2015 Toyota Camry Preview: New York Auto Show

The Toyota Camry has been top selling midsize sedan for twelve years running, but the first few months of this year has seen some stiff competition in the category from both the Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima. The typical update for a new model in Toyota’s stable is usually more than three years, so this aggressive mid-cycle refresh demonstrates urgency on the part of Toyota to keep Camry in the top spot.

At Toyota’s New York Auto Show press conference, Bob Carter, senior vice president of operations said that its customers have expressed their desire for “more style, comfort and performance” from the Camry.

On center stage at the preview was the sporty 2015 Toyota Camry XSE, the model most likely to tell the world that Camry is no longer a boring sedan. Carter also mentioned that they believe this particular model will increase Toyota’s reach to younger buyers.

Other trims that will arrive this fall in the Camry lineup include the eco-friendly Hybrid SE, along with the entry-level LE and upscale XLE grades.

What’s New for the 2015 Toyota Camry:

The newly renovated Camry features a complete overhaul rather than a simple facelift. The exterior is longer, lower, wider and more substantial with a very aggressive, gaping grille and the interior receives a treatment that seems more Lexus than Toyota. Although the engines change very little in this redesign, Toyota says that there are more than 2,000 new parts and that only the roof of the car is the same as the last version.

With sculpted lines in the hood meeting up with the aggressive front bumpers, the design is purposefully masculine and more substantial than the previous model. The body structure has also been made more rigid to improve ride quality and enhancements have been made to quiet the cabin. A couple of cool features were added to the cabin including a larger increased capacity center console tray and a power wireless charging system for smart phones.

The sportier, tuned up Toyota Camry XSE gets 18-inch wheels, unique shock absorbers and unique tuning for its electronic power steering system. The Camry will continue to be available with 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 3.5-liter V6 gas engines paired with 6-speed automatic transmissions, or a 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle engine with Hybrid Synergy drive matched to an E-CVT.

2015 Toyota Camry: What Autobytel Thinks

For Toyota, being #1 is serious business and the company is powerful enough to put some serious improvements into the Camry to maintain its past dominance. With contenders in the segment coming to market like the newly designed Chrysler 200, and a newly designed Hyundai Sonata, there’s no time like the present for Toyota to beef up its long-standing Camry to appeal to a new generation of midsize sedan buyers.

Pricing has not yet been disclosed, but with Toyota’s past record for providing excellent value, quality and dependability, the new Camry should get the attention of even a broader audience of buyers looking for the “best” sedan for the money.