2024 Toyota Camry first drive, review - Feature packed, comfier but worth the price?

Today, a sedan on the road seems like an oasis in the huge desert of SUVs everywhere. The Camry is no newcomer to India but at first sight, this new Camry locked eyes with me, and I couldn't recognise it. You see the Camry has always been a classy, elegant, practical luxury sedan and I know Toyota isn't supposed to disappoint us with the Camry brand, and it doesn't. However, it is not a clean sweep.

2024 Toyota Camry: Exterior

When we look at the new Camry, which is the 4th gen in India and the 9th gen overall, we see a very modern new design language from Toyota whose Camry brand has stayed strong despite its competitors having perished. That talks about integrity doesn't it? But does the Camry speak that language? In terms of a first look, it looks sportier and sharper with the new Toyota face and those C-shaped headlamps look like quite a steal, also the Lexus-like elements on the lower front bumper do get you some attention. The rear gives you little whiffs of the older design yet integrates the C-shaped tail lamps and the coupe-shaped rear window, the spoiler like boot lip also comes into play to create an elevated appeal which should come with a 50 lakh plus car, not to forget the 18-inch wheels.

2024 Toyota Camry: Interior

You see a price tag of Rs 48 lakh ex-showroom which is equivalent to more than 50 lakhs on-road for a premium sedan gives you all the reasons to find things to complain about. The Camry has those, but it also gives you quite a few things to be thankful for. The interiors pose a dilemma of sorts. The soft leathery elements all across the dash and the doors are a big plus and so is the choice of colour for the interiors; the door handles and AC vents on the other hand look and feel like a mismatch amongst their fancy habitat.

The rear seats, for which you would be buying this car are in my top few things. It has everything you need while seated in the boss seat. Starting with a boss function where you can create a significant amount of room for yourself by just pressing a button on the side of the front passenger seat. The rear seats are also edge to edge with ample contouring that keeps you settled and comfortable at all times and the best part is they electronically recline which is a fancier feature worth quite a few more lakhs at least. It also gets you this armrest which feels and looks quite upmarket with a touch panel that operates your own climate zone and electronic rear window blinds while holding a flip-out cup holder. However, the surrounding plastic feels scratchy and the rear AC vent placement and an overall lack of flair are on my list of complaints.

The interiors do keep giving. The steering wheel feels nice with the leather on it and the digital instrument cluster in front of it looks and feels quite premium and edgy with new graphics and animations, especially the driving mode changes, the projector-type UHD also compliments the lot. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment is responsive and slick but doesn't scream a crazy amount of features, only the ones you need and are practical which is typical of Toyota and I like it. The tactile buttons for the climate control and driving modes are a treat as they give that dampened premium feel, a big plus from the touch panel hater me.

There is practicality everywhere. The new design brings tons of storage space in the cabin, three Type C charging ports, a wireless charging pad, and a cooled glovebox. Being a premium sedan, it does come with the latest features you'd need in your car, including a fairly large sunroof. Again, there are no complaints about it not being panoramic and dramatic.

Sedans have great boot space, and the Camry gives you 500 litres. Now, yes, that is not a lot, but it holds ample space for everything you will need a sedan for. Yes, Toyota doesn't provide everything nice and fancy-sounding, and that has been pretty clear. The exposed metal and speakers inside the boot are quite the downer, but rewards do await as you get a full alloy spare wheel under the boot, which is great and is quite a rare sight nowadays. Good job on that.

2024 Toyota Camry: Safety & Features

Never forget safety, especially in an expensive car. Missing out on things is not quite acceptable nowadays. With 9 airbags and more than 20 passive safety features along with ADAS features, safety seems taken care of. The Camry also gets a heavy dose of features. With electronically adjustable steering, and front seats which are also ventilated with lumbar support, Toyota has considered comfort and convenience as the primary which is much appreciated. Other features include cruise control, rear AC vents, voice commands and a whole list of them, however, all keep being well thought out. Some are missed for sure but those can be overlooked looking at the total package the Camry brings with itself.

2024 Toyota Camry: Driving Impressions

Now we know that you will buy this car not to drive it but in case you do, the big change the new Camry brings to the table is the new engine combination. The 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 1.04 kWh Li-ion battery delivers 230 PS of max power and 208 Nm of electric torque. Yes at low speeds the Camry does sound a little frivolous but the instant torque output which is evenly spread out comes in aid and saves the day. Also as you get the speedometer to go up things get serious and the more supportive and responsive performance of the battery pack keeps things in control yet leaves some space to play.

The better part of the story remains to be the fact that the battery intervenes in intervals to give you that extra boost all while doing its usual chores. This helps you to zoom past quicker in traffic and also run the vehicle much smoother at lower speeds, however, even at highway speeds the Camry doesn't quite disappoint, the balanced performance of the engine and the battery keeps things quite charming and comfortable. The 10-speed e-CVT gearbox feels much more responsive with fewer delays between shifts, that doesn't negate the fact that there are delays but driving in the city requires no more. At higher speeds, the sport mode comes into action which helps with sharper gear shifts aiding the process.

Toyota has always been about great ride quality, giving you stability and comfort while being quick and responsive. The braking and suspension tell the same story. Under regular undulations, the car seems quite level, however, big potholes might be an issue. The suspension does try to save grace but in case you are at a really rough patch of road the jerks will reach you, maybe not jolting your spine all throughout but they won't be completely harmless.

My only complaint here would be the steering being a bit too light and some heft would have been much nicer, however, it does handle quite well in sharp turns while being quite agile and light. The Camry does perform well and feels quite brisk, however, the hybrid factor takes away the kick and fun you are supposed to experience while driving a luxury sedan. The sport mode here makes is case as it gets the engine more involved and gives you more control with engine braking.

2024 Toyota Camry: Verdict

The Camry has its ups and downs no doubt, but somehow it still provides a good proposition. Yes, we will not forget the loose ends in the interiors and the starkly underpowered feeling the Hybrid system provides in place of a pure petrol or diesel engine. But there are so many places the Camry does shine bright, and for that, I'd say that the Camry does deserve to be where it is. Be it the modern design approach making a much more aggressive looking Camry or be it the comfort and ride quality prioritising attitude of Toyota towards their luxury sedan, the Camry stays strong in its segment. However, if going hybrid is the proposition and with the claimed mileage numbers going north of 25 kmpl, and the fact that this does go 0-100 in 7.2 seconds, this is a compromise worth making.