HOW’S THE RIDE?

My test vehicle featured a 3.5-liter, V6 engine; paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The numbers on this vehicle were 301 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque.

These are great numbers for the segment, but it still got a bit noisy and seemed like it was working hard to get going at times, especially when I wanted to move fast.

The Camry features driving mode choice, including Eco, Normal and Sport options. A sporty ride can be enjoyed when you need it, but most often you’ll be fine with the smooth ride the Normal setting offers. Being a sedan, the Camry can be somewhat rough and noisy on bumpy roads compared to SUVs and other larger vehicles.

Alternately, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is offered, boasting 203 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. Though be prepared for a more sluggish experience if you don’t opt for the V6.

All Camrys are FWD vehicles.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY 

The 2019 Camry features something very rare: Perfect safety ratings of 5 stars all-around in government testing. You literally can not beat that (though about a dozen others can also make the claim). Safety is a hallmark of the Toyota brand and this Camry continues to hit that mark. 

The infotainment system in the 2019 Camry is mostly well-designed, but not my favorite in the segment. There’s a somewhat odd placing of the volume and station changing buttons, which made it confusing to manipulate at times.

The Camry is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa (but not Android Auto, unfortunately, which puts it behind the competition).

Strong safety features are included, as per usual for the Toyota brand. For example, when a vehicle darted in front of me while I was in the Camry, the vehicle stopped almost immediately after sensing the traffic. This is part of Toyota Safety Sense P, a package which comes on the Camry and features: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and more.

These are all great features that will save lives, but I will also say that on occasion some of the safety functions could be overly sensitive.

One cool element on the very helpful Navigation package was the warnings it provided about upcoming “speed traps” — a new feature I’m just starting to see on vehicles that can save drivers a lot of hassle down the road.

The Navigation system (an option that will run you about $1K) did very well to get me around construction areas. It also responded well to voice commands. 

There is also a wireless charging pad offered up front, but in my experience it didn’t always work properly.

MPG
The fuel mileage numbers on the V6 version of the Camry that tested were 22 city/33 highway/26 combined, and my experience driving the Camry confirmed the accuracy of these numbers. The four-cylinder Camry is even stronger, at 29/41/34. These numbers are impressive for the segment, and another reason for the Camry’s popularity.

PRICE, BOTTOM LINE
The 2019 Camry I tested was priced just under $38K; base price for the XLE V6 starts at $34K. Base price for the Camry overall starts starts about $24K. So there’s lots of range, depending on what features you desire.

The top level is quite pricey (in my view, for $38K you might as well be searching for an entry-level luxury sedan). So if you’re planning to get a Camry, you would be smart to choose a more mid-range offering, unless you really need all the bells and whistles.

All in all, the 2019 Toyota Camry is a reliable, safe and roomy family vehicle with strong tech options, and no doubt will continue to be a top seller. 

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.