AUGUST 2004 ISSUE  
? The Rise of the Middle Class
? Honda Accord
? Hyundai Sonata
? Mazda 6
? Mitsubishi Galant GTA
? Nissan Cefiro
? Toyota Camry

The Rise of the Middle Class

Toyota Camry
P 1.295M (2.4 E) to P 1.68M (3.0 V)

Who's your daddy? The Camry's smooth lines hide the fact that it's a big one. Built for the demands of the finicky American market, the spacious Camry can seat four adults in the back seat if they're not too big or bitchy. Despite its girth, it handles commendably and will tackle many an uphill winding road without drama. Recently launched is the '04 Camry with high-intensity discharge headlamps, LED taillamps, and a smoother bumper and grille. The Boss Camry is the 3.0V with a 3.0-liter 24-valve V6 with VVT-i and a rompin' stompin' 212 horses matched to a 5-speed automatic. Leather, auto climate control, power rear sunshade, and 8-way power adjustable front seats are just some of the goodies of the 3.0V and the 2.4V. What's more, fit and finish is excellent, so no wonder it's often called the poor man's Lexus. And the trunk is simply HUGE, easily swallowing several golf bags and your daughter's punk boyfriend. - Andy Leuterio

Grins: fit and finish, more space than you might need, ultra-smooth ride, predictable handling, available big V6 (yey!), terrific resale value

Grimaces: Might be too much car for people who drive themselves.

The Lowdown: A comfortable, confident cruiser priced a little higher than most.

Previous Page Top of the Page

HOME | NEWS | FEATURES | ISSUES | SUBSCRIBE | ADVERTISE | PROFILE | CAREERS | FEEDBACK
?2004 SPEEDTM Magazine. All Rights Reserved. SPEEDTM is a registered trademark of Airo Media International, Inc.
Powered by Softrigger Interactive, Inc.