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2007 Toyota Camry SE 5-spd Road Test

After a 76 year run as the world's top automaker, General Motors now findsitself in the unusual position of being number two. Yes, the Japanese juggernaut Toyota has now assumed the title of top dog in the global automotive kingdom (at least it has for Q1 and most of Q2, 2007). Toyota has much to attribute to its success, including its manufacturing processes, its global presence and of course its wide range of high quality products. Instead of pursuing the latest trends or building a supercar, it puts its time and energy into making dependable products that people want to own. Helping the company achieve this honor is the Toyota Camry, the perennial sales leader in the midsize segment. In fact, it's taken the title of most popular car sold here in the United States nine out of ten times in the past decade – a real force to be reckoned with.

It's clear that the Camry has been well received by the car buying public. If you're wondering how they've managed to do it for all these years, allow us

Unexpected: many were surprised by this Camry's manual transmission. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

to shed some light on the subject. Plain and simply, the Camry has always been a good car; everything about it just works. It's not offensive to look at, and it's a comfortable place for five full size adults. It's a paragon ofreliability, dependability and user friendliness. These are but some of the adjectives that are the foundation of the Camry's, and Toyota's reputation.

That being said, critics are swift to point out that as good as the Camry is, it's always been a bit cold in terms of personality; a little like an android, if you will. They excel as transportation appliances but lack the emotional bond one feels with some other automobiles. Still, our Barcelona Red

This is how Toyota does sport; a body kit, wheels and a spoiler. The metallic red paint really suits it; it received positive comments. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

Camry SE tries so very hard to convince passersby that it's something more than just a four-door commuter, we felt we had to give it the benefit of the doubt. Please, look at me; don't think of me as ordinary, it pleads. And, I suppose it isn't all that ordinary after all. It's got a sports-tuned suspension, allegedly inspired by its efforts in racing (although if it was as antiquated as anything under a NASCAR Cup car we'd lambaste it as a rolling anachronism - Ed.), flashy 17-inch six-spoke wheels, and a body kit that helps it look the part. It even has rubber studded aluminum pedals, and aproper handbrake – two features which you won't find on any other Camry, which is a surprise to see. But all of this effort to differentiate it from a regular

There you go - the manual. The 4-cyl CE, LE and SE are the only models that get it, as well as the proper hand brake. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

Camry had me thinking that the good folks at Toyota are trying just a little too hard.

Perhaps we should explain. We were downright impressed that Toyota would even offer a 5-speed manual in a Camry. We appreciated the fact that they went to great lengths to let the world know that, hey, they're putting time and effort into injecting some sporty attitude into one of its best selling cars. However, the majority of us think that maybe they went about this the wrong way. Take for example the gear whine you hear while going down the road. Sure, it sounds like a race car with straight cut gears, but this is out of place in a Camry, and gets old fast. Overall the car is noisier that we remember Camrys being in general; if this is Toyota's idea of giving us more road feedback, we politely decline.

And yet still we see clear examples of Toyota's unrelenting quest

The sporty SE is slower off the line than the unsporty Hybrid, even with the manual. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

for attention to detail and refinement. Take a look into the rear wheel wells. Yes, that is carpet you see lining the insides, a trick employed by such uber luxury cars as the Audi A8. The gear ratios are spaced as wide as two weeks from Sunday, and offer very relaxed engine speeds while cruising, even if the exhaust is more audible than the regular LE and CE models. Clutch take-up is smooth as silk and allows for good modulation. All of the switchgear, including the feel of the steering and pedals offer typical Toyota slickness. We just wish they were a little more involving, thus staying closer to the sporting intentions our SE promised.

The styling suffers no such lack of involvement. This is a good looking car, and despite the fact that it's relatively large, it doesn't appear that way from the exterior. Its styling can best be described as liquid, with lines that look as though they were formed by water under intense pressure.Some of our staffers thought it looked like a larger version of the Yaris

No shortage of quality. The styling was, quite frankly, surprising. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

sedan with an Aero package; mostly we thought it just plain looked good. From far, the body kit drew praise, but when observed from up close, the black weather stripping between the plastic add-ons and the body work made it look like a do-it-yourself add on.

At only 158 horsepower (according to those revised SAE ratings), the Camry doesn't appear particularly quick on paper, but around town and during most highway driving it's sufficient. But we yearned for a more powerful powerplant hooked up to our manual gearbox. Still, it will never embarrass itself, although when considering that the V6 Camry is near the top of the class in terms of performance we wonder why Toyota hasn't developed a four-cylinder to follow in its footsteps. As a side note, the sport-free Camry Hybrid is about a second quicker to 60 mph than our SE.

Moving along, the sports suspension is, true to its word, sportier than on lesser Camry models. We joked about the motorsport link – we're still not convinced – but the cutback of body roll impressed us, as did the firm but not choppy ride. The damping is also much moreresponsive

Opal glow instruments match the center stack. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

to the surface of the road, but doesn't compromise the car's large reserves of comfort. The massaged chassis will dive into a corner with a tenacity that surprises. Two qualms still remain: its non-communicative steering and the tires. After tweaking the suspension, why neuter it with Michelin “Energy” low-resistance shoes?

The Camry's interior is comfortable, exactly what you'd expect from a Toyota, but just when we thought we were settling in to enjoy some familiar Toyota-ness, we realized that something was different. The dashboard lighting scheme has a rather daring glow about it, and rather un-Toyota like if you ask me. Think of a computer terminal from the original starship Enterprise and you've got the right idea. It's a bit distracting at night because trim pieces on a given vehicle's center console don't normally light up at night, at least not as a rule. As we alluded to previously, everything just works, and the oversized climate and audio controls are appreciated. Passengers will also appreciate the roominess of the Camry's leather lined cabin, especially those in the rear.A flat floor means three can ride with room to spare in the back.

Be that as it may, the Camry SE is in an odd position

Another exclusive feature to the SE are these pedals. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

within the Camry family, not to mention the rest of the midsize segment. Normally, manual midsize cars are base vehicles, a kind of value leader that only exists because automatics cost more to make. However, the take-rate on such manual-equipped cars is low, as most consumers in this segment prefer the ease of operation that only an automatic can provide. Nevertheless, like the six-speed manual equipped Accord V6 sedan we had earlier this year, some automakers are very aware that enthusiasts are willing to spend a little more for something special. That's why, in the case of the 4-cylinder Camry, the manual comes standard in not only the SE trim line with the sports kit, but also in the base CE and LE trims. Every other Camry has an automatic, be it V6 or I-4, (or a CVT if it's a hybrid). We wish we could attach a manual gearbox to the V6 engine as well, but no such combination exists.

Since the V6-manual combo isn't a possibility, we hope that Toyota reconsiders what “sport” means to the enthusiast buyer. The LE and XLE models target buyers perfectly, but its recipe for the SE could use some tweaking if it hopes to lure in performance-oriented drivers. Then again, for those wanting a sporty looking vehicle that delivers a little more spice than a regular four-cylinder automatic Camry, the SE might be ideal.

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