2018 Toyota Camry: What's It Like to Live With?

The 2018 Toyota Camry marks the first year of a comprehensive overhaul that delivers improved performance, a new interior, and the promise of some excitement from behind the wheel.

Introduction

What Did We Buy?
"Didn't we just have a Camry in the fleet?"

This seemed a reasonable question after hearing that we'd added a 2018 Toyota Camry to our long-term stable. It wasn't that long ago that we'd driven a black SE trim for a year, but it turns out it wasn't quite as recent as it seemed. That particular test wrapped up, and the car sold, almost five years ago.

Time flies; you just don't expect it to fly by on the wings of a Camry, a car so ubiquitous on America's roads that it's always just there. It seems all of that capable anonymity has caught up with the country's best-selling car, however. Six years later, the new Camry rolls out with a bold new look, revamped four- and six-cylinder engines under the hood, and a chassis that promises both improved interior room and a more engaged driving feel.

Such comprehensive changes made it hard to ignore the new Camry, so we decided to buy one for our long-term fleet. Now we have a year and 20,000 miles to see if the redesign really does push this family sedan forward in a meaningful way.

What Options Does It Have?
The Camry comes in five familiar trim levels: L, LE, XLE, SE and XSE. The differences largely come down to features, although the SE and XSE include sportier suspension calibration. All trims comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (203 horsepower, 184 pound-feet of torque), while a 3.5-liter V6 (301 hp, 267 lb-ft) is optional on XLE and XSE models. (XSE trims with the four-cylinder get a slight power boost to 206 hp, 186 lb-ft.)

Like our last long-term Camry, we opted for the SE trim. With sport suspension tuning, an eight-speed transmission with shift paddles, and 18-inch wheels, the SE should give us a good feel for the new Camry's potential. The revamped four-cylinder engine is also rated to deliver up to 34 mpg combined.

We also opted for features including the Convenience package ($625), which bundles a Smart Key (allows drivers to unlock doors by touching the handles) and an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a sunroof ($900), and carpeted floor and trunk mats ($224).

Other options include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert ($600) to complement the Safety Sense P suite, which comes standard on every Camry. The suite of features includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and mitigation, adaptive cruise control and auto-dimming LED headlights.

Our priciest option ($1,255) was the Audio Plus package, which includes navigation via smartphone app, wireless smartphone charging, an 8-inch touchscreen, and the Entune 3.0 infotainment system with in-car Wi-Fi. Oddly, this package also includes dual-zone automatic climate control and vents for rear passengers, but we'll take them.

Our total MSRP was $29,699. After some negotiation with Carson Toyota in nearby Carson, California, we were able to get that price down to $26,968.

Why We Bought It
Although SUVs and crossovers are dominating the sales charts, there's still plenty of interest in midsize sedans. And there's a good reason for that. They're fuel-efficient, easy to maneuver, and have more than enough room for an average-size family. Cars such as the Camry are also more affordable on a feature-by-feature basis, so anyone on a tight budget would be unwise to overlook today's modern sedans.

This time around, Toyota has also given the Camry a design that makes a statement instead of simply blending in. It's a big step out of Toyota's comfort zone, so we're interested to see how the styling grows on us over the next year. There's plenty to talk about under the skin as well, and after rolling up 20,000 miles in the next 12 months, we'll have great insights on how it rides, drives and feels when you're behind the wheel.

Follow our long-term road test updates for our latest thoughts and impressions of our 2018 Toyota Camry SE.

Edmunds purchased this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.

Monthly Update for October 2017

by Cameron Rogers, Staff Writer

Where Did We Drive It?
Our new 2018 Toyota Camry has only been in the fleet for a month and a half, but we've wasted no time breezing past the engine break-in period of 621 miles. In fact, we've put nearly 3,000 miles on Blue Lightning since we purchased it in mid-September. In that time, the Camry has seen its share of city commuting, highway driving and instrumented performance testing. A few local trips bookended the month — Josh Sadlier took it to Palm Springs in early October, and I drove to Temecula at the end.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Our Camry SE has a fuel economy rating of 32 mpg combined (28 city/39 highway), making it one of the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans with a base engine. In our first six weeks, we've come surprisingly close to the EPA's combined rating with a 30.4 mpg average, though our best-fill tank is a bit shy of the official highway rating.

I don't think we'll have any problem eking out 39 mpg from our Camry, however. I noticed that the trip computer displayed average fuel economy of more than 41 mpg on an 80-mile round-trip jaunt to Universal Studios, and that included about 15 miles in stop-and-go traffic. We just need to take it on a few road trips to gather good fuel data. I even have a trip in mind. The SE's 16-gallon tank should be able to take me from my house to Las Vegas and back with a few gallons to spare. I could use another burger....

Average lifetime mpg: 30.4
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best-fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 2,810 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Interior
"Good or bad, here's what I noticed the most after one night in our new Camry.

1: The Camry has a great driving position with excellent outward visibility. It's a very easy car to get comfortable in.

2: Having to download two apps (Scout GPS Link and Toyota's Entune 3.0) to display navigation on the touchscreen is convoluted and annoying.

3: The SE's sport-tuned suspension makes our sedan feel noticeably better than any Camry I've driven before. This model is less floaty on the highway, more composed on high-speed cloverleaf ramps, and less bothered by the occasional patch of rough road.

4: The sound that the driver's door makes when you close it is a little more hollow that I would expect from a Camry." — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor

"I love how weird the Camry's interior is. It must've been a blast to be on the design team. The dashboard has all sorts of fun angles and slashes and asymmetries, plus that strange metallic insert above the glovebox that's shiny and wavy for no apparent reason. You can use a lot of words to describe the new Camry's cabin, but 'bland' won't be one of them." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy

"Count me among the fans of the new Camry's super cool interior. The leatherette-covered dash and silver trim make the cabin look expensive, and the high-resolution touchscreen is a definite step up from the previous model. I'm looking forward to spending more time behind the wheel over the next 12 months." — Laurel Carden, social media manager

Comfort
"I've already taken our new Camry on a couple of road trips, and I've been surprised each time by the amount of tire roar that makes its way into the cabin. The Camry has traditionally been the quiet one in this class, as opposed to the noisy (or 'sporty') Accord, but I actually think our Camry SE could use some more sound-deadening material. Presumably the regular Camry LE is more pleasant because it's shod in less aggressive tires, but still. To me, a hushed highway ride is part of the Camry's identity, and the redesigned 2018 model doesn't quite deliver on that." — Josh Sadlier

Technology-Audio
"There's much to like about our Camry. It looks good, handles better than any Camry I've driven, and has a pleasant interior. However, the notable omission of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is an absolute deal-breaker for me. I listen to a ton of podcasts, and those systems give me an easy way to manage the current playlist while offering a far more practical navigation option." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor

"Bluetooth streaming audio straight up did not work for me. I'm using a Google Pixel running the latest Android operating system (8.0). I can pair Bluetooth and make calls without issue, but I can't find a way to stream music or podcasts through the car's stereo. I went through every menu I could think of, both on my phone and in the car, and haven't found a solution. The audio display occasionally shows the info of the track I'm listening to, but then says something to the effect of, 'Audio Device Disconnected.' I downloaded the new Entune 3.0 app (which currently has a 2.0 star rating out of 5 on the app store), but it doesn't support the apps I use to listen to music or podcasts. Whether the fault of my phone or the car, it's a pretty frustrating thing to experience in 2017." — Carlos Lago, senior writer

Miscellaneous
"Our new Camry was just delivered. I am not completely sold on the color (it's called Blue Streak), but the styling seems revolutionary considering this is, well, a Camry. I like that it finally has some character." — Mike Schmidt, senior manager, vehicle testing operations

"I already have a lot of opinions about our new Camry, and I'll get to them all eventually, but I want to start with a pretty simple truth: I think the 2018 Hyundai Sonata is better. It's more comfortable, has a better infotainment system and driver aids, and a more usable control layout. If I was planning on commuting in one of these cars for the next three to 10 years, I'd take the Sonata without hesitation." — Will Kaufman, associate staff writer

Monthly Update for November 2017

by Cameron Rogers, Staff Writer

Where Did We Drive It?
We continued to pack miles onto our 2018 Toyota Camry in November, but it didn't come close to matching the roughly 3,000 miles we reported in October. Last month, the Camry mostly stuck to commuting and weekend tours of Los Angeles County, and we added just more than 900 miles, well below our 1,700-mile monthly goal.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Our overall average fell more than 1 mpg, which isn't surprising since the Camry spent most of its time cruising around town. It's also a relatively new car in our fleet, so any subpar fills will have a noticeable effect on the average. We averaged 27.2 mpg over 912 miles in November, which dropped our overall fuel economy from 30.4 mpg to 29.2 mpg.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.2
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best-fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 3,725 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights
Interior
"The Camry's control knobs on the center console don't feel logically placed. The volume knob is up too high and far away from the passenger. The tuning knob is on the wrong side (left of the screen), and where my hand would naturally gravitate to for a volume adjustment, I find the climate control knob instead." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor

Technology-Audio
"'Go home, Camry. You're drunk.' There seems to be a ghost in the machine when it comes to the Google Pixel and a vehicle's infotainment system. Senior Writer Carlos Lago has documented it, Photo Editor Kurt Niebuhr has also talked about it, and now I'm going into it. There are three of us on staff who like what the Pixel offers; either that or we just like rebelling against the iSheep. Either way, having a phone with the most up-to-date Android OS poses problems.

"In our new 2018 Toyota Camry, entertainment seems to be a deterrent for the head unit in relation to usage of the phone. While it works just fine with phone calls, Google's Play Music has issues. The central touchscreen reads 'Audio player connected,' and then a couple of seconds later 'Audio player disconnected.' This happened for about five minutes straight. That's when I got frustrated and decided that SiriusXM was the way to go or else I was going to punch the head unit square in its proverbial jaw. After further discussions with Carlos, we surmised that there are two culprits involved: the latest-and-greatest OS Music app and Toyota's head unit firmware. We came to this conclusion after we found our Pixels worked seamlessly on every other vehicle in our fleet! We'll keep you updated on this matter." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres, vehicle testing technician

"Last year, I was astounded by how many power points our 2016 Kia Optima offered. Our LX 1.6T tester had two 12-volt outlets and a USB port in the front, one charge-only port under the armrest, and one charge port and one outlet behind the console for those in the rear. Arguing about who gets to charge their phone first would be a thing of the past.

"The Camry isn't so generous. On our SE model, there's only one USB port and a single 12-volt outlet, and they're both in front. If I'm listening to music via USB stick and my fiancé needs to charge her phone, we're about to listen to Sirius. Two additional charge-only USB ports are added in the XSE trim, and they output more power than the standard port (2.1 amps vs. 1.5). The additional ports are not available for the SE.

"There's also a Qi pad up front, but you'll need a phone or case that supports wireless charging. I've experienced mixed results, as mild g-forces cause my phone to fly from the pad and charging is slower than a direct USB connection." — Cameron Rogers, staff writer

Cargo Space
"I've driven the Camry for a total of two weeks since we bought it in mid-September, and I'm still finding little surprises. There's a small storage cubby below the Qi charging pad just in front of the shifter. The pocket is pretty small, but if you need to hide small items, or just use it as a phone holder if you don't use the charging pad, it does the trick." — Cameron Rogers

Miscellaneous
"My first real car was a 1991 Toyota Camry that my uncle gave me in 1999. When he handed me the keys to his no longer needed four-cylinder, manual transmission, DX model, it had well north of 200,000 miles.

"It had manual seats, hand-crank windows, and old-timey sideview mirrors that were adjusted with a little plastic crank lever. There was no factory air conditioning, and someone had stolen the radio. This car was all business, no frills, and I totally dug it. The fewer the gadgets, the fewer things to break was my opinion.

"Our new 2018 Camry? I love every ounce of it. Nearly twice the horsepower and still gets better gas mileage. A spacious, comfortable interior. The ride is far more interesting; it handles better than my old car, but it's softer and more forgiving at the same time.

"And in my eyes at least, this thing is gorgeous! But I wonder: Will it live as long as the '91 I once adored? All of the creature comforts in the new iteration are not only welcome, but necessary in today's car market. And that's not a bad thing. But when you buy a new Camry, the belief that the vehicle will last as long as a mountain is part of the deal.

"If my beloved 1991 Camry pulled up alongside me on I-405 tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised. Vehicles of that vintage felt like they were made to be immortal. I'm just not sold that these new vehicles, with all the tech, will be quite as hassle-free for owners over two decades as their predecessors were." — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

Monthly Update for December 2017

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
We added around 1,600 miles to our 2018 Toyota Camry in December thanks to two long trips, one to Arizona and another to San Diego. We missed our goal of 1,700 miles for the month, but we're confident we'll be on schedule to hit our 20,000-mile goal by October when our long-term trial concludes.

Why are we so confident? Because people around here really seem to dig the Camry, so it's a safe bet that Blue will get its fair share of miles. As expected, the Camry performed as intended. We experienced no major foul-ups, problems or gremlins as 2017 came to an end. We did notice a few weaknesses in the Camry armor, however.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
At the beginning of December, the Camry was averaging 30.5 mpg. The 1,600 miles we drove throughout the month did little to change our fuel economy, but our overall average increased to 30.7 mpg. That's respectable, but it's nearly 1.5 mpg lower than the EPA estimate of 32 mpg combined.

Average lifetime mpg: 30.7
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 5,602 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Miscellaneous
"Not sure who designed the windshield wipers on the Camry, but they seemed to have skipped a step. You can't fold up the driver-side wiper while it's in the down position. This means no changing the wiper blade and no lifting the wiper to clean the windshield because the wiper arm is stopped by the hood. It also means you have to leave this wiper down in a snowstorm, also less than ideal. Sure, you can stop the wiper midaction while it's perched vertically on the windshield, but that's a hassle." — Travis Langness, automotive editor

Interior
"'When you do your write-up thingy on this car, say that if it had heated seats, it would be just about perfect.' — The Missus

"I think she's right. For most people, the Camry would be just about perfect, and you can include me in the 'most people' category. I do have a few gripes, though:

"1) Stereo controls on the steering wheel. The volume control is on the left side of the steering wheel; the song control is on the right. These controls should be in the same space.
2) I know the Camry means well, but there are too many beeping alerts. And they are insistent.
3) If the sun hits the infotainment system, the reflection from the display is impossible to ignore.
4) The Missus is right. Packaged at $29,699, this thing should have heated seats.

"Small gripes aside, I am a big fan of this new Camry. It does just about everything right." — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

Performance
"Saturday. We hopped in the Camry and prepared to be on our way. I put Blue in reverse and heard what can best be described as a baritone clunk. 'Hey, honey, did that sound right to you?' I asked. She shook her head no.

"My personal vehicle is a 1998 Chevy Tahoe LT two-door. Sometimes I'll hear that same kind of clunk when backing up ol' Bessy. Seems appropriate when driving something from the Clinton era, but completely out of place in a nearly new ride.

"Sunday. On the holiday-empty Interstate 405, I witnessed the 2018 Camry's eight-speed transmission do its best CVT automatic imitation. It couldn't seem to find its proper place, and for a few moments it got really rev-happy. As quickly as it started, the transmission righted itself, and all was well.

"The Camry is due for service soon. I'm hopeful we can ask our service tech to check these things out. My only fear is that he or she will need to 're-create the problem' in order to authorize a repair. These two incidents happened (and ended) in the span of about 10 seconds spread out over two days and 400 miles or so of driving. It's going to be hard to duplicate this." — Matt Jones

Technology
"Our friends at Toyota have determined that the ability to change songs while driving is of paramount importance. So important that there are no fewer than four ways to skip from 'Beat It' to 'Billie Jean.' You can do it from the steering wheel, the tune/scroll knob, the seek/track buttons, or the touchscreen. And if you're streaming from your phone, I guess you can count your phone as a song switcher, too. As a guy who says the same thing over and over, again and again, I don't mind the redundancy." — Matt Jones

Monthly Update for January 2018

by Brent Romans, Senior Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
The new year started off uneventfully for our 2018 Toyota Camry SE. Most of our staff used it for local driving and commuting to the Edmunds offices. I was able to evaluate it over a long-distance drive, though, from Los Angeles to Fresno, about 250 miles away.

We ended up with a mix of logbook comments for the month. Oddly, many of them are slightly negative. Is this latest Camry redesign not holding up to scrutiny?

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
In January, we averaged 31.1 mpg over about 2,000 miles of driving. That's pretty close to what the EPA says to expect for combined city/highway driving. It wasn't that long ago that the Camry was achieving an mpg in the low 30s in highway driving. I looked it up: A 2008 Camry with the four-cylinder engine had a 31 mpg highway rating. Now you can just drive a 2018 Camry about anywhere and get that kind of fuel economy. I dig that.

Average lifetime mpg: 30.5
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 7,612 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"Let's talk about the Camry's low-speed throttle calibration. There's something weird about it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but when I come to a four-way intersection, briefly stop, and then get back on the gas, it's like the computer imposes a delay before acceleration is provided. I'm waiting an extra beat before the engine kicks in. Never encountered this in a car. Any Camry owners out there know what I'm talking about? Seems like a simple software update would cure it." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager of content strategy

"Drove the new 2018 Honda Accord the other day, a Touring model with the 1.5-liter turbo and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Despite Toyota's claims about the latest Camry's newfound sportiness, I'd say the Accord is still the clear driver's choice. The Accord's turbo engine delivers effortless thrust in situations where the Camry's non-turbocharged engine would be groaning to keep up, and the Honda gives you a responsive, buttoned-down feel on the road that the Toyota just can't match. Toyota still hasn't quite cracked the code that Honda's had down pat for decades." — Josh Sadlier

"For years the Camry was known for being a snooze to drive. Well, it seems Toyota is looking to change that with its redesigned 2018 Camry. Our long-term Camry SE is downright agile for a midsize sedan. In our Camry First Drive article, Dan Edmunds noted how Toyota made a concerted effort to improve the car's handling this time around. The SE version also comes with a sport-tuned suspension, so that is another contributing factor. Throw our Camry into a corner and it arcs around willingly and stays flat and balanced. I'm impressed." — Brent Romans, senior editor

"The more I accelerate in our long-term Camry, the less affection I feel for its workaday 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. There's no turbo here, so you have to rev it up to get the most out of it, and it makes unhappy noises when you do so. I'm a die-hard fan of Toyota's 3.5-liter V6, so presumably I'd like this car a lot better with the optional V6 in place. But I think the standard Camry is overdue for the kind of small-displacement turbocharged engine that many rivals now offer. The deficit in drivability and refinement is too big to ignore." — Josh Sadlier

Comfort
"I've recently driven our Camry on a couple of four-hour drives. A few observations: I do like the driver's seat. I found it to be pretty comfortable. Wind noise and road noise are noticeable, though. I would have expected the Camry to be a little quieter. This issue could be exacerbated by what seems to be a slight air leak coming from the driver's door near the center roof pillar, which is next to the driver's ear." — Brent Romans

Interior
"I'll give the Camry credit where credit's due — its automatic shift lever is a properly short and sporty affair, while the Honda Accord's is bizarrely tall and ungainly. Score one for Toyota on that front." — Josh Sadlier

Miscellaneous
"I like our Camry's styling. It helps that we have the sportier SE, I suppose. Get a base Camry L in silver, and things aren't going to be nearly as interesting. But all the same, our test car looks sharp with its 18-inch alloy wheels and Blue Streak Metallic color. The sheet metal's angles and styling lines make the Camry look purposeful and distinct without being overwrought." — Brent Romans

"It is well-known around the Edmunds office that I have catlike reflexes, combined with Usain Bolt-like speed. Even still, when I put our Camry in park, shut off the engine, and open the door to exit, it's impossible for me to exit the Camry before the ding that reminds me the door is open starts doing its thing.

"To be quite honest with you, I hate that ding. When I need to get out of a car, I almost always need to collect some stuff — phone, wallet, maybe a laptop or gym bag — before my time in the vehicle is actually done. And maybe it's a bad habit, but one of the first things I do once I've parked a car is open the door. I don't know why I do, but I do. Then I collect my stuff. In the 15 seconds or so it takes me to gather my belongings, that ding is just dinging along. Drives me nuts." — Matt Jones

Monthly Update for February 2018

by Dan Frio, Automotive Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
We drove our 2018 Toyota Camry just 902 miles in February. Is this new, sportier Camry not resonating with us? Are we not feeling it? Is it the front end? Are the other shiny objects in our garage (Model 3, Colorado ZR2) distracting us?

Maybe some, none, or all of the above. But even after a month of short commuting miles, broken up by a drive to Las Vegas, we're still right on target with our mileage after five months. Granted, we had some big-mile months early on in the test and around the holidays. And with spring around the corner, the Camry is certain to be a popular car for long drives and weekends out of town. Maybe we'll even autocross it. I mean, I won't. But someone will, I'm sure.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We added 902 miles to the Camry in February, filling up just three times with a total of 33.4 gallons. That works out to 27 mpg combined, which is not only worse than the Camry's combined mpg rating (32), but even its city rating (28 mpg). It also dipped our lifetime average below 30 mpg. What's going on?

February's 902 miles are a small sample size, so all we can really attribute it to are too many miles stuck in lousy traffic. And when traffic opens up, so does the throttle. Maybe we're a little too enthusiastic with the pedal. We'll see as the miles continue to pile on.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.4
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 8,514 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None, but we did receive a recall notice last month. It doesn't affect our car, but it does affect Camrys with the V6 engine. It's not an inconsequential matter either; a loose fuel delivery line could make for a very bad day. As the NHTSA recall notice said, "The improperly connected hoses may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire." Read the entire recall notice here.

Logbook Highlights

Cargo Space
"As luck would have it, I was invited to help some friends set up a booth at this January's Consumer Electronic Show. Taking the Camry out to the desert worked out perfectly. As you can see in photos, I had to move a fair amount of cargo at times. You'll notice the big red suitcase is ... big. Even the smaller red piece of luggage was rather hefty. The trunk swallowed both and a few other medium-size bags with nary a complaint. All of this while carrying five adults.

"Ground-breaking stuff? No. But it's a classic example of what family sedans are supposed to do: Have enough room for a bunch of people and all the things they bring along. The Camry did an admirable job, as you'd expect." — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

"Mixed report on the Camry's trunk. For groceries and luggage, I've found the bumper's low liftover height and wide trunk opening help with loading and unloading. The trunklid also opens fully when you press the release button, which is a nice touch. But the Camry's trunk capacity is 15.1 cubic feet, a bit smaller than the typical midsize sedan's trunk. Also, the interior trunk hinges aren't covered, which means you might inadvertently smash some items in a full trunk when closing the lid, and there's no grab handle to help with closing the lid." — Brent Romans, senior automotive editor

Technology-Audio
"Clearly my phone has paired with the Camry, yet when I took this photo the music was playing through my phone and not through the Camry's meager speakers. I had this car for an entire weekend and not once could this thing properly pair with my phone." — Kurt Niebuhr, photo editor

"This morning the Camry's infotainment screen said that Entune needed a software update. I pressed the 'Remind Me Later' button and drove to work. On the way, Bluetooth cut out three times. Each time lasted only a few seconds and it automatically re-established the connection. I don't know if this was related to the Entune update." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor

"The Camry's forward collision warning system doesn't stop beeping when you start braking. It only stops beeping when you are braking hard enough to come to a complete stop before hitting whatever obstacle it's detected. This means that when the car ahead starts making a right turn, and you decide you won't have to come to a complete stop because it'll be out of your way before you get to it, the Camry will beep continuously until the car in front has completed its turn. I am not a fan.

"I'm also pretty sure the forward collision warning system and rear cross-traffic alert system were designed by entirely different teams. See, an orange light turns on in the gauge cluster when forward collision is off, and a green light comes on when cross-traffic is on. Only one of these makes sense to me. After all, I drove around all weekend thinking rear cross-traffic was on while it was actually off, because why would I need to be alerted when a safety feature is working?" — Will Kaufman, associate staff writer

Comfort
"The Camry is surprisingly loud at freeway speeds. Maybe this is a safety feature: If you can't comfortably listen to a podcast at speeds over 75 mph, you'll drive slower." — Will Kaufman

Miscellaneous
"If you asked me the color (colour for our Canadian readers) of our long-term Camry, I'd probably respond with blue. Its official color is Blue Streak Metallic, but as a fellow motorist shouted at me, it's 'Dodger Blue! Dude, is that custom? Go, Dodgers!' " — Kurt Niebuhr

Monthly Update for March 2018

by Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2018 Toyota Camry drove through March anonymously. It came and went without much notice, which, to be honest, is probably what most Camrys do. Thankfully we have nothing much to report. Unless, of course, you have to write an update like I do. That said, we did have a tropical encounter with one of our Camry's cousins and we found a nice little detail about the trunk. Hey, no one said Camrys need to be exciting.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Our Camry only managed to cover about 600 miles in March, which is a bit disappointing. We usually like to see at least double that, but sometimes you just don't have anywhere to go. We're still not hitting the EPA combined mpg rating, and we haven't got anywhere near the highway number, but we've still got some time to get there.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.4
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 9,423 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"I rented a 2018 Camry LE in Hawaii recently and it didn't feel as good as the one we have in the office. Our SE model has a sportier suspension and larger wheels, which help it feel more firmly planted. The LE felt a bit too floaty. If you're looking to buy a Camry and care about the driving feel, the SE trim is worth the extra money.

"Pro tip if you're going to rent one of these: Don't pay for the full tank of gas. This model is so fuel-efficient that I only used about 4.5 gallons during two days of driving around the island." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor

Cargo Space
"It seems odd to say, but I like that when you press the Camry's trunk release button, the trunk opens. That isn't to say it unlocks or pops open slightly. When you hold the button, the trunk raises all the way. Nifty if you have groceries in your hand or just don't want to reach down and lift the trunk up." — Cameron Rogers, staff writer

Monthly Update for April 2018

by Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing

Where Did We Drive It?
We added 1,159 miles to our 2018 Toyota Camry in April and pushed it beyond the 10,000-mile threshold. That said, we'll have to pick up the pace and take full advantage of the upcoming summer road-trip season if we hope to total 20,000 miles by its year anniversary at the end of September.

By all rights the Camry should have accumulated more miles this month, but out of necessity it spent much of its time in the suburbs running here and there. It never got much of a chance to stretch its legs on any sort of road trip.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Our Camry's overall average mpg was not helped by the city-heavy nature of this month's mileage. The Camry began April averaging 29.1 mpg, but that dropped slightly to 28.9 mpg by month's end.

This car carries an EPA rating of 32 mpg combined, so it's quite possible that a lack of road-trip mileage, or even long-distance commuting, is skewing the results. That theory seems especially plausible in light of the Camry's EPA highway rating of 39 mpg. It's also possible that the Camry is simply rated too high, but it is far too early to make that conclusion.

Average lifetime mpg: 28.9
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 10,582 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
Our Camry was delivered with synthetic oil, and that means its oil change service interval is 10,000 miles. Right on cue, a reminder light illuminated as we approached that milestone. The odometer read 10,421 when we finally found time to bring it in to Santa Monica Toyota. Once there, we handed the keys over to our friendly service adviser Elvis and told him that nothing was amiss. He agreed that all we needed was the regularly scheduled maintenance.

And that's just what we got. The dealer rotated the tires, reset the tire pressure, and conducted the usual checks of the wiper blades, brakes and fluid levels. It also changed the synthetic oil and the oil filter, of course, but also swapped in a fresh cabin air filter.

The cost for all of this was zero, zip, zilch. This wasn't much of a surprise because new Toyota purchases come with ToyotaCare free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Still, it felt good to see a bill for $138.78 discounted to zero.

Logbook Highlights

Interior
"For the money, our Camry SE's interior is interesting, attractive, and made from materials that do not disappoint. And I like the clever way they've hidden the joints between the various components using the layering in the design. What's more, the logic of the radio and HVAC buttons and controls is really clear and obvious." — Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing

Technology-Audio
"I've become used to seeing Apple CarPlay in newly redesigned products. The lack of such plug-and-play connectivity really stands out here, especially since the 2018 Toyota Camry is a fully redesigned model. Instead, we get Entune and the captive Scout GPS Link navigation app, both of which feel like dinosaurs. I can ignore Entune and still use the USB interface to listen to music and podcasts through a serviceable interface, but the only navigation workaround is to suction-cup my smartphone to the windshield."— Dan Edmunds

We're not alone in this. The Edmunds Consumer Review page for the 2018 Camry lists numerous comments from owners similar to this one:

"This car, with the exception of uncomfortable seats, would be exceptional if it wasn’t for its horrid Entune system. The Entune app itself doesn't work very well and constantly crashes. Pandora is very unresponsive and doesn't work half the time. The Scout navigation system is horrible, one of the stupidest designs I have ever seen. If Toyota addresses these issues and ditches the Entune system, then this car would be exceptional." — Matthew, Camry buyer and Edmunds Customer Review author

Toyota is getting the message, and fast. But not everyone will be satisfied with the automaker's response. CarPlay will soon be added alongside Entune on upcoming Toyota and Lexus products, such as the 2019 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback and 2019 Lexus ES.

What of the 2019 Camry? Can the 2018 Camry be retrofitted? No, on both counts. This is more than a simple software change. Is Android Auto part of the deal on those redesigned 2019 models? Sadly, no, but they will have Alexa support instead.

There is a counterpart to this Entune and CarPlay talk. If you're not a smartphone user and just want to listen to the radio, use the CD player or simply connect your phone via Bluetooth, the Camry's radio controls and buttons are big, obvious and very easy to use. Baby boomers may well find no fault with it.

That said, those who don't favor smartphones will probably sorely miss the lack of built-in navigation, which the Camry does not offer unless you go for a loaded V6, an expensive version expected to account for less than 5 percent of all Camrys sold.

Monthly Update for May 2018

by Jason Kavanagh, Senior Road Test Engineer

Where Did We Drive It?
Our long-term 2018 Toyota Camry rolled an additional 1,381 miles onto its odometer in May, helped by a sojourn to Arizona and back to Los Angeles. This was in addition to its usual duties of ferrying editors and their families around the greater metropolitan Los Angeles area.

In fact, this kind of local use has dominated the Camry's time with us. For all its merits, this sedan has eluded frequent use as a road-tripper. Meeting our 20,000-mile bogey for the year will require driving it some 2,400 miles each month from now through September. That level of sustained long drives is not likely to happen.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?

May was the Camry's best full month yet for fuel economy. It averaged 30.8 mpg in combined driving, which is one-tenth higher than its next best full-month result. Yet despite a freeway-heavy road trip this month, it still did not quite reach the 32 mpg combined printed on its window sticker. And almost certainly for the reason stated above, we've never had a single fill that came anywhere close to its EPA estimate of 39 mpg highway.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.2
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 11,963 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance

"Man, this car is slow to respond. Whether it's leaving the line or trying to pass, you have to floor the pedal. Is it the engine or transmission? It ultimately doesn't really matter from my point of view because there's such a long pause between pedal input and actual power." — Mark Takahashi, senior writer

Comfort
"The month of May means it was time to check out the annual Overland Expo West held just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, at the Fort Tuthill Recreation Area. As the destination show for people west of the Mississippi interested in overlanding (think off-road car camping), it may seem odd to arrive in our Camry. But a limited time schedule meant I wasn't going to have time to do any off-roading in my Land Cruiser while I was there, so choosing a steed with solid on-road comfort and space to bring back souvenirs became the priority.

"The Camry responded in kind with a comfortable drive on the long stretch of the interstate from Los Angeles to Flagstaff. Square-edge bumps and heaves pass straight through into the car, though, so it's not all perfect. You notice these types of bumps once you get up into the snow line or on concrete surfaces. Handling isn't the Camry's forte either, but when all you're doing is navigating Flagstaff's numerous one-way roads and using the adaptive cruise control on the highway for hours on end, you tend to not care about a little numbness in the steering." — Calvin Kim, road test editor

Interior

"We're eight months into this long-term test and the Camry's interior already seems out-of-date. I like how Toyota tried doing something different with the design, but I just don't find it very attractive or refined. The asymmetrical dash and odd seat upholstery scream 'last generation' to me. It does at least seem to be holding up to daily use just fine, though." — Mark Takahashi

Cargo Space

"Speaking of souvenirs, I picked up a Dometic 12-volt fridge/freezer. While it could fit in the trunk, I would've had to disassemble the exterior box. So, it went into the Camry's spacious rear seat instead. Plenty of rear kneeroom meant I could take my fridge, cozy and protected in its gigantic box, home with me." — Calvin Kim

Technology-Audio

"Our Camry's Entune system, Toyota's smartphone connected environment, isn't used all that often. I know this because I have to download and update the system each time I connect my phone up to the Camry. I don't blame my fellow editors. The system is clunky to use. For example, here you see the system stalling and rendered unavailable even though my phone is connected and the app recognizes the connection to the car. But it has one convenience that I appreciate: You can find and store points in your phone and access them when you connect to the car." — Calvin Kim

"I like wireless charging pads now that Apple has finally hopped on that bandwagon. I have some issues with the Camry's, though. The surface is mostly hard plastic, which doesn't grip the phone well. When you accelerate or brake, the phone slides to and fro. That normally wouldn't be a problem, except the phone won't charge if it isn't situated in the center of the pad. I would suggest to the designers that they add either grippier surfaces or some sort of spring-loaded holder." — Mark Takahashi

Monthly Update for June 2018

by Kurt Niebuhr, Road Test Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
I can't say June was a particularly pleasant month for our 2018 Toyota Camry. Not because it was in an accident or suffered any mechanical failures, but because it endured another month of abuse and vitriol directed at its in-cabin technology and drivability. The former might very well be the culprit behind the Camry's distinct lack of road-trip mileage.

But it wasn't all bad for our blue 'Yota. And while it took a child seat to highlight something positive, at this point I think the Camry will gladly take praise when and where it can get it.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
The Camry covered around 1,000 miles in June and did so in the usual mix of Los Angeles surface streets and congested freeways. And while there was a road trip of moderate length thrown in there, the monthly average fuel economy hovered just over 27 mpg, well below its combined rating of 32 mpg.

Average lifetime mpg: 29
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 13,279 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Technology
"All I want to do is listen to the music on my phone and Toyota's Entune nonsensical and faulty Bluetooth system won't let me. It's constantly connecting and disconnecting, all the while music is playing through my phone's speaker. I've given up. How did Toyota get this so wrong?" — Kurt Niebuhr, road test editor

"The wireless charge pad in the Camry is useless unless the car is stationary. Initially it would charge the phone, but as soon as the car moved and shifted the phone, its connection would be interrupted. The charge pad doesn't even have any sort of rubber surface or walls to keep the phone in place.

"While driving to Disneyland, I used the USB port to charge up my iPhone X and my sister tried juicing up her iPhone 8 Plus on the charge pad. I already knew it didn't really work on my phone, but I figured her larger phone would have better luck. But nope. By the time we arrived at Disneyland — a 50-minute drive away — her phone charge increased by just 3 percent. Too bad there wasn't an extra USB port for her to use, but I guess the pad was supposed to take the place of that." — Caroline Pardilla, senior copy editor

Interior
"Had the pleasure of driving my sister and 4-year-old niece down to Disneyland for the day. While I was getting adjusted in the driver's seat, my sister was loading up and securing Astrid's forward-facing child seat in the back.

"'Oh yay!' she suddenly said. Turns out the Camry had a conveniently placed tether anchor that was on the rear shelf instead of hard-to-get-to spots such as on the cargo floor or on the back of the seat. She normally drives a BMW SUV and I don't have kids, so neither of us knew that sedans usually locate the anchor up there. Score 1 point for sedans." — Caroline Pardilla

Performance
"With the Toyota Camry, it's more about the destination than the journey. The Camry isn't especially fun or easy to drive. And I'm not knocking it because it's a family sedan. As Takahashi said in last month's update, 'It is slow to respond.'

"I'm usually a proactive driver and rarely use cruise control. But while driving our Camry to San Clemente, about 75 miles south of L.A., its lethargic response beat me down and I resigned myself to my fate in the right lane. Whenever I stomped on the accelerator, the engine groaned as if straining to give me what I wanted and then ultimately failed in doing that. This made it a pain to try to pass cars, as it loudly disclosed my intention and then slowly did so. Not my favorite road-trip car." — Caroline Pardilla

Monthly Update for July 2018

by Carlos Lago, Manager, Feature Content

Where Did We Drive It?
It was a lonely July for our long-term 2018 Toyota Camry. In its 11th month in service, our example of the best-selling sedan in America only covered 715 miles, which is far lower than our average for long-term vehicles.

This shortage is a trend for our Camry. In order to hit our yearly 20,000-mile target, we'll have to log about 4,600 miles next month. Considering that's the drive from Los Angeles to New York and a little more than halfway back, it's probably not going to happen.

The editors who did drive our Camry this month noted a few things about its interior. Dan Frio admired the gusto of the design, while Josh Sadlier found traits to admire about the seat design and position.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
With the Camry only covering a smattering of miles this month, we only have two fuel fills to report. There's nothing special about either. The Camry consumed 42.6 gallons of gas this month, returning a monthly fuel average of 31 mpg. As far as lifetime fuel economy goes, we're sitting at 29 mpg, which falls just under the EPA's 32 mpg combined rating. The average is appropriate for the amount of in-town commuting the Camry's been doing since the EPA city rating is 28 mpg.

Average lifetime mpg: 29
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 13,994 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Interior
"The Camry always gets knocked for having a stodgy, boring design, but this latest model lays that complaint to rest. Toyota may have gone too far in the other direction, but I can't fault it for trying. Same goes for the interior, specifically the dash panel, where there's this sort of apron that houses the center stack and floats above the wireless device charger and center console. Then it flows up and across the dash on the passenger side, above the glovebox, with scooped curve textures. It's got a kind of modern architecture feel, like something from the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. We've seen a similar motif in the Sienna minivan, but this is the boldest execution. Whether it ages well or not, who knows? But I credit Toyota for at least not playing it too safe on this new Camry." — Dan Frio, staff writer

Comfort
"The sportiest thing about the new Camry is the driving position, which I realize is a backhanded compliment, but still — I really enjoy sitting in its driver's seat. The swoopy center console feels like it wraps around you, cockpit-style, while the stubby automatic shift lever is precisely the right height and size. (Are you listening, people who designed the new Accord's mystifyingly tall and dorky shifter?) I like how the wheel feels in my hands, and how everything adjusts to accommodate my 6-foot-1-inch frame. Add it all up and you've got a car that'll have people exclaiming, 'Ooh, this is sporty,' before they've even left the dealer lot. From a business standpoint, that might be the most important kind of sportiness there is." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy

Monthly Update for August 2018

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2018 Toyota Camry didn't see much action in August, clocking only 631 miles. These miles came courtesy of local commuting peppered with local driving. The funny thing about living in Los Angeles is that, while 631 miles may not seem like much, chronic traffic makes 631 miles more than enough seat time to opine on the virtues — and failings — of our soon-to-be 1-year-old Camry.

Ron Montoya compares our Camry's powertrain and infotainment to our new long-term Honda Accord's. Carlos Lago and Dan Frio have some thoughts about the audio system, and Dan also talks about the "sportiness " of the SE "sport" trim.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We only needed about 24.5 gallons of 87 octane to get us through August, and our average miles per gallon was a lowish 25.7. This makes August the least fuel-efficient month we've had in our time with the new-generation Camry.

Because of the low miles, our overall fuel economy numbers didn't change much, but the lifetime average dipped by two-tenths of a mile. The drop makes sense considering the type of driving we did throughout the month.

Average lifetime mpg: 28.8
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 14,625 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"I know what the SE stands for in our Camry trim level: Sauce (Costs) Extra.

"That's because this four-cylinder, while generally pretty agreeable, struggles to get this Camry up to speed with any kind of quickness. And when you force it to bend to your will, it brays quite a bit. There's also a dead zone in the accelerator pedal feel. When you first apply pressure from a stoplight or right after shifting into Drive, there's a spongy zone to push through that makes smooth acceleration a challenge.

"You can learn to anticipate it by goosing the pedal a little bit, lifting off, then waiting for the computer to catch up, then rolling back onto the pedal again. Sounds more complicated than it is, but it still dampens the mood in what's intended to be a sport trim." — Dan Frio, staff writer

"Here's my ESPN-style hot take: I like driving the Camry more than our Accord. I feel like the engine is more responsive, and I prefer the Camry's eight-speed transmission to the CVT automatic in the Accord. As for handling, it feels like a toss-up to me, but I'm not the expert in this department. That said, I think the Accord has a much nicer interior than the Camry, and I prefer its infotainment to Toyota Entune." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor

Technology-Audio
"More evidence that the SE in our Camry trim level means 'Sauce (Costs) Extra': The stock stereo lacks volume for when you really want to crank it.

"With windows down at highway speeds, the stereo just runs out of power. It's particularly noticeable when streaming from Bluetooth. Even with the volume maxed on the Bluetooth device and maxed on the system, there's not much power coming through. You pick up a bit of gain when you hardwire into the USB port — not much, but just a bit more fullness and body and less signal noise.

"At least the speakers don't vibrate into a distorted mess when you do max it. There's a good bit of signal limiting to avoid that. But would be nice if there were an extra 50-100 watts coming through.

"It's also pretty persistent in its Entune updating process. I dismissed this notification a handful of times, but it just would not take the hint." — Dan Frio

"This is your friendly monthly reminder that Bluetooth streaming audio still refuses to work. I can make calls no problem, but streaming audio does not work. The car's entertainment screen keeps showing connected/disconnected while audio plays on my phone's speaker." — Carlos Lago manager, feature content

Interior
"The Camry hasn't really proven to be a staff favorite, as the paltry 16,000-plus miles in a year of ownership can attest. And yet for the lack of miles and use, our interior door panels are starting to look pretty beat. Not the best photo, but look at the bottom of the panel; loads of scuff marks and scratches have already marred the door. We wash our cars regularly, but probably need to add a course of vinyl conditioner/protectant treatment here. Unrelated — I'm not sure why I like the quasi-snakeskin appearance of the upper panel, but I do." — Dan Frio

Monthly Update for September 2018

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
In September, we nearly doubled the miles added to our 2018 Toyota Camry compared to the month before. We drove 1,240 miles, a good chunk of that covered in a drive to and from Las Vegas, but still fell short of our usual goal of around 1,700 miles a month. That seems to be a theme with our Camry; we've had it one year now and we're 3,000 miles off the mark.

For all its positives, which includes rock-solid reliability (not something we can say about every car in our fleet), the Camry can't seem to overcome a general vote of "meh" from our team. We like it well enough — read on for some interior design and overall praise from our editors — but not quite enough to really pile on the miles.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
The Camry averaged 31.5 miles per gallon in September, an impressive increase of 5.5 mpg compared to its August result. It was the most fuel-efficient month we've had with the Camry, and the increase helped boost our overall lifetime fuel economy to 29.0 mpg (up from 28.8 in August).

Average lifetime mpg: 29.0
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 35.2
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 15,864 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights
Interior
"I appreciate this Camry's sporty cockpit anew every time I hop in. You're really ensconced in there, surrounded by instruments and controls like you're driving a performance coupe. The Camry's sportification project may be less successful in other areas, but I give the designers high marks for the space they've carved out for the driver." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy

Technology-Audio
"The drive from Los Angeles to Vegas is pretty darn boring. The good news is that the Camry has Bluetooth that pairs quickly and easily to my Pixel phone so I can wirelessly stream my tunes!

"Ha ha, just kidding. The gremlins living inside our Camry's audio system do not care one whiff about me hearing anything from my phone's music library, even when both my Pixel and the Camry agree they are paired. Instead of pumping out of the Camry's sound system, my playlist dribbles out of the phone itself while the infotainment screen perpetually drops down these messages in sequence:

1. Audio player connected
2: Audio player disconnected

"Toyota, why are you doing me like this?" — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

Miscellaneous
"Never thought I'd say this, but this Camry is a darn good car. After Labor Day weekend, I've found I like our Camry the longer I'm with it. Even the design is growing on me. I wouldn't call it pretty (the fake vents below the taillights remain a head-scratcher), but put this car in a crowded grocery store parking lot and you'll begin to appreciate how it stands out.

"I can't pinpoint one specific attribute, and that's because the Camry doesn't excel in any one category. It's simply competent at everything, from how easy it is to drive, see out of, and use on a daily basis. For the way I use cars, it's really hard to find a significant fault.

"The only real annoyance I have is the car's refusal to cooperate with Bluetooth audio streaming (phone calls work fine). And overall, I'd still rather have an Accord, and that's the car I recommend to most people. The Honda has a more premium feel, a smarter interior layout, and phone integration that actually works. But I wouldn't criticize anyone for buying the Camry." — Carlos Lago manager, feature content

Monthly Update for November 2018

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
A long-distance round trip from Long Beach to San Francisco over Thanksgiving helped boost our 2018 Toyota Camry's odometer by about 1,300 miles, enough to push Big Blue slightly past the 19,000-mile mark for our long-term test. The Camry continues to be rock-solid, if you don't count the chronically skittish Bluetooth system, some weird rattles and "mushy" acceleration.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We recorded our most efficient fill-up in November, averaging 36.6 mpg on a tank of 87 octane fuel. That's a considerably better average than the EPA rating of 32 mpg combined, although the lion's share of those miles was amassed on traffic-free highways. Compared to the Camry's EPA estimate of 39 mpg highway, that tank fill isn't quite as impressive.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.3
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 19,000 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"Our Camry drives well enough, but always exhibits a hesitation at low speeds and at light throttle. You have to push the gas pedal through some mush (not in terms of pedal feel but in engine response) before the engine wakes up. It generally results in jerky driving, both in terms of how much your head moves when leaving a stop and how you look to other drivers." — Carlos Lago, manager, feature content

Interior
"I noticed a few rattles from our Camry this week. Specifically from the roof (front and centered) and over the driver's left shoulder. It may be L.A.'s notoriously bumpy freeways, but it's surprising behavior from a Toyota. On a similar note, has anyone else noticed how the Camry's driver-side vanity mirror is always a third of the way open when you pull the sun visor down? After much testing (read: repeatedly opening and shutting the visor in stop-and-go traffic), it seems that the mirror cover will open slightly if you slam the visor shut." — Carlos Lago

Technology-Audio
"I forgot how maddening the Camry's infotainment interface is. One would think that just a simple Bluetooth connection would work and I would have no issues playing music and listening to my turn-by-turn directions. But noooo — the Camry and my Google Pixel 2 just don't want to get along. It's like a cat and dog thing: They must really not like each other. It's like a deep, seething hatred because it just doesn't connect. So here I am, just listening to my turn-by-turn directions from my phone's speakerphone, wishing I could rip out the Camry's head unit and replace it with an aftermarket piece." — Rex Torres, vehicle testing technician

"For the Thanksgiving holiday, I drove up to the Bay Area, roughly 900 miles round-trip. With holiday traffic, I was banking on between 16 to 20 hours of drive time. That's a long time without tunes. And knowing how temperamental the Camry's Bluetooth connection is, I took along some CDs just in case, which turned out to be a good choice. Bluetooth, as expected, was on a holiday vacation, too.

"But the real story here is that the Camry actually has a CD player. Many new cars, including the Camry's archnemesis Honda Accord, can't be bothered with a CD player. I admit, most people I know don't listen to CDs anymore. But since CD players are cheap and can be integrated into even the newest infotainment system, I advocate for their inclusion in new cars for the next few years. They can come in handy. Like on this holiday trip." — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

"Our Camry has a strange backup camera. Instead of having a traditional wide-angle view, the left and right borders of the display are distorted in what appears to be a way to mimic a wide angle. While it works when you're paying close attention to the screen, the distortion at the edges can make a stationary vehicle look like it's moving when you catch the display in your periphery. There were a few times this week when I jumped on the brakes while backing out because I thought the car next to me was moving when it wasn't." — Carlos Lago

Miscellaneous
"Toyota recently announced that it intends to reduce Camry production. The slowdown has little to do with the Camry itself, as this generation is probably the best iteration ever. The Camry simply had the misfortune of being born a sedan in an increasingly crossover world.

"While I personally think rumors of the sedan's demise are premature, it's apparent that the stalwart sedan is no longer king of the sales hill. And that's great news if you are in the market for a sedan and love the prospect of getting a juicy discount. To stimulate Camry sales, I'm seeing discounts upward of $6,000 on 2018 models.

"Even 2019 models can be had for several thousand dollars off sticker. Price drops this deep would be unheard of a few years ago, particularly on a brand-new model that would (normally) sell on its own merits. For context, Toyota's top-selling vehicle now is the RAV4. The 2018 RAV4 is being cleared out to make room for the snazzy all-new 2019 model.

"But even on the clearance block, the 2018 RAV4 discounts are lower than those on the all-new 2018 Camry. So if you're reading this and considering buying a Camry, this market shift may be a good thing for your pocketbook." — Matt Jones

Monthly Update for December 2018

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2018 Toyota Camry spent most of December in Fresno, California, under the watchful eye of Senior Editor Brent Romans. Brent added about 800 miles to the Camry to close out 2018, and his efforts helped boost our overall mileage to a few clicks higher than 20,000.

Read on to hear some of our thoughts on the Camry's styling, performance, technology, and all-around impressions as our time with the Toyota midsize sedan starts winding down.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Our fuel economy numbers inched upward ever so slightly in December, moving to 29.5 miles per gallon compared to November when we finished at 29.3. The increase is appreciated. Our cumulative gas mileage over the last 20,000 miles is 2.5 mpg lower than the EPA numbers, which suggests we should expect 32 mpg of combined city and highway driving.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.5
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city / 39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 20,051 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"For what it's worth, I don't have any issues with the gas pedal responsiveness on our Camry. A few of my co-workers have previously commented that it's slow to respond unless you really give the pedal a good prod. Ehh, I guess so. Maybe I'm just less aggressive or in less of a hurry, but I rarely notice this being a problem." — Brent Romans, senior editor written content

Technology-Audio
"It had been a while since I drove our Camry. So before I took the keys, I reviewed the past six monthly updates on our Camry to find out what my co-workers have been saying. Not much positive, I'm afraid. Yet much of the dislike centers around the infotainment system. If Toyota could add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, that would go a long way to smoothing over the hard feelings around here." — Brent Romans

Miscellaneous
"We give the Honda Accord a higher rating than the Camry, and justifiably so. But there's one area that we don't evaluate in our scoring that I think the Camry has it over the Accord: styling. I much prefer the look of the latest Camry. It has a more muscular and sportier stance than the somewhat droopy-looking Honda. Our blue Camry SE, in particular, looks sharp." — Brent Romans

Miscellaneous
"Our 2018 Camry just hit 20,000 miles, and that means its time in our fleet is coming to a close.
I've mostly enjoyed the Camry in the year and a half we've had it. As a guy who sold midsize sedans for a long time, I've been in my fair share of Camry models over the years. I'm also an ex-Camry owner.

"I'm not going to say this is the best Camry ever, but I will say with no reservation that this is the best Camry in my time in the car business, which spans back to 2001. And while I wouldn't call it a sports car, it is enjoyable to drive and the boring factor has been significantly reduced. It's solid as always, more fun and, for once, interesting to look at. Too bad it came out as sedans are falling out of favor." — Matt Jones, senior editor consumer advice

Cargo Space
"I recently had to pick up a bunch of holiday-related boxes from a storage unit I rent. I had the Camry at my disposal, but I ended up taking my wife's SUV for the job. It's that extra utility with so little trade-off that makes the modern crossover SUV so appealing, and it explains why RAV4 sales continue to climb while Camry sales grow stale. As sedans go, however, the Camry can still handle the typical grocery runs or loads of luggage without issue. Just pop the trunk (it opens all the way when you press the release) and throw in your stuff." — Brent Romans

Monthly Update for January 2019

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
In this month's episode of "What's Crackin' With the Camry?" Calvin compliments the interior, Brent upvotes the ride quality, and Josh laments the Camry's transmission and the hood's ability to harness the power of the sun and bully his retinas.

For those just tuning in, here's what you've missed:

We drove our 2018 Toyota Camry about 1,000 miles in January, bringing our total mileage north of 21,000. We took possession of the Camry in September 2017, and overall Team Edmunds has wavered between lukewarm and warm on the stalwart Toyota.

The Camry does some things really well. It's pretty darn durable, for example. While other less regal machines might start showing signs of "maturity" at 21,000 miles, our Camry remains virtually unchanged.

And some things it still does poorly, such as pairing to Android phones and getting up to speed quietly.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
In January, our lifetime fuel economy average dipped one-tenth of an mpg, down to 29.4. Over 21,000 miles, our average has been about 2.5 miles less than the EPA rating of 32 mpg combined.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.4
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 21,136 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Comfort
"I have no problem driving our Camry over long distances. I recently drove about 400 miles straight and came away thinking I could have done another 400 miles without much issue. A big part of that is the driver's seat, which I find comfortable. Our Camry SE's ride quality on the highway is agreeable, too. Perhaps because of the sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels, the car can get a little choppy on rough pavement, but otherwise the SE is pleasingly stable and composed." — Brent Romans, senior editor, written content

Interior
"Even with more than 20,000 miles on the odometer, I'm impressed with how tight and crisp the Camry still feels. The last time I drove the Camry for any length of time was spring last year. Since then I've noticed no new squeaks or rattles, and the interior feels just as fresh. There are some dull plastics around the cupholder and window switches as well as glossy black plastic on the dash. I thought those things would be scratched up by now, but they still look new. Good job, Toyota." — Calvin Kim, vehicle testing engineer

"See how the sun's glinting off our Camry's hood in this photo? It's because that part of the hood angles down toward the dashboard, creating a ski slope for the sun to play with. Perhaps there's a perfectly good engineering idea behind that slope. But the only result I'm aware of is that I get my retinas seared every time I'm driving into the sun, even with sunglasses on. If your eyes aren't sensitive, you might not care. Mine are, so I do." — Josh Sadlier, director, content strategy

Technology-Audio
"Our Camry SE has rear air vents, which is nice. But I'm a little surprised it doesn't have extra USB ports for rear passengers or even a rear 12-volt power port. For the entire car, we've got one USB and one 12-volt port up front. That's a meager loadout for the modern family. Toyota's information on the Camry does indicate that the more expensive XSE and XLE get two extra USB ports, although it's unclear where they are located." — Brent Romans

Performance
"I've carped about this before, but it bears repeating: Our Camry's eight-speed automatic transmission simply cannot handle a rolling stop. Let's say you're entering a roundabout and you have to yield, so you reduce your speed almost to zero. But then there's an opening and it's time to hit the gas. In the Camry, you'll encounter an agonizing delay followed by a WHAM! as the transmission lurches into gear.

"Or suppose you're driving around your neighborhood through a bunch of four-way intersections, and you may not always come to a perfectly complete stop because there are no cars around and you know the area so well. In this Camry, if you don't come to the kind of stop where you actually feel the car's weight settle into motionlessness, you're going to get that delay-lurch combo. It's very odd; I've never encountered it in any other car.

"According to this thread, there may be a technical service bulletin from Toyota that'll get you a software update to address the issue. We'll look into it if we have a chance, although the Camry's time with us is nearly up. Are there any other Camry drivers out there who have successfully resolved this issue?" — Josh Sadlier

Monthly Update for February 2019

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2018 Toyota Camry didn't see much action in February, logging less than 500 miles. But even in a shortened month, short of miles, we still found new reasons to appreciate the Camry. Apparently, extra-large rescue dogs appreciate the Camry, too.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Since we last checked in on the Camry, our overall fuel economy has dipped a bit. We finished January with a lifetime average of 29.4 miles per gallon, but that fell slightly in February, down 0.2 mpg to 29.2. That still represents a 2.8 mpg difference from the EPA combined rating of 32 mpg.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.2
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 21,654 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Comfort
"We just adopted a dog from Angel City Pit Bulls and wanted to take him on his first hike to Griffith Observatory. Because he was so new, we had no idea how he would act on a car ride. Plus his extra-large size (100 pounds) gave us cause for concern about whether he'd be comfortable back there. Fortunately, it turned out to be a nonissue. We simply opened the back door of the Camry, and he climbed right in, stretching comfortably across the back seat with room to spare. He then fell asleep on the drive over to the park. And since there were rear air vents, we didn't have to open the rear windows. Definitely dog-friendly." — Caroline Pardilla, senior copy editor

Miscellaneous
"There is a quiet confidence about the Camry that I dig. Many of today's new cars seem so desperate for approval that they nearly bludgeon you with what they think is their strong point: tech, performance or brand cachet. The Camry doesn't seem interested in that approach. Instead, it seems as though the product designers simply decided to make an overall good vehicle and not a showboat. I'm cool with that." — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

Monthly Update for March 2019

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
In March, Team Edmunds traveled about 1,000 miles in our 2018 Toyota Camry, bringing our cumulative total to 22,642. Jonathan Elfalan put on the lion's share of the miles, but Kathleen also got some seat time. They both highlighted some good (seat comfort, cargo room) and bad (hard-to-reach controls, stingy low-end power) characteristics of Toyota's mainstream mainstay.

The numb throttle calibration is just a fact of life with this Camry, "sport model" or not. We've gotten used to it, but that doesn't mean we like it. Fortunately, the Camry redeems itself a bit with its car seat/new-parent friendliness.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Although we added about 1,000 miles to our Camry, our fuel economy numbers didn't budge from the month before. While a lifetime mpg of 29.2 is by no means terrible, we always hope to squeeze a bit more efficiency out of the Camry. It shouldn't be impossible since the EPA overall rating is 32 mpg, but so far it has proven elusive.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.2
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 22,642 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Technology-Audio
"I kept trying to adjust the radio volume by grabbing the climate control knob. The audio volume knob is located to the upper left of the touchscreen, and it's a bit far out of reach for me. Clearly my brain wants the volume knob to be placed lower." — Kathleen Clonts, copy chief

Utility
"The Camry's generous backseat space really bodes well for rear-facing car seats. We have a Britax B-Safe 35 seat. And it fits with good room to spare behind the driver's seat that's adjusted for my 5-foot-9 frame. The spacious trunk also swallows our jogging stroller with ease. I wish the hinges were covered like in some other trunks, though, so it would be easier to judge the clearance when closing the trunk." — Jonathan Elfalan, manager, vehicle testing

Performance
"After driving the Camry for a month straight, I've acclimated better to the throttle calibration, but I'm still not a fan. The engine's lack of low-end power is partially masked by an accelerator that ramps up more aggressively than usual. I suppose this is better than the alternative of having to bury the pedal into the floor pan. But somehow the same powertrain in the RAV4 — a heavier vehicle — seems better tuned for drivability. Hopefully, the 2020 Toyota Camry receives a calibration update." — Jonathan Elfalan

"I found the Camry super comfortable on the highway but kind of annoying at low speeds. Others on staff have also complained about its hesitation at low speeds (Carlos noted that 'you have to push the gas pedal through some mush — not in terms of pedal feel but in engine response — before the engine wakes up … and generally results in jerky driving'). Later, I noticed it was in Eco mode, so that might have been part of the problem with its response in stop-and-go traffic." — Kathleen Clonts

Monthly Update for April 2019

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
Our long-term 2018 Toyota Camry spent most of April languishing in the Edmunds parking structure. Big Blue was driven a whopping 202 miles. Time is almost up with our car, but there's still Camry news to report, news that we would have liked to hear a year ago: The Camry is finally getting Apple CarPlay.

Apple iPhone integration has come slow to the Toyota lineup, and the expanded tech offerings (Amazon Alexa capability has also been added) put the Camry back on pace with most other midsize sedans.

"We are always striving to bring highly desirable services to our vehicles," said Steve Basra, vice president of Connected Technologies for Toyota Motor North America in a news release. "This new program enables CarPlay and Amazon Alexa on some of our most popular vehicles already on the road. It's a great opportunity to surprise and delight our existing customers."

A major gripe I've had with the Camry is the seemingly hate/hate relationship between the standard Entune infotainment system and Android phones. I'm not alone; the Entune 3.0 App Suite Connect currently enjoys a 1.5-star rating on the Google Play app store (down from the 1.9-star rating that Carlos noted in an earlier update).

So while I'm excited that Toyota has made Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa available, I'm confused by the omission of Android Auto, especially considering that Android Auto is available on other products within the Toyota line.

We've gathered some examples of our Camry's Bluetooth behaving badly. All of the complaints are from Android users.

But first, let's talk about fuel economy.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
As you'd probably guess, the 202 miles clocked in April did little to change our overall fuel consumption numbers. Total lifetime mpg dropped 0.1 mile from 29.2 to 29.1 mpg. As a reminder, the Camry's EPA rating is 32 mpg combined (28 city/39 highway).

Average lifetime mpg: 29.1
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 22,844 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights
"It had been a while since I drove our Camry. So before I took the keys, I reviewed the past six monthly updates to find out what my co-workers have been saying. Not much positive, I'm afraid. Yet much of the dislike centers around the infotainment system. If Toyota could add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, that would go a long way to smoothing over the hard feelings around here." — Brent Romans, senior editor, written content (December 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"For the Thanksgiving holiday, I took a drive up to the Bay Area, about 800 or so miles round trip. And thanks to holiday traffic, I was banking on somewhere between 16-20 hours of driving. That's a long time to go without your tunes. Knowing how temperamental the Bluetooth in the Camry is, I took along some CDs. Just in case. Turns out this was a good choice. Bluetooth, as expected, was on a holiday vacation, too.

"But that's not the story here. The story here is that the Camry actually has a CD player. Many other new cars, including the Camry's arch-nemesis Honda Accord, can't be bothered with a CD player. I admit, most people I know don't listen to CDs anymore. But since CD players are cheap and can be integrated into even the newest infotainment system, I advocate for their inclusion in new cars for the next few years. They can come in handy. Like on this holiday trip." — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor (November 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"I forgot how maddening the infotainment interface is in the Camry. One would think that just a simple Bluetooth connection would work and I would have no issues playing music and listening to my turn-by-turn directions. But no. The Camry and my Google Pixel 2 just don't want to get along. It's like a cat and dog thing. They must really not like each other, like a deep, seething hatred, because they just don't connect. So here I am, just listening to my turn-by-turn directions from my phone's speaker wishing I could rip out the Camry's head unit and replace it with an aftermarket unit." — Rex Torres, vehicle testing technician (November 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"The drive from L.A. to Vegas is pretty darn boring. The good news is that this 2018 Camry has Bluetooth that pairs quickly and easily to my Pixel phone so I can wirelessly stream my tunes!

"Ha ha, just kidding. The gremlins living inside the Camry's audio system do not care one whiff about letting me hear anything from my phone, even when both the Pixel and the Camry agree they are paired. My music just pumps out of my little phone speaker while the infotainment screen perpetually drops down these messages in sequence: 'Audio player is connected' followed by 'Audio player is not connected.' Toyota, why are you doing me like this?" — Matt Jones ( September 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"Never thought I'd say this, but this Camry is a darn good car. After Labor Day weekend, I've found that I like our Camry the longer I'm with it. Even the design is growing on me. I wouldn't call it pretty (the fake vents below the taillights remain a head-scratcher), but put this car in a crowded grocery store parking lot and you'll begin to appreciate how it stands out.

"I can't pinpoint one specific attribute, and that's because the Camry doesn't excel in any one category. It's simply competent at everything. It's easy to drive, see out of and use on a daily basis. For the way I use cars, it's really hard to find a significant fault.

"The only real annoyance I have is the car's refusal to cooperate with Bluetooth audio streaming (phone calls work fine). And overall, I'd still rather have an Accord, and that's the car I recommend to most people. The Honda has a more premium feel, a smarter interior layout and phone integration that actually works. But I wouldn't criticize anyone for buying the Camry." — Carlos Lago (September 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"Here is your friendly monthly reminder that Bluetooth streaming audio still refuses to work. I can make calls no problem, but streaming audio does not work. The car's entertainment screen keeps showing connected/disconnected while audio plays on my phone's speaker." — Carlos Lago, manager, feature content (August 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"All I want to do is listen to the music stored on my phone, but Toyota's Entune nonsense and faulty Bluetooth system won't let me. It's constantly connecting and disconnecting, all the while music is playing through my phone's speaker. I've given up. How did Toyota get this so wrong?" — Kurt Niebuhr, vehicle test editor (June 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"This morning the Camry's infotainment screen said that Entune needed a software update. I pressed the 'Remind me later' button and drove to work. On the way, Bluetooth cut out on me three times. Each one lasted only a few seconds, and it automatically reestablished the connection. I don't know if this was related to the Entune update." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor (February 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"Clearly my phone has been paired to the Camry, yet when I took this photo the music was playing through my phone and not through the Camry's meager speakers. I had this car for an entire weekend and not once could this thing properly pair with my phone." — Kurt Niebuhr (February 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"By a stroke of cosmic luck, I was able to drive from Long Beach to San Diego — a round trip of about 230 miles — with next to no traffic. I averaged about 38.6 miles per gallon, just a hair less than the EPA estimate of 39 mpg. Good job.

"The real story is that I didn't have any of the annoyances that Carlos and Rex have dealt with while streaming music through a Pixel. I did get the 'Audio player is not connected' thing, but I turned off the power, restarted and was good to go. Maybe just more cosmic good luck? Whatever the reason, I'm happy to say that I've been able to listen to my music via Bluetooth in the Camry with no real problem." — Matt Jones (December 2018)

• • • • • • • • •

"'Go home, Camry. You're drunk.' There seems to be a ghost in the machine when it comes to the Google Pixel and the vehicle's infotainment system. Carlos has documented it, Kurt has also talked about it, and now I'm going into it. There are three of us on staff that like what the Pixel offers; either that or we just like rebelling against the iSheep. Either way, having a phone with the most up-to-date Android OS poses problems.

"In our new 2018 Toyota Camry, entertainment seems to be a deterrent for the head unit in relation to usage of the phone. While the phone itself and communication features work just fine, Google's Play Music has issues. As in, an 'Audio player is connected' message, then a couple of seconds later an 'Audio player is not connected' message. This cycle happened for about five minutes straight.

"That's when I got frustrated and decided that SiriusXM was the way to go or else I was going to go HAM and punch the head unit square in its proverbial jaw. After further discussions with Carlos, we surmised that there are two culprits involved: the latest and greatest OS/Music app and Toyota's head unit firmware. We feel that way because the Pixel works on every other vehicle in our fleet. We'll keep you updated on this matter. Stay tuned." — Rex Torres (November 2017)

• • • • • • • • •

"Bluetooth streaming audio straight up does not work. I'm using a Google Pixel running the latest of Android (8.0). I can pair Bluetooth and make calls without issue, but I can't find a way to stream music or podcasts to the car's stereo. I went through every menu I could think of, both on my phone and in the car, and haven't found a solution. The audio display occasionally shows the info of the track I'm listening to, but then says something to the effect of 'Audio player is not connected.' I downloaded Entune 3.0 (which currently has a 1.9 out of 5 stars rating on the app store), but it doesn't support the apps I use to listen to music or podcasts. Whether the fault of my phone or the car, it's a pretty frustrating thing to experience in 2017." — Carlos Lago (October 2017)

Monthly Update for May 2019

by Matt Jones, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
After some serious R&R, our 2018 Toyota Camry stretched its legs to the tune of 2,300 miles since our last update. And not one of those miles is attributable to any rideshare service. The miles are actually courtesy of an Edmunds guest contributor with thoughts about the Camry he was eager to share. So we've decided to switch it up a bit for this month's episode of "Keeping Up With Camry."

Instead of hearing from your tried-and-true vehicle testers, we thought it might be interesting to hear from an Edmunds contributor who doesn't directly work with cars on a regular basis.

Another reason we think this is fun: most of his thoughts compare and contrast the Camry to the Accord, a vehicle he spent a few days with prior to driving the Camry. And let's be honest: Is it possible to even think of one without at least a whiff of a thought of the other? I'm not sure it is.

So if you've been looking for some straight-up Camry-versus-Accord comparisons from a regular guy, you're in luck. If not? Check back next month.

Enough talking, let's jump in. But first, let's talk gas.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
The Camry's busiest month to date didn't help the overall fuel consumption number. In fact, our overall fuel rating slipped a bit. In April, the Camry's lifetime fuel economy stood at 29.1 mpg after 23,844 miles. Now at 25,212 miles, the lifetime average has dipped to 28.9 mpg.

Average lifetime mpg: 28.9
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 36.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 25,212 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Miscellaneous
"Jumping into the Camry after driving the Accord, I was excited to compare and contrast the two giants back to back. After spending time in both cars it became clear, to me at least, that the Accord is simply the better car. It just makes more sense." — Edmunds guest contributor (EGC)

"I got the same amount of compliments about the Camry's styling as I did about the Accord. However, the Accord's hatchback-like styling and upright nose seemed more polarizing than the Camry." — EGC

Interior
"In terms of size, the Camry is adequate. Our SE model provides a cockpit-like feel, but I'm not sure the 'cockpit feel' is what consumers are looking for in a midsize sedan." — EGC

Performance
"As for power, the Camry does feel a bit zippier, but I was averaging 5-7 mpg less with the Camry than in the Accord. This trade-off in mpg for slightly more of a zippy feel did not seem worth it." — EGC

Technology-Audio
"I'm not a fan of the Camry audio system. In my opinion, the Entune system isn't very user-friendly, and the more monochrome treatment gave it an outdated look." — EGC

Monthly Update for June 2019

by Brent Romans, Senior Editor, Written Content

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2018 Toyota Camry continues to be a steady, if unloved, workhorse of our long-term fleet. I drove it for the entire month of June and logged my thoughts about the car's desirability compared to other midsize sedans. I also wrote up some observations about some new-ish interior rattles and the experience of installing the Camry's spare tire.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
I drove about 1,600 miles in our Camry this month. Much of this was highway driving, and that resulted in a 35.2 mpg average for the month. Notably, I set a new record for a fill-up, too: 38.6 mpg. Getting almost 40 mpg from a roomy sedan such as the Camry is a pretty good feeling.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.3
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 38.6
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 26,885 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
I dealt with a punctured tire this month. I had driven to my gym for a workout and, when I returned to the Camry, noticed that the tire pressure warning light in the gauge cluster was on. Bummer. I was happy to see that the Camry has individual pressure readouts for each tire in the driver information display, though. It makes it a lot easier to know what you're dealing with.

The driver-side rear tire was down to 17 psi. There's a gas station across the street from my gym, so I drove over there and filled the tire back to the recommended 35 psi. Because this happened on a Sunday, I knew there weren't going to be any nearby tire shops open. So I drove home while keeping an eye on the pressure readout to make sure it didn't drop precipitously.

Once home, I lifted the rear trunk mat to find that our Camry has a temporary spare tire instead of an inflator kit. Getting the tire and jack out was easy, as was finding the jacking point underneath the car. I pulled off the wheel and installed the temporary spare. The only issue was getting the lug nuts off. They were on too tight to use the included lug wrench, which wasn't really a surprise, though. They were likely last tightened by an air wrench at the dealership's last service. I used my own breaker bar to get them off.

The next day I took the punctured tire to a local tire shop. Thankfully, the culprit was a screw right in the middle of the tire. The repair cost $20.

Logbook Highlights

Interior
Our Camry seems to have some interior rattles that I don't remember noticing from the last time I drove this car in December. They're obvious when driving over rough pavement and emanate from the sunroof area. I've tried fiddling with the sunroof shade, as a loose shade can sometimes be the cause, but it didn't make a difference.

Miscellaneous
As it stands today, the Toyota Camry is Edmunds' ninth-ranked midsize sedan. The Accord is No. 1, and in between are sedans such as the Mazda 6, Buick Regal, Ford Fusion, and Hyundai Sonata. Does that mean you shouldn't buy a Camry? No. The ultimate differences here are small. But it does mean that it'll be worth your time to cross-shop some of these other sedans. The Camry isn't the no-brainer choice that perhaps a lot of people assume it is.

Monthly Update for July 2019

by Kurt Niebuhr, Vehicle Test Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
We put more than 2,100 miles on our 2018 Toyota Camry in July, most of them racked up on the open highway. But not all of those miles were easy, with one of our editors venturing into the burning heart of Death Valley (115 degrees, but it was a dry heat). And while there's plenty to dislike about this generation of Camry, some aspects do win universal praise. Well, except for the seats.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
I think it's safe to say the Camry crushed the fuel economy game in July. Granted, most of its mileage was accrued on the highway, but L.A. traffic is an eager toll taker when it comes to trying to get decent mpg. We got near-as-makes-no-difference 36 mpg (OK, 35.96 mpg) and hit a new record of 42.3 mpg for one tank. For a midsize sedan, that's pretty impressive stuff.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.3
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 42.3
Best range: 487.7 miles
Current odometer: 29,127 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Comfort
"Commuting in these Camry seats is just a non-starter for me. I'm not sure how it is for my other wide-backed co-workers, but for my particular shape, it just doesn't work out." — Travis Langness, reviews editor

"On a recent drive into Death Valley (emphasis on the Death), I gave the Camry's A/C a solid workout. And it passed with flying colors. With exterior temperatures hovering around the 115-degree mark (it was 107 at 8 a.m.), the Camry stayed cool and comfortable, even when pulling up long grades at 60 mph. Color me deeply impressed." — Kurt Niebuhr, vehicle test editor

Performance
"I think this transmission has two too many gears. Seventh and eighth gears really only come into play at speeds over 75 mph, where they only serve to drop rpm — they can't pull any speed. While in normal daily traffic, the transmission is constantly hunting around and rarely finds a happy gear." — Kurt Niebuhr

Interior
"It had (purposefully) been a while since I drove our Camry, and I've gotta say it really made a case for itself on the open highway. There's enough space for phones, cables and other road-trip accoutrements, as well as a relaxed but comfortable driving position." — Kurt Niebuhr

Monthly Update for September 2019

by Ronald Montoya, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

Where Did We Drive It?
We took our 2018 Toyota Camry on a road trip to Oregon in September, helping to add more than 3,200 miles to the odometer. Along the way up the Pacific Coast, we made observations about its cargo capacity, automatic high beams, seat comfort and more. We also set a new record for range on a single tank of gas.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
During the trip, the Camry's gas tank was filled up a total of eight times, averaging 33 mpg for the month. And while most of September's miles were on the highway, we only beat the EPA estimate once, with a 39.7 mpg fill. This month was also notable because we set a new range record of just over 500 miles.

Average lifetime mpg: 29.8
EPA mpg rating: 32 combined (28 city/39 highway)
Best fill mpg: 42.3
Best range: 512.6 miles
Current odometer: 34,726 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

MPG

"OMG. Did I just get 512 miles on a single tank? I believe I had more left but not enough to risk trying to go all the way to Mount Hood. This Camry is freakin' awesome." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres, vehicle testing technician

Utility
"Getting ready to drive up north to Oregon, I needed to take inventory of our luggage so I could start to Tetris things into the trunk of the Camry. For the start of the trip, we had two duffel bags, one modern hard-case carry-on, two laptop bags, and two larger old-school carry-ons. The modern carry-on dimensions were 22 inches long by 14 inches wide by 9 inches tall. The older carry-on size was 26 by 18 by 10 inches. A couple of inches may not sound like a lot, but they can add up quickly when you have multiple pieces. Thankfully, the Camry has a sizable trunk that easily swallowed all of these things with a little room to spare — which is a good thing since we had to pick up one more person on the way to Mount Hood." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres

And an update from later that day: "Our other passenger had another two old-school carry-ons and a laptop bag. Looks like the laptop bag is getting a lap seat. The other two carry-on suitcases miraculously fit but just barely, and we aren't going to fit anything else in that trunk from this point on." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres

Comfort
"Driving straight for over 15 hours is always a grueling undertaking. The nice thing about long road trips like this is that you get to know your vehicle very intimately. Like how comfortable it is over the road trip. So far, the driver's seat is solid: It's comfortable, the seating position is nice, and you can be in it for a long time with no problems. The passengers had other opinions about their seats.

"At the four-hour mark, my front passenger started to shift around every 15-20 minutes or so. The criticism was that the seat cushion felt like there was an odd 'dead spot' in the center and that after being on it for a long time, it started to feel like there was no cushion at all.

"Both rear passengers expressed that the rear seats felt a little upright and that the backrest had little cushioning. I assume the upright-ness of the seats helps with the rear legroom. Sadly, you have to make a sacrifice somewhere." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres

Technology-Audio
"Just fell in love with the automatic high beams. While it was mild in Portland [during our trip], Mount Hood had a bit more extreme weather. It was very foggy and misty while driving home, and on top of that, we had sporadic hard rain. When trying to see the road during inclement weather, the high beams come in handy. The automatic high beams in our Camry SE worked perfectly, turning themselves on when there were no vehicles around and turning themselves off once they detected a vehicle's headlights or taillights. My passengers also marveled at the fact that the sensor could tell the difference between vehicle lighting and ambient city lighting." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres

Wrap-Up

What We Got

We bought our 2018 Toyota Camry in September of 2017. The Camry has long been one of the top-selling sedans in the country, so when it was redesigned for its eighth generation, we had to have one. At the time, this Camry was also notable for breaking with the tradition of conservative styling and moving in a bolder direction.

We chose the SE trim level since it was the driver's choice, due to its suspension upgrades, and sat nicely in the center of the lineup. We also opted for the Convenience package, which bundles a smart key, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a sunroof, and carpeted floor and trunk mats.

The Audio Plus package was our priciest option at $1,255, which included navigation via smartphone app, wireless smartphone charging, an 8-inch touchscreen, and the Entune 3.0 infotainment system with in-car Wi-Fi. This package also included dual-zone automatic climate control and vents for rear passengers. All in, we paid $26,968 for our Camry, which was roughly $2,700 below MSRP.

This Blue Streak Metallic Camry stayed with us for 28 months, and we added 42,301 miles to the odometer.

What We Learned
Our Camry was rock-solid in terms of engine reliability, as we've seen over the years from Toyota. It was also comfortable and fuel-efficient. Some editors noted that the throttle wasn't as responsive as they would have liked. But it was the vehicle's technology that let us down the most. The Bluetooth streaming audio failed on many occasions regardless of whether an Apple or Android phone was involved. It seemed to be most persistent on Google Pixel phones, where, in some cases, it refused to pair at all.

Read on for all of the details.

Performance

"Let's talk about the Camry's low-speed throttle calibration. There's something weird about it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but when I come to a four-way intersection, briefly stop, and then get back on the gas, it's like the computer imposes a delay before acceleration is provided. I'm waiting an extra beat before the engine kicks in. Never encountered this in a car. Any Camry owners out there know what I'm talking about? Seems like a simple software update would cure it." — Josh Sadlier

"After driving the Camry for a month straight, I've acclimated better to the throttle calibration, but I'm still not a fan. The engine's lack of low-end power is partially masked by an accelerator that ramps up more aggressively than usual. I suppose this is better than the alternative of having to bury the pedal into the floor pan. But somehow the same powertrain in the RAV4 — a heavier vehicle — seems better tuned for drivability. Hopefully, the 2020 Toyota Camry receives a calibration update." — Jonathan Elfalan

Comfort

"I have no problem driving our Camry over long distances. I recently drove about 400 miles straight and came away thinking I could have done another 400 miles without much issue. A big part of that is the driver's seat, which I find comfortable. Our Camry SE's ride quality on the highway is agreeable, too. Perhaps because of the sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels, the car can get a little choppy on rough pavement, but otherwise the SE is pleasingly stable and composed." — Brent Romans

"I've already taken our new Camry on a couple of road trips, and I've been surprised each time by the amount of tire roar that makes its way into the cabin. The Camry has traditionally been the quiet one in this class, as opposed to the noisy (or 'sporty') Accord, but I actually think our Camry SE could use some more sound-deadening material. Presumably the regular Camry LE is more pleasant because it's shod in less aggressive tires, but still. To me, a hushed highway ride is part of the Camry's identity, and the redesigned 2018 model doesn't quite deliver on that." — Josh Sadlier

Cargo Space

"Mixed report on the Camry's trunk. For groceries and luggage, I've found the bumper's low liftover height and wide trunk opening help with loading and unloading. The trunk lid also opens fully when you press the release button, which is a nice touch. But the Camry's trunk capacity is 15.1 cubic feet, a bit smaller than the typical midsize sedan's trunk. Also, the interior trunk hinges aren't covered, which means you might inadvertently smash some items in a full trunk when closing the lid, and there's no grab handle to help with closing the lid." — Brent Romans

"Getting ready to drive up north to Oregon, I needed to take inventory of our luggage so I could start to Tetris things into the trunk of the Camry. For the start of the trip, we had two duffel bags, one modern hard-case carry-on, two laptop bags, and two larger old-school carry-ons. The modern carry-on dimensions were 22 inches long by 14 inches wide by 9 inches tall. The older carry-on size was 26 by 18 by 10 inches. A couple of inches may not sound like a lot, but they can add up quickly when you have multiple pieces. Thankfully, the Camry has a sizable trunk that easily swallowed all of these things with a little room to spare — which is a good thing since we had to pick up one more person on the way to Mount Hood." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres

Interior

"I appreciate this Camry's sporty cockpit anew every time I hop in. You're really ensconced in there, surrounded by instruments and controls like you're driving a performance coupe. The Camry's sportification project may be less successful in other areas, but I give the designers high marks for the space they've carved out for the driver." — Josh Sadlier

"The Camry always gets knocked for having a stodgy, boring design, but this latest model lays that complaint to rest. Toyota may have gone too far in the other direction, but I can't fault it for trying. Same goes for the interior, specifically the dash panel, where there's this sort of apron that houses the center stack and floats above the wireless device charger and center console. Then it flows up and across the dash on the passenger side, above the glovebox, with scooped curve textures. It's got a kind of modern architecture feel, like something from the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. We've seen a similar motif in the Sienna minivan, but this is the boldest execution. Whether it ages well or not, who knows? But I credit Toyota for at least not playing it too safe on this new Camry." — Dan Frio

Audio and Technology

"Bluetooth streaming audio straight up did not work for me. I'm using a Google Pixel running the latest Android operating system (8.0). I can pair Bluetooth and make calls without issue, but I can't find a way to stream music or podcasts through the car's stereo. I went through every menu I could think of, both on my phone and in the car, and haven't found a solution. The audio display occasionally shows the info of the track I'm listening to, but then says something to the effect of 'Audio Device Disconnected.' I downloaded the new Entune 3.0 app (which currently has a 2.0 star rating out of 5 on the app store), but it doesn't support the apps I use to listen to music or podcasts. Whether it's the fault of my phone or the car, it's a pretty frustrating thing to experience in 2017." — Carlos Lago

"All I want to do is listen to the music on my phone and Toyota's Entune nonsensical and faulty Bluetooth system won't let me. It's constantly connecting and disconnecting, all the while music is playing through my phone's speaker. I've given up. How did Toyota get this so wrong?" — Kurt Niebuhr

Miscellaneous

"As it stands today, the Toyota Camry is Edmunds' ninth-ranked midsize sedan. The Accord is No. 1, and in between are sedans such as the Mazda 6, Buick Regal, Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata. Does that mean you shouldn't buy a Camry? No. The ultimate differences here are small. But it does mean that it'll be worth your time to cross-shop some of these other sedans. The Camry isn't the no-brainer choice that a lot of people assume it is." — Brent Romans

Maintenance & Repairs

Regular Maintenance:
All new Toyotas come with a ToyotaCare plan that covers free scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles. After that coverage lapsed, we had two other oil changes at roughly 10,000-mile intervals. The 30,000-mile service cost us about $258, and the 40,000-mile service was a more basic one, which cost about $100.

Maintenance aside, there were no issues to report, which is a good thing. A couple of our editors noted that the continuously variable automatic transmission shifted harshly at times, though this issue never came up enough to take it in for repairs.

Service Campaigns:
Incorrectly connected fuel lines may leak fuel (V6 models only)

Fuel Economy and Resale Value

Observed Fuel Economy:
We put a solid number of miles on our Camry. It went on a number of long road trips, and after 28 months, we accumulated 42,300 miles, or just over 20,000 miles per year.

Our lifetime fuel economy was 29.8 mpg, which was a couple of points shy of the EPA-estimated 32 mpg in combined driving. The best single tank of fuel averaged 42.3 mpg, and we saw a max range of 512.6 miles. Given that our numbers tend to skew low because of LA traffic, we'd say our Camry was right on par with what it was supposed to be getting.

Resale and Depreciation:
We purchased the Camry for $26,968 and traded it in for $13,000, about 2.5 years later and with over 42K miles on the odometer. These miles were well above average and affected the Camry's trade-in value. That said, we could've easily gotten a few grand more on the private market if we would have sold it ourselves. Profit versus convenience is something owners have to decide for themselves.

It ultimately equated to 51.8% depreciation. However, it is difficult to compare this outcome directly to the result for any other long-term car because we typically keep a long-termer for just 12 months or so.

Bottom Line
This Camry is a solid contender in a highly competitive midsize sedan class. It was fuel-efficient, comfortable and reliable. And while we had a number of issues with the Bluetooth connectivity, it should be noted that Toyota revised its infotainment system for the 2020 model year, adding much-needed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. There's a good chance that the issues we experienced may not be present on newer models.

Disclaimer:
Edmunds purchased this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.

2018 Toyota Camry: What's It Like to Live With?

The 2018 Toyota Camry marks the first year of a comprehensive overhaul that delivers improved performance, a new interior, and the promise of some excitement from behind the wheel.

What do you want to know about?

Introduction

Monthly Update for October 2017

Monthly Update for November 2017

Monthly Update for December 2017

Monthly Update for January 2018

Monthly Update for February 2018

Monthly Update for March 2018

Monthly Update for April 2018

Monthly Update for May 2018

Monthly Update for June 2018

Monthly Update for July 2018

Monthly Update for August 2018

Monthly Update for September 2018

Monthly Update for November 2018

Monthly Update for December 2018

Monthly Update for January 2019

Monthly Update for February 2019

Monthly Update for March 2019

Monthly Update for April 2019

Monthly Update for May 2019

Monthly Update for June 2019

Monthly Update for July 2019

Monthly Update for September 2019

Wrap-Up

Join Edmunds