The Toyota Camry’s popularity stems from 3 principles- affordability, reliability, and resale value. One of its highest selling cars, the Camry is a mid-range sedan with ample space to fit an entire family and performance that remains stable throughout the car’s life, making it one of the most popular vehicles in the Middle East. One might wonder why Toyota even bothered to come out with a sports version of the 2018 Camry, ourselves included. Our question was answered when we were invited to test drive the new Camry Sport. The answer is simple; they created the 2018 Camry Sport simply because they could. This is Toyota making a point, proving that their engineering teams are capable of taking a well-known formula and transforming it into something you couldn’t imagine. Toyota isn’t planning on making the sport versions of their flagship vehicles into their most popular cars, they’re making a statement, and the statement is this: “We are Toyota, and we’ve still got it.”
With the new Camry sport, Toyota manages to incorporate a sporty design while maintaining the original aesthetic of the regular Camry. The exterior has received a facelift, with sleeker sideskirts and a black honeycomb grill; this vehicle will turn heads as it passes. The interiors and seats are a quirky red color, and hard plastics have been minimized. It is spacious, as a Camry is supposed to be, but also has a certain sleekness to it. The quad exhausts provide a great finishing touch to its sporty design. The car doors also house a laser projector that projects the words “Camry” on the ground once opened.
The electronics and gadgetry in the vehicle is rather rudimentary when compared to other similar sedans. It does have a rear camera and a decent infotainment system, but lacks features such as lane assist and bird’s eye view. The car also gives you a notification if you drive with the windows open, and asks you if you want to leave them open or close them.
The part that really impressed us was the car’s performance. With a 3.5 L V6 engine, this car provides quite a kick. It has 3 driving modes- Eco, Normal, and Sport- something you’ll find in most sedans these days. Unlike other sedans in its range, one can actually feel the difference between its modes. Saying the Sport mode is fun is an understatement. The moment you switch to sport mode and step on the accelerator, you feel like you’re in an entirely different car. We were surprised that a Camry would be able to offer this much power, almost on par with upper level sport sedans. The vehicle handles turns like a dream and the steering is incredibly responsive. However, we do feel like the fuel tank capacity is a little low considering the amount of power this car has to offer. The fuel tank holds just 60 Liters, same as the 2.5L V4 Camry, while other cars in its range have a fuel capacity ranging from 65-70 Liters. However, that wouldn’t deter us from buying it because it’s just so much fun to drive. Speaking of the non-sport version, the Camry also comes with a V4 2.5 L engine, the standard version which we expect to become ubiquitous by the end of the year. The major difference between the two versions, apart from the engine and aesthetic, is the transmission. The V4 comes with a 6 speed transmission, while the V6 comes with a 8 speed.
In addition to these versions, Toyota has also released a Camry Hybrid, which has been used for public transport in the UAE since 2012 due to their eco-friendliness and low emissions, to the general public for purchase. The Camry HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) can be driven either with electrical power without any fuel consumption, or with a combination of a petrol engine and electric motors. The batteries in the hybrid are automatically charged when the vehicle brakes are applied, using a KER (Kinetic Energy Recovery) system and can also be charged by the petrol engine. You’ll never have to worry about finding a charging station or use a power cord, unlike all-electric cars. Moreover it offers 70% better fuel economy than the 2.5L Camry, saving over 6000 tons of Carbon dioxide.
Bottom line, the Camry Sport does not disappoint one bit. If you’re looking for the reliability of the regular Camry, but want a little more kick to your driving experience, then this is the car for you. If not, you’d be better off with the V4 version. If you’re the environmentally conscious type, then look no further that the Camry HEV. The 2018 Camry starts at 91,000 AED, which we feel is a reasonable amount for the comfort, reliability, and longevity that the vehicle offers.
Editor : Rohit, Driveaholic
Photography: Chris Johnson, Driveaholic
