You don’t become one of the best-selling vehicles in America for a decade and a half by accident. It takes years of painstaking refinement, innovation and a dedication to perfection, and it’s why the 2012 Toyota Camry, while often imitated, has yet to be surpassed.
The latest Hyundai Sonata enters 2012 with the same styling it has featured since its redesign a few years back. Toyota, on the other hand, brings a nicely re-sculpted Camry to the table for the new model year. Despite featuring the same length, height and width, the 2012 Camry is actually significantly lighter than in previous years, ensuring impressive enhancements in fuel efficiency, handling and quickness. To do it, Toyota built smarter, trimming down excessive sheet metal, simplifying components and adding low rolling-resistance tires. Smarter engineering in the Camry Hybrid models trim about 66 pounds, too. The Camry and the Sonata both offer available features like 18-inch wheels, solar glass and foglamps, and the Toyota adds sleek, projector beam halogen headlamps.
Beneath the hood of the Camry is a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder that uses variable valve technology to generate 178 hp and 170 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. Hyundai’s entry uses a smaller, 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a standard six-speed manual. Both hit up to 35 highway mpg, but the Toyota bests the Sonata in city mileage. The newest Camry also offers an available 3.5-liter V6, a feature not available in the Sonata, which increases output to 268 hp and 248 lb/ft of torque. Both vehicles feature independent front and rear suspension setups, and both sport advanced hybrid models that boost fuel economy to the 39/40 highway mpg range.
Inside the newest Camry, attractive stitching and craftsmanship now complement a modern dash composed of quality materials. Controls have been re-examined with an eye toward ergonomics and ease of use while seats are more comfortable. Multi-stage heated leather is available on upper trims, and bolstered sport-leather seats are available on the SE. The Camry is also more spacious than the latest Sonata with size advantages in front shoulder space, as well as rear head- and legroom. The Toyota also offers more cupholders and more versatile storage spaces.
Up front, both vehicles offer a healthy influx of convenience and technology including advanced audio systems, Bluetooth® communication and auxiliary inputs. The Camry adds innovative new features like a premium HDD touchscreen navigation system with JBL® GreenEdge™ speakers, HD Radio™, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, iTunes® tagging and iPod and USB connectivity. The available Entune™ (with Bing™) system allows for web connectivity including access to movietickets.com and Pandora® streaming radio. The Camry also offers an available DVD player, a feature unavailable on the Sonata.
Only the Camry has the Toyota-exclusive Star Safety System™ – which integrates stability, traction control and advanced braking systems – and 10 standard airbags, and only Toyota has Safety Connect®, which features automatic emergency response, automatic collision notification and stolen vehicle location.
The 2012 Toyota Camry with standard automatic transmission starts at an MSRP of just $21,955. The 2012 Sonata starts at $19,695, but to get an automatic transmission, you have to spend $23,095. The differences between the Camry and the Sonata are greater than their similarities; the Toyota is simply more advanced, more refined and more value-packed than its imitator.
