which reaps the benefits of gas-filled dampers and springs stiffened by 9 per cent at the front, and 20 per cent at the rear.
Wheels are alloy, and although the Touring's tyres are of the same, 205/65R15 size as any other Camry, they're fitted with much more grippy Michelin Vivacy tyres.
Inside there's leather wrap for the steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake handle, and the major instruments get red needles.
Despite being untouched by any performance wand, the engine is already a strong and sophisticated unit so it's easily argued it does the job. The power output of 141 kilowatts doesn't seem impressive at first, but at just over 1,400kg, the Camry is a real lightweight for its size.
Anyone who remembers their high school physics will know that acceleration is inversely proportional to mass, so despite its modest amount of mumbo, the Touring fairly flies. In five-speed manual form, the dash to 100km/h comes up in around eight seconds, which is excellent for a car that seats five and costs just over $34,000.
Just as good as its performance, however, is the uncannily smooth and quiet engine, which is way beyond the low levels of refinement attributable to locally built, bigger-capacity sixes. It likes to rev, isn't too short on low down torque and even manages decent fuel consumption.
While the Camry's four-speed automatic is close to being perfect for its slurring shifts and ability to drop into just the right gear for overtaking, in some ways the standard five-speed manual is even better. The manual allows the driver to get the best out of a responsive engine, the gearshift is quick without being overly short or sporty, the clutch pedal is light and the whole drivetrain feels tight.
Okay, none of this is news to Camry owners, so what does the Touring aspect add to the equation?
Certainly there's not the sort of lumpy, muscle-car ride expected of the home-grown product. Only back-to-back comparisons with a Camry CSi will reveal the Touring is a little tighter, a little tauter in the suspension department but certainly never harsh.
The stickier tyres improve cornering speed by hanging on to the road better, although on a wet road the ultimate handling balance is towards understeer or front-end push, and the usual Camry trait of steering wheel kick-back is evident. There's less body roll as well, which feels better for the driver, but probably doesn't make the Touring handle any better. In all, it's an improvement over the standard car, but only by degrees.
Far less convincing is the external makeover, which is a little disappointing for anyone expecting the ugly-duckling-turns-swan routine. An add-on rear wing, five-spoke alloys and colour-coded grille aren't about to overcome the Camry's rather staid exterior, but they do make the black wing mirrors look out of place.
Likewise, the interior enhancements are subtle rather than mind blowing, and don't go a long way towards eradicating the plasticky dash area, grey colour scheme and utter conventionality of the cabin.
The thing is, though, that everything works: the steering wheel has a nice feel to it, the seats are supportive enough and the back seat has the sort of leg room which belies the Camry's tight external dimensions. The boot is massive, and puts virtually every car of similar or larger size to shame.
Standard equipment levels on the Touring are high, given the modest price tag. Twin airbags and anti-lock brakes are standard equipment, as are power windows, remote central locking and a CD stereo taken from the Vienta Grande.
What it boils down to then, is the basic V6 Camry is such a good thing from the perspectives of performance, handling, ride and refinement that the Touring is also an excellent drive simply because the package has hardly been messed with.
It's a pity there couldn't have been more visual excitement outside or in, but costs have also been kept low so the purchase price of the car isn't prohibitive. So maybe the Camry Touring won't turn too many heads - but it'll certainly keep the driver satisfied.
Nuts 'n' Bolts
Price: $34,930 manual, $36,580 auto
Insurance: Premium $575, $400 excess (RACV, wholly owned, driver 30-plus, rating one, medium-risk suburb)
Engine: 3.0-litre, DOHC, 24-valve V6. 141kW at 5200rpm and 279Nm at 4400rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic
Steering: Rack and pinion, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock. Turning circle 11.2m
Brakes: Ventilated discs front, discs rear. ABS standard
Suspension: Front - Independent by MacPherson struts with anti-roll bar. Rear - Independent by MacPherson struts, lower links and anti-roll bar
Wheels/tyres: 6 x 15-inch alloy wheels, tyres 205/65R15
How big?
Length 4755mm, width 1785mm, height 1420mm, wheelbase 2670mm
How heavy?
1425kg manual, 1460kg auto
How thirsty?
11.6 L/100km. Fuel tank 70 litres
Rivals
Ford Falcon XR6, $38,990; Holden Commodore S, $34,810; Mitsubishi Magna Sports, $34,720