Toyota Camry 2018
The 2018 Toyota Camry rides a wave of success started years ago. It inherits the title of most popular U.S. car. This sedan enjoys the highest sales record year after year. Camrys can even claim the title of most American-made as demonstrated by the statisticians at Cars.com. Recently JD Power announced that the Camry topped its Most Dependable list. It earned a better dependability score than any rival. In fact, it earned a better score than any other vehicle in the survey. Midsized sedans are always challenging the Toyota's dominance. Maybe that's why the automaker decided to make so many updates to this year's model. Whether you look at the Honda Acord, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima, you will notice some definite 2018 Camry advantages. The most obvious include spaciousness, performance, safety, and quality. As you do your shopping, this review can help you see how Camrys stand up to competitors.
Toyota Camry vs. Honda Accord
Locked in battle for years, the Camry and Accord are often compared. Camrys give up nothing to the Accord. The Honda recently got a makeover that saw the addition of new lights and a new grille. 2018 Camrys got a makeover too, but this one goes much further. The profile has changed to that of a sexier four-door coupe. A large grille is flanked by better headlights and impressive air intakes. Reviewers can't help but gush over the Camry's handsome, more aggressive appearance. The interiors of both cars were upgraded, but again Toyota has gone further. The new center console is part of a waterfall design. A new instrument cluster upgrades the high-tech feeling. Soft-touch materials and other premium materials complete the feeling that the Camry has gone upmarket without going up in price. Interior volume is similar but Camrys still have an advantage in rear leg and shoulder room. Essentially the Camry buyer gets more for their money than the base level Accord buyer. In another example, the Accord has upgraded its dash tech system, but Toyota has gone even further. Now every Camry shopper starts off with a more expansive Entune multimedia system. This features a complete suite of apps and available Wi-Fi connectivity. A special navigation app makes it possible to stream maps and directions to your Toyota touchscreen. Speaking of high tech, Camrys can't be beat when it comes to safety. First off, there are ten airbags compared to six on the Accord. Then there are all of the Camry's standard safety features. Forward collision warning is paired with an autobrake, and a lane watch is paired with an assist. You have to pay more for each of these on the Accord. When it comes to performance, the Camry's new 206-horsepower engine is challenging the 185-horsepower Accord. Just imagine earning more than 40 miles per gallon while taking the interstate. Considering the fact that fuel economy is so competitive, you've got to wonder why anyone would choose a lower powered car. Camrys will now boast an eight-speed automatic transmission, too, making every gear shift crisp and clean.
Toyota Camry vs Nissan Altima
Camrys are known as one of the most spacious midsized sedans ever. This becomes quite apparent when you compare it with the Nissan Altima. The Toyota has more interior volume overall. This is most noticeable in the backseat where a flatter floor gives the Camry passenger a considerable advantage over the Altima passengers. Altima rear legroom measures 36.1 inches while Camrys can claim 38.9 inches of back passenger legroom. Front and rear hip room is more generous, too. Then there's the fact that every Camry has a power chair for its driver. You won't find that must-have standard on the base Altima. Another difference? All Camrys come with heated side mirrors. The Toyotas have two more speakers and an Entune touchscreen. This includes apps and a rearview camera. Surprisingly the base Altima does not offer these as standards. This eliminates any price difference between the two very quickly. Until this year, the two sedans had comparable performance figures. Now the Camry has leapt ahead in horsepower, giving the Toyota driver a competitive advantage. With 30 more horses under the hood, the Camry is certainly more fun, and the great thing is that Toyota engineers achieved this performance while maintaining and improving fuel economy. Nissans have a continuously variable transmission while Toyota has decided to improve the Camry with a finely-tuned eight-speed automatic. With ten airbags to the Altima's six, the Camry offers more meaningful crash protection. Of course, it is also ready to prevent accidents with its safety suite. The Altima offers a forward collision warning with an autobrake, but only Camry makes it standard. You can say the same for the lane watch with assist and the adaptive cruise control. Camrys also add pedestrian detection with an autobrake. Both offer a 360-degree parking and slow maneuver camera. Toyota's system includes the all-important curb view.
Toyota Camry vs. Hyundai Sonata
Sonatas got a big fanfare when they were updated, but that was 2014. Now they are aging while the Camry is pulling ahead by leaps and bounds. First, there's the issue of material quality. Advances in basic elements and styling have changed greatly in these intervening years, and Camry designers really took advantage of it. The results are modern, durable, and handsome. You will find surfaces feel more amenable to your touch. The Camry's outstanding legroom (38 inches) is much more accommodating than the Sonata's 35 inches. Surprisingly, Sonatas do not have much dash tech on the base editions. There is Bluetooth for streaming, but you don't get a touchscreen. To get a rearview camera and an audio display screen, you have to step up to a higher edition. You have to admit that the Entune touchscreen system makes the Camry a much more attractive value. This is especially true when you consider the GPS navigation app that is part of Entune. WiFi is a new addition to the Camry menu. Other differences include things like the Camry's automatic headlights and heated side mirrors. Ten airbags on the Camry make it more protective than the Hyundai with its seven airbags. Then there's the fact that Hyundai makes you wait until higher editions to even consider crash avoidance features. Toyota creates a new baseline for every other automotive company. You get an autobrake to assist your pedestrian watch and collision warning. A lane assist adds automation to the lane departure system. Self-regulating high beams are another helpful Camry standard that will cost you more on the Hyundai. When you add up what you get, the savings are huge. More importantly, you have an important safety net around your Camry. Hyundais do not offer a 360-degree parking camera, but Camrys do. You will like the way it shows the entire perimeter of the car as well as the curb. Suddenly it is much easier to maneuver in tight places. The new Camry engines can earn a remarkable 41 miles per gallon on the highway. You won't find a Sonata that can do that.
Toyota Camry vs. Kia Optima
Often touted for its lower price, the Optima isn't the bargain that some would say it is. In a cabin comparison, you will notice that Camrys come with a standard touchscreen while the Kia doesn't. It does have a display screen but it is several inches smaller than the Toyota's model. As far as spaciousness is concerned, Edmunds reports that rear headroom is limited by a sloping roofline in the Kia Optima. Taller riders won't like the low-mounted cushions. Plus, when it comes to affordability, only Toyota hands you a safety suite at the entry level. You will have to pay more for all of those features if you pick the Kia. In fact, Kias don't even offer equivalents for every aspect of Toyota's crash avoidance systems. To get the most important crash avoidance features, Kia makes them available on higher editions in extra cost packages. The new Camry is also pulling ahead when it comes to performance. Its new high-horsepower four-cylinder beats the Kia by 20 horsepower. What's more, Edmunds reporting shows that Kia's powertrain is less than optimal. The auto journalist writes about slower acceleration, a shift-happy transmission and touchy brakes. On the other hand, auto critics are already praising the new Camry for its smart new suspension. Drivers will notice better handling, and backseat passengers will enjoy a smoother ride. The Kia certainly cannot match the Camry's new fuel economy which is expected to be 29 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.
Now that you know more, you need to do the most important thing a car shopper ever does. Take a test drive of the 2018 Toyota Camry. Give it a chance to impress you with the ways it will improve your driving experience!
