The Toyota Camry is a true legend. The sedan leaves no one indifferent: some idolize it for its loyalty to traditions and the old school of automotive engineering, and some ridicule it for its outdated technology, plastic wood, and ambiguous design. But all this is true for the eighth Camry, and what is the ninth generation sedan like? Indy Auto dealerships are waiting for its appearance in 2025, and Indy Auto Man experts have already found out what it is like.
New appearance
At first glance, it is a different car! The design has been brought to a common denominator with the new Prius and the Crown family: the plastic of the nose has changed, the front overhang has increased, a different bumper has appeared, retaining the characteristic vertical inserts along the edges and a massive air intake. Other improvements include a new hood and C-shaped lighting in the latest Toyotas style. The trunk lid has changed slightly – it now has a “duck tail” with a small spoiler mounted on top. In general, everything is just as strict but more modern.
However, if you dig deeper, it turns out that the ninth-generation Camry has not changed that much. After all, Toyota has essentially left the same body: the same doors and openings, door handles, mirrors, and fuel filler flap. Even the changes in the wings are barely noticeable. Only with the window line did the designers decide to experiment a little, adding a tiny blind section in front of the rear pillar. After all, even the wheelbase is the same as the eighth generation.
Engine and transmission
The new product is based on the same TNGA-K platform, which has not undergone any serious changes, except for new shock absorbers. There are still some major technical changes, and one of them can break the hearts of the target audience. Camry fans even initiated a petition demanding that the sedan return the top-end 3.5-liter V6 engine, which once developed 249 hp but is now out of the production program, as well as the eight-speed hydromechanical automatic, now it is only a CVT.
The ninth Camry can also be a hybrid – with a four-cylinder aspirated 2.5 and an optional electric motor in the rear axle drive. The task of the electric motor is mainly to help when starting from a standstill and driving on slippery surfaces.
Test drive
In motion, the ninth-generation sedan is almost no different from the eighth Camry. And having switched to this car from its predecessor, you most likely will not even feel the difference. The steering wheel has a pleasant effort that increases in turns, but the sedan reactions, despite its lean appearance, are not more sporty, although they cannot be called smeared.
The suspension calibrations have shifted towards comfort. Therefore, you cannot close your eyes to the roll. But the Camry handles most of the unevenness confidently, even on 19-inch wheels with low-profile tires, giving in only on indecently large potholes. When driving briskly, the Camry suddenly begins to harshly, although without strong impacts, transmit sharp joints of the road.
There are almost no complaints about the overall level of noise insulation because the sedan has multi-layered glass, even in the rear doors. The only acoustic problem is the poor insulation of the wheel arches. When driving quickly on an imperfect surface, the rustle of tires and the knock of small stones on the arches are audible.
Interior
If the exterior and driving habits of the latest generation Camry are reminiscent of its predecessor, then, in the interior, there are almost no quotes from the previous model. Old fans of the brand will recognize only the window lift buttons, the key block on the left under the steering wheel, some switches on the central tunnel, and the usual mechanical CVT lever migrated not from the eighth-generation cars but from the current RAV4.
In front of the driver, there is an electronic instrument panel, which will be at least seven inches, and a projection display, and on the center console – a multimedia complex with an eight-inch touchscreen and a new interface.
The central tunnel has room for an induction charger, three USB Type-C ports, cup holders, and a large container for small items (which, alas, has no lid). The box under the central armrest can hide larger everyday equipment and even charge it. The Japanese hid a 12-volt outlet there but, for some reason, forgot to install a cooling system in the compartment.
The second row is spacious, but there are few amenities. There are only ventilation ducts, two USB ports for charging gadgets, and a central armrest with cup holders.
Two passengers will sit easily. The roof does not press, and there is a decent amount of free space in the legs, even for tall people. In general, the spaciousness of the cabin has not changed at all.
The trunk has remained the same. Its volume is still 18.5 cubic feet, and the lid does not have an electric drive. The rear seats fold in a 60:40 ratio directly from the compartment. There is neither a 12 V socket nor rigging devices – only two hooks for bags. But in the underground, the model has a plastic organizer stuffed with equipment for changing a wheel (although several free niches for small items remain), under which a spare wheel is hidden.
The ninth-generation Toyota Camry has not changed as much as many probably wanted, although the sedan preserved those qualities that ensured its stunning popularity. Those who want a reliable Japanese car for not so much money can always consider the eighth generation on the secondary market and not lose much in style and power.
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