The Toyota Camry has been the bestselling car in America for 12 years straight and with the 2015 model launch, the four-door sedan should remain at the top of the charts. For 2015, Camry gets an extensive makeover both inside and outside with new body panels and improved materials inside. This week, we took the top of the line XLE with V6 power and saw what changes Toyota has made to the popular sedan.
What’s new for 2015?
Only three years removed from a complete overhaul, the 2015 Camry gets another with all-new exterior styling, improved handling, revised interior, more equipment and better materials. Every exterior body panel is new, except for the roof but overall length has increased 1.8 inches and everything inside the cabin has been redesigned and refurbished. There is new stitching on the leather seats inside the Camry XLE and a new three-bar grille outside.
2015 Camry options on this XLE tester
This 2015 Toyota Camry XLE V6 ($31,370) came with Safety Connect ($515) with Emergency Assist and stolen vehicle locator. It was also equipped with the Blind Spot Monitor ($500), Premium JBL sound with navigation ($805), Technology Package ($750) with Pre-Collision, Lane Departure, Radar Cruise and Auto High Beam.
The top line Camry XLE also included leather trim seats, heated front seats, dual zone climate control, four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, Entune Audio Plus multimedia, LED daytime running lamps, chrome grille and 17-inch chrome alloy wheels. Total MSRP including destination: $36,543.
Interior features
Stepping in the new Camry, we can see that almost everything inside is new. Most all the hard plastic has been removed and most surfaces are covered with new soft-touch materials. The leather seats in this XLE trim come with French seams stitching. The cabin is more upscale than the outgoing model with comfortable seats and improved serenity. We noticed the increase in sound-insulation and it translated to a quieter ride on the highway.
The buttons and knobs for the climate control have a higher-end feel, are easier to use and are bigger than the outgoing model. 2015 Camry also comes with new gauges that have a classier look than before. All trim levels now come with the new Entune touchscreen interface. Our XLE came with the 7-inch high-resolution touch-screen display with rearview camera.
Engine and fuel mileage specs
The 2015 Camry XLE model comes equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The V6 has port fuel injection and is rated at 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. The V6-equipped XLE is rated at 21/31 mpg city/highway, 25 mpg combined fuel mileage.
Driving dynamics
On the road, the new Camry has better ride quality due to the improvements made to the suspension, steering, body structure and sound-deadening materials. The cabin noise has decreased and reminded us of its Lexus cousin, the ES350. The Camry XLE’s 265-hp 3.5-liter V6 goes unchanged for 2015 but still delivers satisfying power in all driving situations. The 6-speed automatic is also a carryover from the previous model but delivered smooth responsive shifts.
The XLE with the V6 is a good choice for those wanting more power and extra luxury in this class. A 2.5-liter four cylinder is available in other trim levels and produces 178 hp with fuel mileage of 25/35 city/highway for those looking for better efficiency. Camry is front-wheel-drive and we didn’t have any issues in the snow this week. The XLE pulled the hills west of Denver and navigated the snowy mountain curves near Evergreen without issue.
Conclusion:
The new 2015 Toyota Camry XLE offers the most luxury in the Camry lineup and the new changes give mid-size sedan consumers an improved version of the popular sedan. The Camry with the V6 is very competent on the road and delivers a quiet, comfortable more refined ride quality than the outgoing model. The XLE trim offers many distinct features for those wanting more luxury.
What do you think of the new Camry? Would you consider buying one?
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A
