Toyota has held the 2007 Camry’s first driving event for the press and the web reviews are starting to roll in. Mark our words, nearly every review of the redesigned Camry will mention the word “vanilla” and also conclude that the new sedan will retain its position in 2006 as the country’s best selling car. (Read the Inside Line review and Family Car.com review)
None of this comes as a shocker, but we did learn something new about the Camry Hybrid in particular that’s news to us. According to the review by FamilyCar.com, in CA, MA, NY, NJ, VT, ME, NH and RI the hybrid components in the Camry Hybrid will have a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty and its batteries will be covered for 10 years/150,000 miles. For the rest of the country these components get an 8-year/100,000 mile warranty.
Does this mean Hyundai doesn’t have the biggest warranty in the auto biz any longer? Probably not, as the standard bumper-to-bumper warranty follows the industry average for three years or 36,000 miles and the powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles. Regardless, adding a warranty of that size to its hybrid components will most likely go a long way in helping Toyota dispel fears about the long-term reliability of its hybrid powertrains.
[pic provided by FamilyCar.com - thanks to nsx280ps for the tip!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
the friendly grizzly @ Jan 31st 2006 7:15AM
My goodness. Will you just LOOK at that cutting-edge styling! So elegant and forward-thinking. Not like a rotten ol' Buick or Ford 500 no SIR.
Even the grille is expressive. It is Cathy from the comic strip going "ACK!"
sensitive_man @ Jan 31st 2006 7:44AM
Grizzly - You have to remember the target audience.
Ophrey @ Jan 31st 2006 7:46AM
Its a nice looking car, much better then the previous design. I think while some may call it "Vanilla" there are more "Vanilla" type cars out there like the "Uber Vanilla" Impala, having an anemic motor and ultra plain design.
Edsel @ Jan 31st 2006 7:58AM
#2 - "target audience" = vanilla crackers?
7of7 @ Jan 31st 2006 8:14AM
I see TOASTER!!!
Chris Meisenzahl @ Jan 31st 2006 8:17AM
Ouch, the front end looks like a Dodge Stratus. adn the color is horrid. That said, it'll probably last 20 years mechanically.
VW-Guy @ Jan 31st 2006 8:20AM
As much as I hate Camry's (geezers in their beige V6's going 15 under the limit all the time with their left turn signal on, but I digress) this one does look better than the last model, if nothing else it is as generic as it gets, the current model is butt-ugly.
As a marketing kinda guy, I would say the extended warranty is directly to target an issue. Is it safe to assume from this Toyota is acknowledging people shy away from Hybrids becuase they are worried about the complexity of it all? Especially given the Camry's target audience, ultra conservative play it safe types?
the friendly grizzly @ Jan 31st 2006 8:28AM
More like genuine immitation vanilla. sensitive_man, the target audience? You are likely right. They want to drive a 4-wheeled Amana refrigerator. A Universal Driving Machine.
I had a Buick on rental a couple of weeks back. At least you could hear the engine a bit when you stepped on it, and in spite of all the insulation and other things, the car still had some personality to it. The only Japanese cars I have ever driven that had any sort of personality were Subarus and an Infiniti Q45. The Subarus, regardless of model, said "tin can". The Infinii? It was a real driver's car. I enjoyed it greatly. Darn nice car.
Paul @ Jan 31st 2006 8:30AM
"Target audience" = "people who care more about reliability than outlandish style".
Herb @ Jan 31st 2006 8:46AM
Paul, why must reliability be boring?
DarkKnight67 @ Jan 31st 2006 8:47AM
Just saw one of these at the local auto show. Even a friend who has one said it is one of the fugliest cars he'd ever seen. Between the afterthought grille and the hokey BMW bubble butt, it is about as stupid as can be.
Priit @ Jan 31st 2006 8:59AM
got any more pics?
ucme @ Jan 31st 2006 9:00AM
You know what really bothers me about this car? The hood line across the front. Your eye is just drawn to it way too much. They should have found a way to make the hood blend seamlessly into the grill. It would look much cleaner and more pleasing to the eye stylistically. Incidentally, the same sort of thing bothers me about the Accord (the way the hood doesn't line up with the headlights).
Darien @ Jan 31st 2006 9:03AM
I must be the only one that thinks why'd they swipe the Mazda 6 front end and a Honda back end?
Lithous @ Jan 31st 2006 9:07AM
"Regardless, adding a warranty of that size to its hybrid components will most likely go a long way in helping Toyota dispel fears about the long-term reliability of its hybrid powertrains."
But import fanboys keep telling me that long-term is 300K miles not 150K. So, I don't get it (how is this long-term to them?).
Since Japan corners the market on Hybrid parts and batteries, it makes it easier to give a longer warranty on JUST THOSE PARTS.
Proud Japanese @ Jan 31st 2006 9:08AM
Go on Americans, keep buying our cars. You know you love our reliability and handling. American cars are land yachts. Heavy and ugly at that. Americans are doing the best thing in choosing our cars because they are well engineered, more eco-friendly and more of a driver's car. I still think Americans need to grow up and learn to drive manuals though. The automatics just reinforces the image of Americans being lazy and stupid.
max @ Jan 31st 2006 9:21AM
"Its a nice looking car, much better then the previous design."
Ophrey, you're so reliable.
This thing is butt-ugly. Even worse, now I look at the Mazda 3 and I feel it's ugly. The last generation of Camry was far better looking. Too bad they didn't do an interior as nice as the Impala's.
Dr. Woo @ Jan 31st 2006 9:39AM
Ghastly. Simply abominable.
JGCAR @ Jan 31st 2006 9:56AM
Is it ugly? Too bad...you will have to see A LOT of it everywhere very soon. It is the best selling car in the US whether you like it or not. Should wonder why.
JGCAR @ Jan 31st 2006 9:58AM
Camry is simply not the car for people who check the auto news every day Period