Toyota Camry test drive since 2011 sedan

New Toyota Camry: All features

The new generation of Toyota Camry will already appear on Russian roads today. However, a few days before the date of the official start of sales (previously accepted applications), the first test drive of the car was held in French Nice. A car that promises to become the most popular big sedan in our country.

Why was the test in Nice? Did the Japanese decide to enter the European market in a fight with the best class E? No, Toyota is not ready to go to this risky step. Camry will still be sold only in the so-called CIS countries, but Russia will remain the main market for Camry. The main thing in the Old World, of course, because our homeland accounts for only 3% of world Camry sales. For comparison, China has 23%, and the United States controls ... 50% of the campaign. And, I think, you realized what priorities stood in front of Japanese engineers when creating a new generation.


Formally, Toyota produces its own version of Camry for each sales market. But in fact, these machines are not very different from each other (other bumers, in this case, do not count). The upper photo is Russian Toyota Camry. The average machine for the US market. Well, below the car for Japan (the latter will be sold only with a hybrid engine)

This capricious Europeans require the installation manufacturers of an increasing number of electronic bells and whistles like a system control system, active cruise control with the possibility of braking or an automatic parking player. The Americans are all on the drum. The main thing is that there are many airbags, and the car does not turn over in corners. And they themselves will be able to park at wide Avenue. That is why Toyota Camry is deprived of all these things that European manufacturers even put on class C, not to mention prestigious business departments (only the so-called turning headlights can be noted from something non-standard, but now you will not surprise anyone now).



The wheelbase of the old (lower photo) and new (upper photo) Camry is the same 2775 mm. But at the same time, the new machine increased by 10 mm to 4825 mm in length, the width increased by 5 mm (up to 1825 mm). The height remained the same

On the other hand, Toyota Camry has such an image in our country that it does not need to lure customers with something unusual. The image of the most reliable for a long time will push Toyota sales up. And the Japanese know this very well when the new generation models are promoted on the market, a special emphasis will be placed on quality. Speaking of sales. Now the Toyota plant in St. Petersburg makes about 15 thousand Camry per year, but, according to the plans of the Japanese, the Russian market in 2012 will be able to absorb about 30 thousand cars! Will there be giant queues again? No, part of the cars will be supplied to us from Japan.



In its architecture, the salon of the new Toyota Camry (upper photo) resembles the interior of the old generation (lower photo)

How does Toyota plans to reach such serious sales? Not only at the expense of the new body ... although, in many ways because of it. Designers tried to make the appearance much more serious compared to the predecessor. As a result, Camry has become like a chic Lexus LS. Yes, someone will not like such brutal design. But, believe me, most buyers will be delighted. If the past generation Camry was, as they say, unisex, then the current machine is already a male car.


This week, the whole south of France waged the fight against the threat of flooding. Fortunately, the area where the famous Nice and Cannes are located, the elements affected to a lesser extent than other regions of the country. We, too, could admire the raging sea, although there was little joy from this. After all, just a few days before our visit, the flood in France claimed the lives of three people, hundreds of houses were destroyed. And in neighboring Italy, 10 people died due

We dealt with the appearance. The next important step was to increase the level of comfort, because in cars of this class, customers need, first of all, it was herself. I remember when the past Camry appeared, the model was praised for very decent smoothness (especially when overcoming large potholes) and a low noise level. But years are going, rivals are becoming more perfect.


The new 2.5-liter engine became not only more powerful than the old volume of 2.4 liters (181 hp against 167 hp). It grown and torque was 224 N ∙ m, now 231 N ∙ m. At the same time, the new motor is even more economical than its predecessor. According to passport data, in the city the average Camry 2.5 consumption is 11 liters per 100 km of the way (the old car with automatic transmission spent 13.6 l). The fuel consumption was reduced in a machine with a motor of 3.5 liters. If earlier the top Camry consumed 14.1 liters, then the new one spends 13.2 liters already

First of all, the engineers took up the improvement of sound insulation. It is generally one of the main trump cards of the new Camry in the cabin is really very quiet, especially if you do not twist the motor to the red zone, but go at a calm pace. Moreover, the Japanese did not simply hang additional sheets of insulation. Toyota assures that they approached the problem of reducing noise wisely. In particular, the main attention was paid to the fight against sounds that are close to human speech in their frequency. The windshield here has a special soundproof film, plus to this, new insulating materials appeared on the roof, racks, doorways, wheel arches, trunk and so on. And it worked! The car really became quiet, and even at speeds more than 130 km/h.



They decided not to do any special adaptation to Russian fuel in Toyota. The Japanese spent a lot of tests, and they are sure that both power units perfectly digest our gasoline

Fortunately, the pluses of Toyota Camry did not end at Shumka. The novelty turned out to be more spacious than its predecessor! And this is despite the fact that the wheelbase is the same. So, due to the new design of the front seats, several additional centimeters appeared in the rear passengers in the knee area. Trifle? In general, yes. But how pleasant it is. Plus, it became a little freer over the head of the rear passengers. And if we are talking about a car in rich trim levels ... In this case, Camry generally appears to be some kind of Maybach for the poor. Still, because here the rear passengers have an electrical adjustment of the angle of the back, heating the seat, the possibility of adjusting the air temperature (climate control in this case is three-zone) and even the buttons of the musical system configuration. Some directorship, previously, the rear passengers were obtained only in cars with a clear claim to the premium segment.



Three-zone climate control, electroregulation of the second row of seats, as well as the Audiosystem control panel for rear passengers are available only in the richest trim levels Prestige Plus (for a 2.5 l engine) and luxury (for 3.5 l). In addition, in these levels of configuration, the rear seats have heating (in the luxury of passengers of the second row of seats there is still a sunglance of rear -glass with electric power and side sunglasses)

There will be two engines in Russia. The basic will become a 2.5-liter unit, which produces 181 hp. (A 2.4-liter motor on the old Camry had 167 hp). Most likely, it is for him that the main demand will have to, not just the Camry 2.5 is sold at once in six trim levels, and only one laid only one laid by a steep V6 V6 engine (as before 277 hp). Moreover, both of them will be equipped with an exclusively automatic gearbox with six steps (earlier the four -cylinder engine had a five -speed machine). By the way, there are practically no complaints about the latter, especially if you do not perceive Camry as a supercar. In this case, the box works very smoothly, but if the driver desired, it is able to quickly turn on the lowered. True, unlike a number of other modern automatic transmission, this box does not know how to jump a few steps at once.



The rich configuration of Toyota Camry is equipped with a standard navigation system that understands the Russian language. However, as before, Toyota has a great and powerful problem. For how to understand mysterious phrases of the type follow the current road (where is the current one, why did the road become liquid?) Or a stationary movement ahead.
There will be no mechanical gearbox on the new Toyota Camry. The reason is low demand. Previously, such a model was chosen by less than 10% of buyers

And if with a 2.5-l unit, acceleration is ordinary, then with a 3.5-liter engine the machine already pleases with a very worthy dynamics and the ability even at a speed of 50-60 km/h to force the wheels (for this only you need to be with all the dope Click on the gas). In addition, the six growls much more noble. But here it is necessary to ask yourself the question but does it make sense to invest extra money and buy exactly Camry 3.5, which costs 1,434,000 rubles? For comparison, a car with a four -cylinder engine in a very rich configuration is prestigious plus for 121 thousand rubles. cheaper. And, I admit, I do not know how to answer this question. After all, a 2.5-liter sedan behaves on the road very pleasant, and both at relatively low speeds and when moving in the style of well, deprive me of rights. In addition, he can also be equipped with all options for the second row of seats.



According to the Russian Toyota branch, the average buyer of the new Camry is 38 years old, he has a wife, and he is the head of small or medium -sized businesses. Plus in Toyota is very counted on corporate customers

But the new Toyota Camry has a number of disadvantages. So, there are still claims to control the model. True, you need to clearly understand that this minus was born exclusively in the USA, where there has always been and will be comfort. That is why the steering wheel here seems empty, and in quick turns the rolls are more desired. But, we repeat again, for such a car as Camry, this is normal!

But simple decoration materials are a little from another opera. It seems to be everything qualitatively, everything is done reliably, nothing creaks and does not rattle (here Toyota did not disappoint). But when you begin to peer, there is no feeling of wealth from the same head of the musical system. The big screen is beautiful, no doubt. The rear view camera shows everything clearly, we do not argue. But there is no chic, at least crack! On some Chinese cars, such a central console would be perceived with a bang, but from Camry, the Toyota passenger flagship in Russia, you are waiting for something more chic. Plus, these overlays for a red tree ...

Yes, and the steering wheel would like another. In the lamb most of all, I did not like the key control units of the on-board computer and the music on the left of the buttons on the left, and it is inconvenient to use them blindly (the most popular magneto volume keys are spaced at the edges, and you have to constantly bend your finger or even take off your hand to adjust the sound. from the steering wheel).

Such shortcomings, of course, do not make the car more beautiful. But it is unlikely that people who like the new Camry will abandon it only because of an uncomfortable music control panel ... After all, Toyota Camry has other advantages. Because of them, they will buy it. So there is no doubt about the success of the model.

Denis Smolyanov
Photo by the author and Toyota



Competitors
Representatives of Toyota during the presentation clearly called the three main competitors: Nissan Teana, Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. The last model, however, is slightly smaller than Camry, but in this case you should not be a harmful formalist. For the Russian buyer will really compare Camry with Passat. True, we will add from ourselves another strong opponent to the new Japanese this Skoda Suberb (of course, other cars of such dimensions, but now we will only stop at the above).

So, Toyota Camry ... The car in the basic configuration comfort with a 2.5-liter engine and automatic transmission costs from 1,028,000 rubles. For comparison, the current generation of this model with automatic transmission is sold for 987,000 rubles. (That is, the rise in price amounted to 41 thousand rubles, but this amount already includes a stabilization system). However, most buyers will be more interested, probably, a version of the Eleans with the skin, the electroregulation of the front seats, the rear view camera and a large display on the central console. The price of such cars is 1,134,000 rubles. Let's see how much competitors cost with similar equipment.

Prices for Nissan Teana will start from a mark of 949,000 rubles. For a car with a 2.5-liter unit. But a sedan with a leather salon, a rear view camera, a colored display, a contraceptive system and others costs 1,085,000 rubles, although such a machine will have only four airbags (the basic Camry has also curtains for front passengers, and well -equipped cars have a knee And even the side pillows for the second row of seats). However, a big plus of Teana is that it can be bought with a full -wheel drive system! Moreover, the surcharge for the latter is only 20 thousand rubles. (True, the engine on Teana Four is not six -cylinder, with a capacity of 182 hp, but a four -cylinder, which produces 167 hp).

Ford mondeo, at first glance, looks super -offered from 699,000 rubles. True, for that kind of money they offer a rather modest model with a 1.6-liter motor. However, 200-horsepower cars with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and a 6-speed powershift also have an interesting price now from 996 thousand rubles. And for 1,126,000 rubles. You can purchase a 200-horsepower mondeo with skin, parking sensors and even navigation. That is, Mondeo is slightly cheaper than Camry, while its equipment is better, and the engine is more powerful.

Volkswagen Passat, as expected, turned out to be a nonsense, especially with a decent equipment. Prices start from the mark of 859,000 rubles, but such a machine has a 1.4 liter motor and mechanics. And Passat in the rich configuration of Hightline with a turbocharged engine of 1.8 (152 hp) and DSG is already as Camry (more precisely, 1,131,000 rubles). Moreover, for the skin, color display, the rear view camera will have to be paid extra. And a lot. True, Passat is put not just the rear view camera, but by the automatic parking system, which itself puts the car in place! And Camry is absent in principle. If we talk about Volkswagen Passat with a 2.0 -l and a capacity of 210 hp, then it will cost almost 1.5 million rubles in the Hightline configuration. And, again, this is without options (the most expensive Camry with a 277-horsepower unit with a volume of 3.5 liters costs 1,434,000 rubles).

Skoda Superb is larger than Toyota Camry, in addition, this model has an unusual back door, which makes the car simultaneously with a sedan and hatchback. Prices for the flagship of the Czech auto industry start from the mark of 899,000 rubles, and this will be a car with an engine of 1.8 liters (152 hp). However, a well -equipped car with automatic transmission in the Elegance version is already 1,094,000 rubles, plus 60 thousand rubles. must be given to the skin. And Superb with a 200-horsepower engine costs 1,234,000 rubles. Camry is designed to fight Superb with a 3.6-liter engine (260 hp) and all-wheel drive from 1,659,000 rubles. Yes, Skoda Superb is more expensive than Camry, especially if you order a variety of additional equipment. But at the same time it is worth noting that Superb has the quality of the interior decoration of the salon than Toyota Camry. Yes, and sled habits, perhaps, too.

Dmitry Gaidukevich
 

Source: Auto.mail.ru