Refreshed Camry Out to Stay No. 1; Yaris’ Paris Accent
For best-selling vehicles, the battle to stay atop the sales charts never ends.
We’re seeing that with both Ford and Toyota.
Ford’s F-Series has been America’s best-selling truck for 37 consecutive years and best-selling vehicle overall for 32 straight years. However, Ford has totally redesigned the F-150 pickup for 2015, shaving up to 750 pounds thanks to an aluminum bed.
Now here comes the heavily refreshed 2015 Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in America for the last 12 years and 16 of the past 17. It’s looking to keep that distinction ahead of challengers such as Accord, Corolla, Altima, Civic, CR-V, Fusion, Escape, and Cruze.
Toyota officials were in Middleboro Nov. 12 to give the New England Motor Press Association an introduction to the updated Camry and redesigned subcompact Yaris.
Greg Thome, Toyota’s regional communications operations manager, says, “The Camry is the vehicle that keeps the lights on at headquarters in Torrance [CA].’’
A quick drive through Middleboro and Lakeville shows the Camry to be more refined than ever. My immediate reactions were to call it “Lexus-like’’ or “Lexus lite.’’
The Camry gets some adjusted model designations: the base LE, sportier SE, premium XLE, and new-for-’15 XSE—an edgier-looking version of the SE that combines sportier driving dynamics and more upscale amenities. That’s a marketing move to appeal to the 45 percent of Camry buyers (a decidedly younger demographic, too) who opt for the SE.
We drove the XLE and it was definitely geared to comfort and smoothness.
Toyota has stayed with its tried-and-true engine combinations. The 2.5-liter four cylinder (178 horsepower) and six-speed automatic, a combination that can achieve 35 miles per gallon on the highway. The 3.5-liter V-6, also with the six-speed automatic, produces 268 horsepower.
Kristi Pourmousa, a product training specialist in Toyota’s Boston regional office, says the company sells a Camry “every minute’’ and that the mid-cycle changes make this generation of Camry, introduced as a 2012 model, feel “like a whole new car.’’
Style-wise, the Camry has more “character lines’’ on the side, one from the fuel-filler door through the door handles. Another runs from the rear bottom of the front wheel well to the top of the rear tire, giving a more rakish feel. A blacked-out panel behind the glass on the rear doors makes the C pillar seem thinner but gives the rear window a patched-up look.
Inside, the XLE was extremely quiet and had soft-touch materials and a decidedly upscale feel, especially with the higher level Ultrasuede and leather seats. Something we’re eager to try is the wireless charging pad.
Another option for Camry buyers will be the hybrid, which is offered in the value-driven LE, sporty SE, and premium XLE versions with EPA mileage estimates of 43 city, 39 highway, and 41 combined.
What’s a Yaris?
Because Toyota builds the subcompact Yaris in France, we thought the Yaris name was a derivation of Paris. It turns out to be a combination of the German affirmative ‘Ya’ and the Greek goddess Charis (beauty, elegance). But the French pronunciation would be Yar-EE.
A quick drive found the redesigned 2015 model to be a nimble small car with surprisingly capable handling and rear-seat legroom for a six-footer (with another six-footer at the wheel).
It’s available as a three- or five-door lift back in L, LE, and SE versions. It also has an unusual, and sizeable, feature for a small car: a wide-sweeping single windshield wiper.
The capable 1.5-liter 4-cylinder produces 106 horsepower that’s only held back by a dated four-speed automatic transmission.
That’s offset by a strong set of standard features and a dealer-installable, plug-in navigation option, and an instrument panel that’s both attractive and user-intuitive.
A low-mounted backup light is a styling cue from the Scion FR-S sports car.
“The Yaris has been picked on and we’re frankly a little tired of it,’’ says Toyota’s Pourmousa. “It’s definitely trending a lot more European.’’
It’s a compliment to call it a perky ride, but you have to like an MSRP that tops out in the 17s.
Herb Chambers
Auto dealers perhaps are better barometers of the local economy than any government statistic. Take luxury cars. “In Boston, the luxury market is flying,’’ says local dealer Herb Chambers. He’s put his money behind that observation, acquiring Audi of Brookline and the former Dalzell Volvo, opening Lexus of Hingham, and building two more facilities on the Rte. 1 Auto Mile.
Residual Values
ALG, the company that plays a major role in forecasting future values of vehicles as they age, last week announced its RVA (Residual Value Awards) and predicted Land Rover (premium brand) and Toyota (mainstream brand) are most likely to retain the highest percentage of their MSRP after three years.
“Residual value is important for automakers and consumers because it’s a complete indicator of the vehicle’s future value, accounting for quality, durability, and brand desirability among other factors,’’ says Larry Dominique, president of ALG. “Some Land Rover models are in such high demand that they’re selling above MSRP.’’
Toyota won five awards in the 26 segments ALG recognizes: Tacoma (midsize pickup), Tundra (full size pickup), Prius V (alt-fuel vehicle), Highlander (midsize SUV), and 4Runner (off-road utility vehicle). Toyota also took home three premium segment awards with the IS (midsize car), GX (3-row SUV), and Land Cruiser (full size SUV).
Eight vehicles were newcomers to the RVA Awards: Dodge Charger, Subaru WRX, Prius V, Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Transit Connect, Hyundai Genesis, Audi TT, and Porsche Macan.
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