What’s new in the 2018 Toyota Camry?

As you’re probably well aware of by now, the 2018 Toyota Camry will be completely new when it arrives at the dealership later this year. One of the first models to fully adopt the Toyota New Global Architecture, the new midsize sedan will be better looking than ever before and packed with all of the features that you want and need in a vehicle. We thought we’d highlight some of what’s new in the sedan specifically, to give you a better idea of what has changed. Read More

2018 Toyota Camry Photo Gallery

An all-new Toyota Camry is on the horizon, and we cannot wait for the new model to arrive right here at Toyota on the Trail. It was completely renovated leading into the 2018 model year, and it was on display back in February at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. We’ve already given you quite a few details on the model, but we thought we’d give you a better look at the new midsize sedan as well with the photo gallery below. Read More

Canadian Debut of the All-New Camry

2018 Toyota Camry Specs & Features

Starting last week and going all this week, the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry will be on display in Toronto at the Canadian International Auto Show. We’re excited that Canadians finally get to see the all-new, next-generation version of the best-selling midsize sedan. Of course, there are a host of other vehicles and technologies on display at the show, but the Toyota Camry might be the most exciting – perhaps with the exception of the 2018 Toyota C-HR.

[ READ MORE: 2018 Toyota Camry Canadian Release Date ]

“Toyota’s vision is shaped by a desire to constantly move towards a better future – to bring that future to our customers and the communities in which they live. Canadians attending the Toronto Auto Show will find many examples of that on display- from new models like the completely redesigned 2018 Camry and Camry Hybrid making their Canadian debuts to future-ready hydrogen fuel cell models and advanced safety systems that make driving safer for everyone. And the innovation doesn’t stop there – new in-vehicle connectivity services deliver peace of mind and convenience, to ensure Toyota owners have the best possible ownership experience no matter which of our stylish, fun-to-drive and value-packed cars, SUVs or pickups is in their driveway.”

– Stephen Beatty, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

Specs

As far as specifications are concerned, there is one that stands above the rest in the all-new Camry. While we don’t know the exact number as of yet, we do know that the 2018 Camry is most likely going to achieve best-in-class fuel economy ratings for the midsize sedan segment. Without the actual specs, we can’t confirm this as of yet, but Toyota has claimed that that is what they’re shooting for and what will likely happen, which is very exciting.

Features

When it comes to features, it’s hard to look past the Camry’s safety features. With the newest version of Toyota Safety Sense P in effect, the 2018 Camry will be the safest version of the sedan to date. The Camry will be outfitted with the Pre-Collision System featuring Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert featuring Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams and on some models even Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

If you’re interested in the all-new, next-generation 2018 Toyota Camry, be sure to sign up for updates here on our site or reserve yourself a model by giving us a call here at the sales desk.

All-new 2018 Toyota Camry & Camry Hybrid Photo Gallery

As you might already be aware, all-new versions of the 2018 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid were unveiled earlier this week. We’ve already gone over tons of details about the new models, but now we thought we’d give you a closer look at the two new vehicles by covering them in this week’s Friday Photo Gallery. Be sure to keep checking back for more info and photos as time goes on and we get closer to the Camry release date.

[ READ MORE: 2018 Toyota Camry Canadian Release Date ]

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All-new, next-generation Camry Hybrid coming soon to Edmonton

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid Canadian Release Date

On Monday, the next generation Camry was unveiled, and later in the day we gave you a rundown on some of the new sedan’s highlights from the press conference. What we didn’t get much of a chance to talk about though, was the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid, which will have a release date of its own here in Canada sometime within the next few months. We thought we’d take time today to focus a bit more on what’s new in the Camry Hybrid specifically, which of course means we’ll be talking about the new Toyota Hybrid System II.

[ READ MORE: 2018 Toyota Camry Canadian Release Date ]

“In order to create something that stirs people’s soul, we’ve laid out the concept of a new sedan that provides fun and excitement behind the wheel. In developing the next-generation Toyota Camry, we were able to start with a clean slate, which allowed us to create a true driver’s car.”

– Masato Katsumata, Chief Engineer, Toyota Camry

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What’s new in the Toyota Hybrid System II?

As we mentioned on Monday, the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry has three new power options, one of which is the new powertrain for the 2018 Camry Hybrid: the Toyota Hybrid System II. The new THSII was designed to go hand in hand with one of the other new engines, a 2.5L 4-cylinder. It was created with the intent to offer a better balance between efficiency and power, as more and more hybrid drivers desire the best of both worlds.

In order to do that, the engineers equipped the 2018 Camry Hybrid’s continuously variable transmission system with a new Sport Mode. When triggering Sport Mode, the Camry Hybrid offers a simulated 6-speed sequential shift transmission, which basically gives drivers the feeling of a 6-speed manual without losing as much fuel efficiency. Furthermore, car buyers can opt for the Camry Hybrid SE trim level for the added bonus of paddle shifters.

Other improvements include the fact that Sport Mode enhances the vehicle’s acceleration, as well as a new location for the THSII battery pack. Rather than being in the trunk, the battery pack is now located beneath the back seats, giving drivers even better control over the vehicle’s handling. If you’re interested in an all-new 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid, be sure to sign up for more information on our site or by calling us at the sales desk. Otherwise, be sure to continue checking back right here on the Wheaton Toyota on the Trail blog for updates as they become available.

World Debut of the 2018 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid

2018 Toyota Camry Canadian Release Date

The Toyota Camry, arguably our brand’s most iconic vehicle, was last remodeled for the 2011 model year. There have, of course, been facelifts and enhancements since then, but the 10th-generation midsize sedan and its hybrid counterpart have been going strong for the past seven years. But, as we announced last week, and as we finally go to see this morning, a new Camry is on the horizon. At the North American International Auto Show today, the 11th-generation 2018 Toyota Camry was introduced, and we simply cannot wait for its Canadian release date later this year.

[ READ MORE: 2018 Toyota Camry Redesign Rumors ]

“The 2018 Toyota Camry is all-new, with jaw-dropping design, advanced safety systems, and impressive technology – plus stirring performance that makes this midsize sedan incredibly fun to drive. It’s the best midsize sedan we’ve yet produced – one that will deliver everything Canadians have come to expect from Camry, and a whole lot more.”

– Cyril Dimitris, Vice President, Toyota Canada Inc.

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What’s new in the 2018 Toyota Camry?

Of course, plenty has changed leading into the next-generation Toyota Camry – including its architecture and design. You can get a glimpse at the new model’s exterior and interior design changes at the photos above, but we’ll give you a better look on Friday in this week’s photo gallery. What we think you’re really interested in is all of the other updates.

For instance, the new Human Machine Interface which offers, on certain trim levels, three different display screens. The first is of course the audio/navigation/HVAC control panel, which is an 8” screen in the center console. The second is the multi-information display, which is now 7” – nearly twice the size of MID screens in the past. But the third and perhaps coolest of the three, is the 10” color head-up display.

Of course there are plenty of other updates and enhancements, and we’ll cover them all in the weeks to come leading to the new Camry’s release. So keep checking back here at the Wheaton Toyota on the Trail blog for even more information as it becomes available.

World Debut of the next-generation 2018 Toyota Camry

2018 Toyota Camry Redesign Rumors

One of the most popular vehicles in North America and perhaps the globe as a whole, we get excited any time there’s news about the Toyota Camry. And this time, the news is pretty juicy, as there are pretty reputable rumors circulating about the Toyota Camry going through a redesign for the 2018 Toyota Camry. In fact, we can’t even call it rumor anymore, as Toyota has confirmed through a gorgeous teaser photo that the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry will make its debut at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Design Rumors

Just from the teaser photo that was posted a few days ago, we know that the all-new Toyota Camry is going to offer a drastically different visual aesthetic than its previous iteration. The image, seen above, depicts half of a sleek, stunning new rear fascia, with a very impressive taillight. There’s even a pronounced rear spoiler and a stylish new vertical vent that enhance the design even further. We cannot wait to see the full Camry XSE and its other trim levels in Detroit.

Powertrain Rumors

As for the Toyota Camry powertrain, nothing is confirmed. But many sources – including us – believe the all-new Camry will only be offered with 4-cylinder options, as the midsize sedan segment turns more toward fuel efficient powerhouses than the rugged, gas guzzling V6 engines of the past. Turbocharging a 4-cylinder engine often delivers the same amount of power as upgrading to a V6, without the decrease in fuel efficiency.

While we don’t know the specifics, we imagine there will be two different options. Perhaps one will be an enhanced version of the Camry’s current 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, while the other will be 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder or something similar. Right now, your guess is as good as ours. But at 9:30 A.M. on Monday, January 9^th, you’ll be able to see it unveiled by tuning right back into this blog to watch the livestream.

Color Options for the 2017 Toyota Camry

The slogan for the 2017 Toyota Camry is “Embrace Your Bold Side,” and that’s exactly what buyers will be able to do as they choose one of the 10 different color options available for the Camry this year.

Sure, the Camry comes in midnight black metallic, super white and three versions of gray in 2017 for those who prefer to blend in on the roadways. But it also comes in ruby flare pearl and blue streak metallic for those drivers who have a little more flair to their personality.

The 2017 Camry offers a range of color options that will best fit each and every driver who purchases one of the tried and true models of the Toyota family. Want a light gray Camry? Try celestial silver metallic. Want to go a little darker? How about predawn gray mica? Looking for that almost-black, midnight kind of gray? The 2017 Camry offers exactly what you’re looking for with cosmic gray mica.

[ Read More: Top Five #ToyotaCamry Images on Instagram ]

Creme brulee mica and parisian night pearl offer a more neutral color pallette for prospective buyers with tan and navy blue options, respectively.

Options for the Bold

For those wishing to truly Embrace Their Bold Side, the 2017 Camry offers ruby flare pearl in a red that somehow appears both bright and subdued, as well as a blue streak metallic that will flash as it cruises across the pavement. Couple those colors with the 18-inch alloy wheels that come standard and the available LED lights, and the 2017 Camry perfectly blends sporty with smart.

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Interior options also come in black, gray and tan to mesh ideally with whichever exterior option one may choose. And with the 2017 Camry’s front sport seats and paddle shifters, no driver will ever be bored behind the wheel.

Contact Wheaton Toyota on the Trail to come check out the 2017 Camry in any of the available 10 color options or to take a test drive and Embrace Your Bold Side today.

Top 5 #ToyotaCamry Images on Instagram

It’s already Friday! Another week has come and gone as we inch closer and closer to both Christmas and the end of the 2016 calendar year. 2017 model year vehicles are coming in seemingly every day, and pretty soon we’ll already be talking about 2018 models. But one thing that will never change, is just how popular the Toyota Camry is. This week, we thought we’d find the top 5 #ToyotaCamry images on Instagram, to get a good luck at just how nice the midsize sedan is, and to figure out what its owners are up to!

A photo posted by Newmarket Toyota (@newmarket_toyota) on Nov 17, 2016 at 8:53am PST

A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀♛ TOYOTA CAMRY OFFICIAL ♛ (@camry_official) on Nov 17, 2016 at 4:16am PST

A photo posted by Mike Calvert Toyota (@mikecalverttoyota) on Nov 18, 2016 at 7:15am PST

A photo posted by Aditi Dinakar Photography (@aditi_dinakar) on Nov 17, 2016 at 9:16pm PST

A video posted by mirthas akbar (@mirthas_akbar) on Nov 17, 2016 at 10:48pm PST

2017 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Test Drive Review

The perennial best-selling sedan that gets almost everything right.

Pricing: 2017 Toyota Camry

Base price (XSE V6 trim): $35,495

Options: $255 premium paint colour

Freight: $1,690

A/C tax: $100

Price as tested: $37,540

The Toyota Camry has established itself as a stalwart pillar of the brand’s quiet, conservative image. It sells. A lot. And it’s generally very reliable, well thought-out and does most things quite well. It’s not a car that will awaken your senses in any way, but it never set out to do that. Toyota has recently added the XSE trim. I always thought SE stands for Special Edition – until Toyota launched the SE Special Edition last year. I can only surmise that the XSE is an Xtra Special/Sport Edition. Anyway, it sits atop the Camry heap.

Exterior

The current Camry is the best looking one yet, in my opinion. But Toyota pours it on a bit thick when it describes the Camry with statements like “bold style”, “athletic stance” and “striking presence”. I mean sure, my Ruby Flare Pearl review vehicle was nice to look at. And yes, the “sport style grille” which is certainly more aggressive than ever before, does catch your eye. The LED headlights and LED daytime running light signature are interesting, and they even added an (X)SE-specific rear spoiler and nice 18-inch rims wrapped in 225/45-sized boots.

But at the end of the day, there’s nothing edgy about the design. This isn’t a slam on the Camry – it all works well and there’s nothing at all offensive about it. But a “striking presence” it is not. And frankly, I think they’ve just went too far with this – a direct quote from Toyota Canada’s website: “Don’t be surprised if your Camry SE or XSE is often mistaken for a sports car.” Haha! Come on!

Interior/Tech/Convenience

The Camry’s interior materials are pretty nice – it’s a mostly-pleasant mix of hard plastics, softer plastics that feel a bit cheap, stitched leather-like material on the dash and some sweet suede door panels. It’s pretty black in there, and the little swatches of metallicized plastic do little to relieve that. The fit and finish seems excellent, and the XSE gets handsome contrasting red stitching on the seats and suede door panels as well as the dash.

I found the steering wheel to be outstanding in terms of feel and grippiness, and the wheel-mounted controls are well done. Behind it is a clear and intuitive driver information screen between the two main gauges. The XSE’s comfortable leather-trimmed sport seats (with ultrasuede inserts) are heated and power-adjustable – and come with some serious kidney bolsters. I was impressed by these, as another vehicle I recently reviewed didn’t come with very supportive seats yet is sold as an “all-out sport sedan”. Sorry to call you out, Ford Fusion Sport.

The dash houses Toyota’s 7-inch touchscreen which handles your navigation, a fantastic 10-speaker JBL sound system, phone functions and vehicles settings. There are big buttons and knobs on the centre stack make it quick and easy to access main functions and make changes on the screen or with the dual-zone automatic climate control. Look up and you’ll find a standard-sized moonroof and a universal garage door opener.

My loaded up XSE came with plenty of driver assistance technology – blind spot monitoring, backup camera, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure alert, pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high beams. Typical for Toyota, it all works very well and is unobtrusive.

Rear Seats

In the back, you’ll find three rear seats, each with a seatbelt and a headrest. It’s spacious back there, with plenty of head room and oodles of leg and knee room.

A small hump in the floor, as well as a slightly raised and narrower seat make for a middle seating position that isn’t ideal, but it will work for an adult passenger if need be. Our three kids were more than happy with the room back there, and if you’re moving little ones, there are two sets of LATCH anchors. Sadly, that’s about it. Other than adjustable air vents and a middle seatback that folds down to become an armrest with cupholders, there’s nothing else going on in the back. No charging plugs of any kind, and that’s a big omission in my books.

Storage

Below the touchscreen, you’ll find a large storage space with a lid that pivots up and out of the way – this is also where you’ll find the USB and auxiliary plugs as well as a 12V power port. Otherwise, there’s a spacious carpeted bin under the sliding armrest lid, along with a further 12V plug, and Toyota’s familiar change bin on the underside of the dash.

You can pop the trunk lid from the driver’s seat, the key fob or with a button on the lid itself, revealing a reasonably-sized 436 litre trunk. If that’s not enough, the rear seats fold down (in a 60/40 split) – you can achieve this with seat release handles in the trunk.

Under the Hood

There is nothing new under the hood. The front-wheel drive sedan continues to be motivated by Toyota’s excellent 3.5L V6. It still puts out 268 HP at 6200 RPM and 248 lb.ft of torque at 4700 RPM, and it’s still mated to a 6-speed automatic. Fuel economy has never been the V6 Camry’s forte – it’s rated at 11 L/100 km (21 US mpg) in the city and 7.8 L/100 km (30 US mpg). We averaged 11.7 L/100 km (20 US mpg) over the course of a week, where we spent most of our time commuting in the city, with two quick highway runs and a few jaunts down the freeway. There are 4-cylinder and hybrid Camrys to choose from if that number doesn’t sit well with you.

The Drive

If you’ve experienced this powertrain before, you’ll be looking for the surprising spring in the 1560 kg (3480 lb) sedan’s step, particularly off the line. If you haven’t experienced it before, you might be taken aback at how responsive the V6 can be. Around town, it’s easy to squawk the tires if you don’t take it easy, and once you’re on the move, there’s still plenty of jam. You’ll have no qualms about pulling into fast-moving traffic or passing on the highway. And it’s all done with smooth precision. The transmission’s shifts are seamless, even in Sport mode. If you’re into that, gears can be shifted manually with the gear selector’s sequential shift mode, and there are also paddle shifters which are specific to the special edition Camrys. Of course, the shifts aren’t particularly quick and therefore the experience really isn’t that sporty.

The (X)SE models come with a sport-tuned suspension which apparently gives you “a sporty and exhilarating ride”. Who are these marketing wizards? Back in the real world though, the XSE’s ride is firmer than a standard Camry’s, but it’s still very comfortable. The payoff is that this sedan actually handles quite well. The numb steering doesn’t do much to inspire fun or spirited driving, but the car definitely holds its own. The Camry XSE is capable and competent. And it is quiet in all driving conditions, even at highway speeds with winter tires mounted. Which means that, for many people, it is a good fit and ticks off all the boxes on their wants list.

The Verdict

The Camry is an understated but sophisticated sedan with a comfortable and spacious interior and a smooth, powerful drivetrain. It is almost guaranteed to be reliable and resale value will remain high.

WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) was pretty high. She said it drives nicely, it feels like it is well-made and there is nothing missing. To quote her: “Everything just works.” She wasn’t a fan of the colour, saying it looked a bit like an old man’s car because of it.

Isn’t that where the Camry’s success comes from? Everything just works. And in the case of the 2017 XSE V6, it works quite well. It’s the most expensive Camry, but you get a lot of car for your money.

Blog provided with permission from Tom Sedens, a local automotive blogger in Edmonton, Alberta, and member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). For more vehicle reviews, visit wildsau.ca.