2012 Toyota Camry

The 2012 Toyota Camry is one of the most fuel efficient sedans to date all three powertrains offer extremely competitive fuel economy figures. The 2012 Camry Hybrid now beats the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid in fuel efficiency, with ratings of 43/39 mpg city/highway and 41 mpg combined on the LE Hybrid. The latest generation carries itself with dimensions identical to the 2011 model. Total length, wheelbase, width and height are all carried over dimensions, resulting in a familiar profile. The assembly displays from fender to fender with the goal of giving the vehicle the impression of greater width without actually stretching the model's track. A new front bumper cover with a jutting chin and expansive lower air intake is framed by chrome foglight recesses on L, LE and XLE models.

The 2012 Toyota Camry single biggest improvement is its interior, the cabin's styling looks as though it was created by a human a stylist, even able to convince the bean counters to splurge a little, with L and LE models receiving aluminum look plastics while SE guise is saddled with a satin version of the same gear. Top of the line XLE trims are still laden with some of the worst-looking simulated wood we've ever seen, however. The center stack stretches from windshield to shift console with a pair of vents positioned up high and a navigation and entertainment screen nestled just below. The whole kit is trimmed in matte black plastic regardless of interior color choice. It feels several classes richer than the last Camry's cabin, and the elegant styling sacrifices nothing in terms of usability.

A total of three audio display systems are available depending on trim, starting with a six speaker AM/FM/CD head with an LCD screen attached to six speakers. Step up a level and the Camry delivers a 6.1-inch touchscreen unit with HD radio, iTunes tagging and voice-recognition navigation. The system also allows for the personalization of various vehicle systems, including exactly which doors unlock at the press of the key fob. At the top of the heap, a premium navigation system offers up a 7-inch display coupled to 10 JBL GreenEdge speakers. That's two more speakers than the best audio system in the last generation Camry, though JBL has managed to cut the total weight and power consumption of the set to levels well below the gear in the 2011 model. JBL says that the company's GreenEdge speakers suck down 58 percent less energy than before while producing higher quality sound at the same time.

The 2012 Toyota Camry powertrains is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6. The 268-hp V6 model is expected to score EPA ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, which equal the four cylinder Camry of a couple years ago and nearly match the Sonata's 2.0-liter turbo four. The new four cylinder Camry, jumps to the top of the class with expected 25/35 mpg ratings. For 2012, the Camry comes equipped with an all new six speed automatic transmission, as well as a taller final drive ratio of 3.634 in four cylinder models and 3.458 on V6 vehicles for improved fuel economy. In addition, the gearbox features flexible logic for torque converter lock-up that can allow the converter to provide some slip to no slip at all, depending on the situation. The driver can manipulate gear selection via a bump shifter on the console or, on SE models, by wheel-mounted paddle shifters.