Test Drive Toyota Camry Solara 2003 - 2008

All photos Toyota Camry Solara 2003 - 2008

Russian bass

Toyota and Nissan Russians know no worse than the Japanese names of the famous Sumo wrestlers. Live legends and national heroes exist not only in martial arts, numbering 14 centuries of history ...
In business class in Russia, Toyota Camry is the most sold car. The new generation is likely to develop success. The former rival Nissan Maxim went to a well-deserved rest by opening the Nissan-Teana's road, previously accessible only in the Japanese market. Let it be in Bass, that is, the tournament, there are not the most powerful versions of cars, the fight is expected to be interesting. After all, as in Sumo, the outcome of the meeting decides not only power.

Nissan-Teana

It is highlighted in an extraordinary appearance. Like many Japanese cars created for the domestic market, it is much bolder in lines than exporting products. An intermediate version of the configuration - a model with a 2.3-liter engine, visiting us on the test, equipped with a 6-cylinder engine capacity of 173 hp - Few more than a rival, which has only four cylinders.
Nissan's commitment to multi-cylinder engines is known - even a two-liter six. Teame only in basic configuration - 4-cylinder 2-liter. The main plus of six is \u200b\u200bthe exceptional smoothness of work, confirmed by a quiet, but well-supplied voice at high speed. Unfortunately, a 4-speed hydromechanical machine, characterized by a good reaction and impeccably smooth switching, can not make it impossible - to give the Teev the dynamics of the car with the newest 6-speed automaton. However, the acceleration time is up to 100 km / h is only a bit more declared, and the difference with Toyota is not small. However, fuel consumption is noticeable (on average 1-1.5 l / 100 km) Nissan above. Subjectively acceleration after 100 km / h seems to be unforgettable, which does not quite fit the first impression of the car. Not in favor of the perception of the dynamics, there is an excellent soundproof of the Teana: no engine, no wheels, no wind in the operating range of speeds is almost heard. Only after 160 km / h, the noise background in the cabin begins to remind that it is time to lift the leg with the gas pedal.

Pendants work not safely. Excellent isolate the driver and passengers from small irregularities, but when it comes to real Russian bumps, they give up and loudly asking for mercy. The back side is moderate rolls in turns, the fast reaction of the car driving, by the way, more sharp than that of Toyota. However, the Baranca of the Teana is no longer anywhere in the diameter, in the cross section of thin, is adjustable only on the angle of inclination, and even then with an effort that is not characteristic of the Japanese car. In the PREMIUM configuration, Nissan is equipped with ESP, so even completely careful acts of the driver successfully adjusts the electronics. If you disable it, nothing terrible will happen - The Teana remains very obedient and protests with a careful slip by the outward turn. The steering is not bad damping irregularities, but is not a sample of perfect feedback: even efforts are too small on dry asphalt. There are no complaints about the performance of brakes, but it is necessary to dose the deceleration, and not in force on the pedal. Therefore, ABS intervention occurs unexpectedly. Moreover, the noise and vibration on the pedals are very tangible - the device is clearly not the last generation.
The driver and front passenger cozy and nicely in deep, soft leather chairs. Width enough adjustments too. A strongly rounded front edge of the pillow blocked her length and understand how well there will be a long-legged driver, difficult. When the ignition is turned off, the seat drives back - for easy access.
The luxurious central console looks like bravo. Just deal with the same buttons are not so simple - white that control the audio system is scored all the others, and two rows of black, responsible for the climate, are forced to strain, adjusting the settings.
Rear in this package no extra amenities. Nissan's passengers who walked the growth under the door jamb will be low. And for just as a tall driver or passenger - and closed. Low these problems are not known.

Toyota-Camry

The former Toyota called the memorable was difficult. However, it did not prevent anything excellent sales. In this class, an extraordinary appearance is not always dignity - you will not go to the lemon jacket to a business meeting. New Camry is quite conservative inside, but outside - much bolder. More beautiful? The answer is controversial, but more aggressive plastic and a silhouette, more similar to Lexus, made Camri if not causing, then noticeable. However, the interior attracts attention - which is worth finishing the Color Console Polis Osago!
The base 4-cylinder engine for power is only a bit inferior to the Nissan aggregate, and on the torque even exceeds it, using an impressive advantage in 13 volume cubes. The only thing that Motor Toyota cannot compete with Nissanovsky, so it is in noise nobility at high revs. But in a duet with a 5-speed automatic machine, the unit demonstrates a slightly better dynamics and noticeably lower consumption of gasoline. However, hardly the first will be a noticeable advantage. The electronics controlled by a machine gun is clearly trying to adapt to the driver, but to say: it can easily manage it - it is impossible. I could not identify clear criteria for choosing the second or third transmission when overclocking up to 80 km / h.
There are still exemplary pendants of Toyota. Their comfort can convince that the second problem of Russia was solved. Pendants work almost silently, although the roar of the wheels, especially on coating coating, is much more noticeable than Nissan. Vibro- and noise insulation do not always go together. Compromise towards comfort affects the mountain road. Rolls and diagonal routing are noticeable here. In the most sharp turns of Camry, the front wheels are pulled out of the turn, and the end of the steering wheel on the gas discharge with an automatic transmission is ineffective. The VSC Stability System interferes late and coarsely, but still helps the car to mock the turn.

Disable it, by the way, is impossible. Strong insufficient turning on serpentine makes rotating the steering wheel much more actively than on Nissan, although from the stop until it stops only one third turnover. However, compared to the former Camry manners are much better.
Toyota's driver's seat is uncomplicated and comfortable in a long trip. True, with leather finish - quite slippery. Small side stops will keep only a complete driver. Thickens are forced to keep the steering wheel stronger, so as not to crawl on turns. But the steering wheel adjustable in two directions can adjust many features of planting and shapes. By the start, by the way, an additional audio and climate control buttons are made. Very comfortably!
Standard typical Japanese control circuit does not cause difficulties. The console with a climate installation and an audio system is unusual for design, but is understandable. By the way, the player is capable of reading self-written discs in WMA and MP3 format. One such will replace the full CD changer. The rear passengers have no opportunity for individual multimedia entertainment. But there are space for any complex, and even threesome.

Japanese assorted

In our market, cars perform in business class, although in the United States, for example, Camry - a typical medium family car with an affordable price of $ 18,260. Of course, the equipment for this money is poor, but we would be American problems
Minimum Camry in Russia (R0) with mechanical transmission, ABS, front and side airbags, alloy wheels, separate climate control with air ionizer costs 31,900 dollars. Machine with automatic headlamp and headlamp is 1600 dollars. The following version of R2 (it is Elegance, and exactly Cyrillic) for $ 35,900 - already with leather interior, heated and electric seats, parking sensors. Test Camry R3 - Prestige for $ 37,600 is additionally equipped with bixenon headlamps, course stability and cruise control. Finally, the top modification of the R4 lux is offered only with a 3.5-liter motor, the adjustment of the back seats, sunscreen curtain and wooden inserts on the steering wheel.
Against this background, the basic price of the Tekh - $ 29,990 more attractive. True, only a 2-liter car with a machine gun can be purchased for this money, on steel wheels, with separate climate control and frontal pillows.
Machines with a 2.3 liter V6 engine in the Luxury version are distinguished by alloy wheels, an improved audio system, side cushions and security curtains, active head restraints, driver seat electric drive and heated front chairs. All this is 33,100 bucks. In the Premium version for 36 900 in addition - a color display, a rearview camera, a changer on six disks and a chip key that can not be removed from the pocket (the car opens and closes by pressing the button on the door handle), rear window curtain, bixenon adaptive headlights.
For 43 990 - the maximum version of the Teana - Premium with a 3.5-liter motor and a variator, on 17-inch wheels, with a massage seat and a front passenger footrest, heated the rear seat and control of the audio system, including from the back of the cabin.

After fight

Of course, the originality of some designer solutions of the Teana can be bodied. I want to get around, sit around, sit in the cabin. But even if something is not so expressive, but a more balanced Toyota, although with a slight margin, won. Yes, there are no two winners in the bass sums
Anatoly Fomin: The advantages of Toyota-Camry in Russia, I suppose will be in demand more than the strong qualities of Nissan-Teame.
Nissan Teana is original and expressive. But against the background of a bright design and memorable interior, the misses is only noticeable.
Total rating of 7.7
+ Memorable appearance and interior, very low noise level, excellent build quality, spacious front of the cabin, comfortable seats, smoothly working gearbox, good handling on smooth roads.
- The back is not enough space for large passengers, roughly works ABS, insufficient comfort and energy intensity of suspension on large irregularities, illogical control of climate installation, modest road lumen.
Toyota Camry - demonstrates exactly what you expect from her. NO MORE, NO LESS. It's nice when expectations are justified.
Total estimate of 8.0
+ Logical Controls, Spacious Salon, Large Transformed Trunk, Excellent Flooding Overlooking Road, Low Aerodynamic Noise, Economical Engine.
- The ambiguous logic of the gearbox work, uncertain behavior in limit modes, small service intervals, tires are sensitive to wet coating.