Toyota Camry

Similarity with Lexus sedans in apparent as one steps inside the 2023 Toyota Camry. That’s understandable as both brands are owned by Toyota. The cabin is nicely matched with utilitarian bits and high-quality materials, from the door panels to the black-brown soft leather seats. The faux-wood veneers are nice to touch. There are some hard plastic bits but the quality is far better than what’s found in most entry-level sedans. The piano-black accents on the center console and door controls and still prone to scratches and fingerprints. The multi-information display is a bit cluttered with a number of controls thrown into it. But the display is not difficult to read. 

The cabin of the 2023 Toyota Camry is among the most spacious in its class. Five occupants can comfortably travel for long distances. 

Passenger and boot space

Over the last for decades, the 2023 Toyota Camry has won accolades for its great ride quality in a roomy cabin. The suspension system’s tuning is perfect and road bumps, potholes and speed-breakers are hardly felt inside the cabin. Though the ground clearance is low, the car’s under-body doesn’t scape over road surfaces. However, the rear suspension is on the stiffer side.

Passengers on the rear seat can travel in complete luxury, courtesy the reclining seats and a dedicated third row of air-conditioning vents. A person sitting behind the front passenger’s seat can control the air-conditioning system with a series of buttons to be found on the side of the front seat. This also frees more legroom on the rear seat. The seat comes with great back support which is a must-have feature in any midsized sedan.

The two front seats are of course the most spacious. These are also ventilated and cooled and provides a relaxing travelling experience during a long journey. The dual-zone climate control complete the three-zone trifecta. The butterfly headrests are nice and supportive.

The 2023 Toyota Camry’s noise insulation is superb. Even at a high speed or when the engine is pushed hard, the noise entering the cabin is minimum. The sun visor, however, is short. It doesn’t really protect the eyes of a short-height individual.

The car comes with a 524-liter boot which is among the biggest in its class.

Comfort and entertainment

The 2023 Toyota Camry comes with an expansive set of features. The 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It has in-built navigation. The unit itself doesn’t conform to the overall upmarket feel of the cabin. The display has too many colors that’s often disturbing. The operation isn’t user-friendly either. But the nine-speaker JBL audio system comes as a trade-off. It outputs crisp and clear sound. The multifunction steering wheel lacks the end-call button for hands-free calling and that’s a bit odd in the otherwise greatly equipped car. All doors get bottle holders. The glove-box is big. There are also a number of storage spaces in the cabin to keep phones and chargers.  

The 2023 Toyota Camry sports a sharp design language. It comes with twin-projector LED headlights. The LED daytime running lights (DRLs) are positioned above the headlight units. The front bumper comprises of piano-black horizontal slats, and along with the air dam, lends the car a rather menacing and aggressive look. The sabre tooth-shaped chrome element enhances the visual appeal. The contrasting chrome particularly looks good with the optional Nightshade package. The Toyota logo is positioned in the middle with a blue tint that signifies the Camry’s hybrid nature.  The bonnet gets sculpted lines.

Changes to the other parts of the 2023 Toyota Camry are rather cosmetic. From the side, the Camry may be mistaken as the Lexus ES 300h as both cars look strikingly similar. The dual-tone, diamond-cut 18-inch alloy wheels, and the large glass area forge a more Lexus-type look. A strong beltline crease runs across the doors. The 2023 Camry gets chrome door handles with proximity sensors for automatic open-close.

The car’s rear part looks attractive with the LED taillight units split into two. The Camry comes with a sculpted boot lid that’s slightly raised with the glass window sitting high. The C-pillars are wide and blend into the body-line sculpted on to the rear fender.

Overall, the 2023 Toyota Camry looks handsome and sharp and leaves the impression of a large sedan. 

What are the dimensions of the 2023 Toyota Camry?

The Camry measures 4,885mm in length, 1,840mm in breadth, and 1,445mm in height. The car has a 2,825mm wheelbase. 

What is the ground clearance of the 2023 Toyota Camry?

The 2023 Toyota Camry has a ground clearance of 140mm which is pretty much standard among executive sedans. The low ground clearance improves the car’s balance and minimizes body roll.

The 2023 Toyota Camry isn’t exactly a fuel-efficient car. Its target buyers aren’t the type of people who’ll bother about mileage. On city roads, it returns a mileage of about 7kmpl. Mileage on the highway increased to 10kmpl and 14kmpl at an average speed of 60kmph and 90kmph respectively.

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2023 Toyota Camry?

The car comes with a 50-liter fuel tank. 

The 2023 Toyota Camry isn’t the most sporty or athletic car to drive. But it isn’t dull either. With a gentle throttle input, and under city driving conditions, the driver can use the full electric mode without sacrificing fuel, as long as the battery retains charge. The petrol engine kicks in to recharge the battery or when there’s need for hard acceleration. The transition between the electric and petrol modes in smooth with only a muffled sound from the engine indicating the change. The 8-speed AT is seamlessly mated to the powertrain and the car never stutters during a gear change.

The 2023 Toyota Camry comes with Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes. The Eco mode complements the car’s relaxed persona. The Sport mode sharpens response and the car feels more brisk. While the Camry isn’t meant for racing, cruising down the highway is better done with the Sport mode.

Handling the 2023 Camry is easy. One short twist of the adjustable steering and the car promptly turns corners. The low ground clearance keeps the car planted during hard cornering. 

The 2023 Toyota Camry is available in a single version in the Philippines. It’s hauled by a four-cylinder, 2.5-liter petrol-electric hybrid engine that produces 176PS maximum power at 5,700rpm and 221Nm peak torque at 5,200rpm. The motor is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission (AT). The self-charging hybrid system comes with a 120bhp permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). While electric is the future, in the interim, a number of manufacturers are adding a hybrid system to their cars. Most hybrid motors are based on the Atkinson cycle that prioritizes high-efficiency over performance.   

The Camry is mounted on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) GA-K platform. The suspension system comprises of MacPherson strut with stabilizers in the front and a double wishbone with stabilizers at the back.

The 2023 Toyota Camry now comes with the Nightshade package. The package enhances the look of the car, primarily in the form of blacked-out pieces. The front grille is all-black and Toyota’s Sport Mesh inserts are borrowed from the Camry TRD. The black accents on headlights and taillights complement the look.

The 2023 Toyota Camry comes with a number of driver-assist features and safety equipment. The automatic auto-levelling headlights, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, and auto-dimming rear-view mirror are part of standard equipment. While rear and front proximity sensors are available, there’s no rear parking camera and that’s a sore miss. The auto brake-hold eases crawling through packed traffic. Other safety features include blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and child seat anchors.

The eighth-generation Toyota Camry has a five-star rating in the ASEAN NCAP. 

How many airbags does the 2023 Toyota Camry have? 

The car’s comes with seven airbags including a knee airbag for the driver.

How many cameras does the 2023 Toyota Camry have?

The executive sedan has no camera. 

Value for money

At a starting price of ₱2.442 million, the 2023 Toyota Camry is an expensive car in the midsized sedan segment. But considering the traveling comfort, powerful engine, noise insulation, and features, it’s worthy of buying. It’s for those who don’t mind paying more for a car that prioritizes comfort at the expense of performance. 

Warranty

The 2023 Toyota Camry comes with a five-year/150,000km warranty, whichever is earlier. The company is also offering an optional express maintenance service that guarantees a one-hour service from receiving the vehicle to release.

Are original spare parts of the 2023 Toyota Camry available in Malaysia?

All genuine spare parts of the 2023 Toyota Camry are available at the company’s workshops and service centers. Toyota Philippines has an extensive service network. 

2023 Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is a director competitor to the 2023 Toyota Camry in the Philippines executive sedan segment. The Accord is hauled by a 2.4-liter petrol powertrain that produces 173PS/225Nm. Performance-wise both cars are evenly matched. But the Honda Accord comes with a petrol-only powertrain. The Accord is a premium daily commuting car that comes with a number of comfort features. At a starting price of ₱1.74 million, it’s much more affordable than the Camry.   

2023 Toyota Camry vs Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a very popular car in the executive sedan segment. It offers a nice balance of practicality and premium bits. The Civic is equipped with a 1.5-liter petrol engine that produces 175PS/240Nm. In that way, the 2023 Toyota Camry feels underpowered. But the Camry scores with its handling and level of comfort. The Civic has a spacious cabin with comfortable seats for long-distance travelling. Price of the Honda Civic starts at ₱1.775 million. 

2023 Toyota Camry vs Mazda 6 

The Mazda 6 is an athletic car that boasts of a sporty performance. In that way, it’s diametrically opposite to the Toyota Camry, which focuses more on comfortable travelling. Style-wise both cars evoke the same emotion. Both are good looking from all angles. The Mazda 6 is equipped with a SkyActiv 2.2-liter petrol motor that produces 187PS/450Nm. The interior is greatly styled and the Mazda 6 comes with a spacious cabin. At a price of ₱2.5 million both cars are evenly matched.   

Is the 2023 Toyota Camry worth buying?

The 2023 Toyota Camry makes sense for those who are not worried about performance or mileage. The Camry comes with a hugely refined powertrain and has one of the most comfortable cabins across all sedans. It’s more of a car to be driven around by a chauffeur, instead of self-driving. As a grand touring vehicle, the Camry hardly has any match. The hybrid technology also reduces carbon footprint. It can be said that the 2023 Toyota Camry is a premium sedan for a selected class of buyers.