Road Test: Toyota Camry SE

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By Tara Weingarten

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Japanese carmakers have become so good at predicting what we American drivers want, they are on the verge of overtaking our market. Jump behind the wheel of the seventh-generation Camry and you'll see why. The car is roomy, zippy and loaded with creature comforts. It's not ugly, either (just OK-looking). My SE version tester was sporty with 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, an edgy black honeycomb front grille and a 3.5-liter, 268hp, V-6 engine that scooted along. My SE also had sport-body cladding, just like the more expensive German sport coupes.

To be sure, if the Toyota symbol on my steering wheel had been obscured, I could have been convinced that this Camry was a Lexus instead. Now for the perks. You can get an optional ($2,200) large full-color touchscreen to exhibit audio, climate and navigation displays. Perforated, heated leather seats ($1,770) are executive like in their ample size. And back-seat riders get limo-esque legroom without compromising the voluminous trunk space. Yet all of this performance and luxury does come with a steep price tag, and I was surprised how expensive America's favorite car has become. But we deserve the best, don't we?

Tip: Opt for the smaller four-cylinder-engine model and save more than three grand.

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