Exclusive 2015 Toyota Camry... Up Close and Personal
The most recent Camry was unveiled in 2011 as a 2012 model. Three years passed and it was time that Toyota made a few mid-generation updates. The 2015 Camry was introduced at the New York Auto Show, where we got to have a look. But as you can imagine, an auto show isn’t the best place to really examine a car. Last week, however, we finally got to get acquainted with the new Camry in private. That said, Toyota’s generosity was limited and we were not given the chance to actually drive it. Nonetheless, we got to know it better.
Since it’s not a new generation, the chassis is the same, though there are additional welds around the doors for added rigidity. Also, the front and rear tracks are each 10 mm wider. Meanwhile the mechanics haven’t been touched. The steering on all trims is now firmer and the suspension settings have been adjusted to be stiffer – especially on the XSE. And the brakes now offer more feedback.
Better soundproofing
Most of the body panels are new, except the upper portion (windows and roofline). The exterior dimensions are now slightly longer as the front and rear overhangs have been stretched a few millimetres. The size of the passenger compartment is exactly the same as before, though. According to Toyota, the soundproofing is now 30% better thanks to the newly added rubber around the doors and insulation in the floor. All models come with a compact spare tire instead of an air compressor, which I consider a good thing even though a tire weighs a bit more.
A new model has been added to crown the line this year: the XSE. Though the pricing has yet to be revealed, Toyota Canada is hoping to reproduce the Corolla S’ results. With a price tag just slightly higher than the previous model, it attracted numerous new customers—especially young buyers who would have otherwise overlooked this option. The Camry XSE will come with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder or a V6. Note that the XSE V6 will come with more equipment than its four-cylinder counterpart, including a factory-standard garage door opener, blind spot detection system and JBL radio. These features will only be available as options in the four-cylinder version.
The versions
In all, there will be three types of Camry:
- Four-cylinder (LE, SE, XLE and XSE trims)
- Six-cylinder (XLE and XSE trims)
- Hybrid (LE, SE and XLE trims)
In 2013, 17% of all Camrys sold in Canada were hybrids and it is expected that this percentage will be the same for the next generation. Also, most of the Camrys sold were equipped with the four-cylinder engine; another trend that will probably not change. Dealerships will start getting the 2015 Camry this fall.
During our “date” with the 2015 Camry, two models were on display: the LE and the XSE, representing the two poles of the line up. Check out the photo gallery to learn more.
