2019 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Sedan
An Automotive Love Affair
By Joseph Mavilia
Overview:
This is the 2019 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Sedan.What has been referred to as Toyota’s Flag Ship model, the Camry has been a great representation of the product and very popular with all the Toyota consumer base.
Although Toyota has been and continues to be a very good car, I know the market is getting so fine-tuned and all car makers are jockeying for position in an ever-changing industry. Lately I have been pushing Korean made cars and apparently the consumer is too. Once again, the tables have turned, and many car makers are altering their product emphasis. For example, some will cut many models from their lineup, as they move to the most profitable for them to make and thus the market is in constant adjustment mode. That’s a good thing, by the way, because it is a free market fact of life. The consumer wins and the manufacturer lives to fight another day.
e.g. Ford Motor Company announced recently that it’s cutting traditional sedans from its U.S. lineup, except for the revered Mustang, saying goodbye to the Fusion, Focus, Fiesta and Taurus so it can double down on trucks and sport utilities. Ford realized it can’t be everything to everyone.
Ford is not alone. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles already killed the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 to focus on more profitable Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups. General Motors has been cutting back on sedan production, too. It is reported that the Chevrolet Sonic and Impala could be axed, while Cadillac is retooling its luxury lineup to focus more on SUVs.
The big three say they’re simply following consumer preferences, which have shifted squarely in favor of SUVs and crossovers, to work to their strengths and might as well concentrate where they have the strongest following and, of course, higher profit margins.
Let’s face it, we are becoming more and more specialized in every field of endeavor, and the auto industry is no exception. This is a good adjustment to how cars are made and sold. We’ll see how it all works out over the next decade or so.
General Information: Assembly: Georgetown, Kentucky, USA; ; Classification is Midsize Cars; Vehicles from Toyota: : 4Runner, 86, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry Camry Hybrid, C-HR, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, Prius, Prius C, Prius Prime, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma Access Cab, Tacoma Double Cab, Tundra CrewMax, Tundra Double Cab, Yaris and Yaris iA.
Handling & Performance:
Toyota cars can be counted on to be tops in quality and performance. I always look at the ease of driving, and steering characteristics on Toyota cars, for example, is noticeably among the best these days. This Camry is tight and solid in ride and handling, and that means less stress on those longer drives. They are also getting better with the Smart Cruise feature that is, to me, the single best features available today. It should be ‘standard equipment’ on ALL cars, and I predict it will be soon.
Styling:
Top notch design. Kudos to designers.
Fit and Finish:
Always the best workmanship.
Cost:
You’ll pay a little more, but then again, you get what you pay for.
Conveniences and comfort:
Overall comfort is “As good as it gets”. Reminds me of one of my favorite Jack Nicholson movies.
Consumer Recommendation:
One of the most important parts of a review, in my estimation, is the Competition. Consumers need to look at all products when making a major purchase decision. Houses, a job and yes, the car that fits your needs is a major purchase and needs to be given a lot of thought.
Recognized Competition:
| Brand | $$$ | MPG | Seating | Doors | Country of Origin | Assembled |
| Toyota Camry | 36,000 | 26 | 5 | 4 | Japan | USA |
| Honda Accord | 37,000 | 26 | 5 | 4 | Japan | USA |
| Ford Fusion | 40,000 | 20 | 5 | 4 | USA | Mexico |
| Nissan Altima | 34,000 | 29 | 5 | 4 | Japan | USA |
| VW Passat | 31,000 | 29 | 5 | 4 | Germany | USA |
| Kia Optima | 33,000 | 24 | 5 | 4 | Korea | USA |
| Hyundai Sonata | 26,000 | 28 | 5 | 4 | Korea | USA |
| Subaru Legacy | 32,000 | 23 | 5 | 4 | Japan | USA |
| Mazda 6 | 36,000 | 26 | 5 | 4 | Japan | Japan |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA | 37,000 | 26 | 5 | 4 | Germany | Germany |
Good News:
Consistently good cars, wonderful standard features as priced.
Bad News:
n/a
Standard Equipment:
3.5 liter 301 HP V6 VVT engine, 8-speed auto transmission, Sport tuned suspension, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, Smart cruise control – smart stop technology, lane departure alert with steering assist, auto high beams, star safety system: stability and traction control, abs electric brake force distribution, brake assist, LATCH system for children, ten airbags, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, 19” alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto on/off feature, panoramic glass roof with power moonroof, Entune 3.0 Audio plus with JBL and Clari-fi, App suite, 8” touch screen, CD player, 9-speakers, Bluetooth hands free phone and music, USB media port, 2-USB charge ports, SiriusXM with 3-month access trial, Siri Eyes free, Apple CarPlay compatible, 10” color heads up display, sport leather trimmed heated front seats with 8-way power driver and passenger seats, leather trimmed steering wheel with audio, Bluetooth, and voice command controls, back up camera with dynamic gridlines, 7” multi-information display, smart key system with push button start and climate control.
Gas Stats:
22 City and 32 Highway MPG
$3.39 / Gal of gas avg. March 26, 2019
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.
21 City and 30 Highway MPG
Pricing:
MSRP $34,600.
Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@autolove.com
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