Review – 2012 Toyota Camry is a Worthy Choice for Most Car Buyers

Posted by Alex Callister on February 6th, 2012

2012 Toyota Camry in Snow

ABC’s popular television dating series, The Bachelor, started its sixteenth season at the beginning of January. I’m not a fan of this pop-cultural phenomenon that millions of viewers watch on a weekly basis. And I’m not quite sure why people are so infatuated with the show—especially guys.

Maybe it’s the fact that both men and women love watching 18 beautiful women throw themselves into ridiculous challenges to grab the attention of one man. At least that’s what makes it entertaining for the male species to watch.

But while a group of fellow Vehixers gathered around the water-cooler the other day to discuss the latest Bachelor gossip, it hit me. What if there were a similar contest for cars? A contest with 18 new cars and one car buyer looking for an ideal new ride. Which car would win?

A Ferrari or a Porsche might have a good shot at winning. A Maserati and an Aston Martin could also end up being chosen.

Yet if you watch The Bachelor or follow the news in tabloids, you realize that of all the “perfect matches” the show has produced, only one of the unions still remains.

Looks like fast and sexy doesn’t always pan out in the real world.

That prompted me to think about some of the less flashy women on The Bachelor. The ones that appear to be lower maintenance and far more dependable.

I realized they remind me of the 2012 Toyota Camry.

Read: 2012 Toyota Camry Review

If the Camry were on The Car Bachelor, it would likely make it past the first few rounds, but might not ever win. We think that’s actually a good thing for Toyota.

The Best-Selling Mid-Size Sedan in America

The flashiest of vehicles are never the top sellers in America, let alone the most popular.

Since the Toyota Camry went on sale in 1982, more than 15 million Camrys have been sold worldwide.

After 30 years on American roads, it’s certainly a favorite among many drivers. So much of a favorite, the Camry has been the best-selling mid-size car for the last 10 years and was yet again the best-selling sedan and second best-selling vehicle in the United States last month.

The Redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry

We’ve all heard the saying, “it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” And the 2012 Camry exudes goodness from the inside out. The Camry received a makeover for the 2012 model year, making it far more appealing to the eye for family-sedan buyers.

What was once a plain-Jane interior design with bland styling and far too much plastic has been replaced with more upscale finishes. These include a curved dash cap with contrast stitching, softer materials and more supportive seating.

2012 Toyota Camry Dash

With the optional Entune multimedia system, users can use the touchscreen to listen to music on Pandora or perform an Internet search using Bing.com. Not impressed yet? How about making dinner reservations or buying a movie ticket all while in your car? Entune does that as well.

2012 Toyota Camry Entune

Combining Safety with a Fun Driving Experience

It’s hard to forget Toyota’s recall troubles back in 2010. With the 2012 Camry, Toyota leaves safety concerns behind.

The 2012 Toyota Camry was named one of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Picks. That’s because the Camry received the highest available ratings in front, side, and rear crash tests. It aced the rollover test, too, and includes electronic stability control as a standard feature.

In terms of reliability, Consumer Reports rates the 2012 Toyota Camry as being “better than average” in predicted reliability, just one rating down from “excellent.” Consumer Reports also names the Camry as one of their 2012 “recommended” vehicles. Drivers will definitely be pleased with that endorsement.

This Camry is just as safe as it is fun to drive. Our Toyota Camry SE test model was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 268 horsepower. This sedan is estimated to return 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. We averaged 25 mpg over a weeks’ worth of driving. On another note, the Camry can accelerate from zero to 60 in less than six seconds.

The larger tires and sport-tuned suspension make the SE far more responsive than the Camry L, LE and XLE. The tighter handling made it enjoyable to drive on a winding canyon road. The performance almost made me forget I was driving a Camry.

The Vehix View

While Ben Flajnik narrows down his choices of women every week on The Bachelor, car buyers can select the 2012 Toyota Camry with little chance of the union ending in a highly public breakup. It’s reliable, dependable and quite attractive. In short, everything you might want in a long-term partner.

After waiting five years for a newly redesigned Camry, it has arrived and we like it. From the interior design to the handling, the 2012 Camry does not disappoint. Add a healthy helping of technology features and the updated Camry is a strong contender for family-sedan shoppers.

2012 Toyota Camry Front