Well here’s an embarrassing story with our new 2020 Toyota Camry test vehicle. After clicking the keyfob to unlock the doors, and settling into the soft fabric seats, I couldn’t find the darn start button. Considering I haven’t driven this generation of Camry before, I became flustered and thought it had mystically been relocated to somewhere obscure. I did own a Saab once. Left, right, up, down, nothing. In my defense, I had no idea what kind of Camry I was actually driving. The badge on the trunk lid said SE, but who knows what that means nowadays with convoluted naming schemes made to confuse the consumer rather than educate. Turns out, SE is just one rung above the base, and yes we are spoiled by reviewing six-figure supercars but we test everything, budget economy cars as well. Lo and behold, I found the culprit, a little slot on the right side of the steering column. This is new technology apparently. There’s a shiny round button on the keyfob that ejects a rectangular piece of metal, kind of like a door key. You slot it into the hole, turn it, and the engine magically fires up. Got to say, it’s been a while.
SE may trick buyers into thinking it’s some sort of ‘Special Edition’ but ironically enough, ours actually was, a Camry Nightshade Edition to be more specific, commanding a $2,000 premium over the SE’s standard $28,550 price tag. Nightshade is an aesthetics-only package that blacks out every exterior panel, including the window trim, side mirrors, door handles, rear spoiler, badging, and even the 18-inch wheels. If you were planning on buying your Camry this way aftermarket, why not just have it come straight from the factory? One catch is that it’s only available with the Camry SE front-wheel-drive variant. So no AWD here. It’s also only available in two colors, white and black, but in my eyes, black is the only way to have the Camry, because it hides those wonky black strips hanging off the taillights that make it look like it’s crying.
We have always believed that 300 horsepower is all that a mid-size sedan or coupe would ever need – anything more is pure excess. In this case, 200 hp feels just right for the Camry, but Toyota does offer a more potent 301 hp V6 in the more expensive XSE, TRD, and XLE trims. If you want a speedy family hauler that successfully flies under the radar, this is it. Not even the RAV4 can come with this engine. Granted, the entrance fee does reach into the $40,000 mark, but it’s the venerable 3.5-liter V6 that has been around for ages, is also found in Lexus -350 models, and is a bulletproof powerplant rumored to outlast even Twinkies after the apocalypse.
Which brings us to the rivaling Honda Accord, because in the grand picture and especially where driving fun is concerned, the Accord is miles ahead with a peppier turbo engine and a wonderfully balanced chassis. The Camry clearly takes a more leisurely focus towards driving and comfort and in that light, it overwhelmingly shines over the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, and Hyundai Sonata. If quick, spirited, and engaging driving takes any priority on your checklist, I’d recommend the Accord instead. Just stay away from the CVT, and opt for the rarified manual if three pedals are up your alley.
