A combination of incongruous or contradictory terms is called an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp”, “dangerously safe”, “almost pregnant” and “sporty Camry”.
But oddly enough, as a whole, the car makes sense. A typical Camry is renowned for its comfortable, marshmallow ride, numb steering and lack of driving excitement. But the SE version of Toyota’s mid-size sedan seems to keep it out of the boring zone, if only by a small margin.
And yet, Toyota sells so many copies of the Camry every year, so we must realize that driving dynamics isn’t everyone’s priority, and it shouldn’t be, either. But what does the sporty SE have in store for those who are looking at a Mazda6 or a Ford Fusion?
The Camry SE features aerodynamic add-ons that tack on some flair to the car’s familiar shape, including a front apron, a rear diffuser, side skirts and a rear spoiler. Personally, I wouldn’t take a Camry without them. But as much as they help give the car a sportier appearance, a competitor like the Suzuki Kizashi, which is devoid of any such items, still looks a lot sexier.
The cockpit has an industrial feel to it. In addition, the alignment of certain dash pieces leaves much to be desired, and it has been this way since the car’s 2007 model-year redesign. The mix of dark and light grey isn’t particularly exciting. Yet the switchgear is well thought-out, with big buttons and easy-to-handle rotary dials for the climate control system, so that partially forgives the monotony.
I just wish the driver’s seat cushion would lower down more, because my head gets tickled by the headliner while I drive; reclining the seatback would help, but that wouldn’t suit my usual driving position. The leather surfaces are slippery, and with little lateral support; you’re always moving around on the seat in corners or clinging on to the steering wheel.
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| The Camry SE features aerodynamic add-ons that tack on some flair to the car’s familiar shape. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
But oddly enough, as a whole, the car makes sense. A typical Camry is renowned for its comfortable, marshmallow ride, numb steering and lack of driving excitement. But the SE version of Toyota’s mid-size sedan seems to keep it out of the boring zone, if only by a small margin.
And yet, Toyota sells so many copies of the Camry every year, so we must realize that driving dynamics isn’t everyone’s priority, and it shouldn’t be, either. But what does the sporty SE have in store for those who are looking at a Mazda6 or a Ford Fusion?
The Camry SE features aerodynamic add-ons that tack on some flair to the car’s familiar shape, including a front apron, a rear diffuser, side skirts and a rear spoiler. Personally, I wouldn’t take a Camry without them. But as much as they help give the car a sportier appearance, a competitor like the Suzuki Kizashi, which is devoid of any such items, still looks a lot sexier.
The cockpit has an industrial feel to it. In addition, the alignment of certain dash pieces leaves much to be desired, and it has been this way since the car’s 2007 model-year redesign. The mix of dark and light grey isn’t particularly exciting. Yet the switchgear is well thought-out, with big buttons and easy-to-handle rotary dials for the climate control system, so that partially forgives the monotony.
I just wish the driver’s seat cushion would lower down more, because my head gets tickled by the headliner while I drive; reclining the seatback would help, but that wouldn’t suit my usual driving position. The leather surfaces are slippery, and with little lateral support; you’re always moving around on the seat in corners or clinging on to the steering wheel.
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| The cabin’s mix of dark and light grey isn’t particularly exciting, yet the switchgear is well thought-out. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |