2019 Toyota Camry: First impression

After keeping us waiting for an eternity, the all-new 2019 Toyota Camry finally hit our shores. Toyota really took a long time in bringing this beautiful sedan in the Philippines. Anyway, since now it is here in the flesh, everyone just can’t wait to get a hands-on experience of the car. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has not launched the new Camry yet but the prices have been revealed. The 2019 Toyota Camry price starts at Php 1.81 million and stretches all the way up to Php 1.99 million. So what is it that is being offered with this elegant sedan? Read on to find out in our first impression of the brand-new Toyota Camry.

Looks

For the starters, the Camry always had an impressive presence. And the new one is so much better. It is a long car and to make a proportionate design is quite a challenging task. The new Camry carries itself with such elegance and pride. The front end has these two sleek headlamps that have their own LED DRL. But the most attractive element here is the front grille. It is so neatly done and has such a great design which helps to enhance Camry’s business-type look.

You will get a better idea of the length of the new Camry when you look at it from the side. It is really stretched out and looks brilliant. The rear end gets huge wrap around two-piece combination tail lights with LED bars that help identify this as the Camry. Overall, we are really impressed by the looks of the new car.

Interior

Undoubtedly, the interior of the new Camry is nothing but amazing. There is so much luxury and technology in the cabin that you will be mesmerised by all of it. The all-black theme feels very premium and sporty. The dashboard design is very unique and driver-oriented. The quality of materials used is top-notch. A large touchscreen infotainment system sits in the centre of the dashboard. Some clever and easily accessible storage spaces have been provided.

Extra attention has been given to the rear compartment of the car where the owner would likely to spent most of his/her time. Toyota has provided a touchscreen control panel on the centre armrest of the rear seats that control the AC, reclining of the seats, and audio. And you don’t have to worry about comfort and luxury; there’s plenty.

Engine

The 2019 Toyota Camry specs have been revised a bit. We no longer will have the mighty V6 engine on offer. Instead, there is a 2.5L Dual VVT-i engine that produces 184PS and 231Nm. It is paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Toyota says that the new engine has got a better thermal efficiency which helps in the performance and fuel economy. There are three driving modes as well - Eco, Normal (default), and Sport. Switching to the last driving mode enables a few elements like Highly Responsive Upshift Control and Blipping Downshift Control to enhance the driving experience.

Safety features

Based on Toyota’s new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, the 2019 Camry not only gets improved handling, ride quality, and performance, but it is also safer than before. Toyota has incorporated a plethora of safety features like hill-start assist, vehicle stability control, ABS, cruise control, 7 airbags, heads-up display, etc.

Another information that will give the owners of the new Camry a peace of mind is that the new car has scored 5-star in the 2018 JNCAP series of safety tests. That’s pretty impressive. Good work, Toyota.

Conclusion

Toyota has just taken the competition to the next level by bringing the 2019 Camry in the Philippines. The new car is better than its previous avatar in so many aspects that it simply justifies its high price tag. Looks, style, safety, luxury, features, road presence, reliability, power, and performance; you will find everything in the new Camry. So there you have it, our first impression of the new Toyota. We would like to know what your opinions about the new Camry are, so feel free to drop them in the comments below. And stay tuned for latest updates.