Punching-up The Trusty Family Sedan
In an ever more difficult era to sell five-passenger sedans, Toyota knew it had to do something with the Camry to make it stand out. Oh sure, you can get a Camry with hybrid power, but since Toyota is the world’s leader in hybrid vehicle sales, that is expected.
What wasn’t expected was to take this freeway cruiser, family vacation and grocery-getter, and make it massively cool-looking and bordering on being a sports sedan. Bordering, because while the suspension has been tuned to make the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD handle like no other Camry, the engine wasn’t modified. Not that there is anything wrong with the existing V6 (actually, there is a lot good about it), but expecting the Camry TRD to bump into the sports sedan category without more grunt under the hood just didn’t cut it.
TRD is not a foreign term if you follow motorsports. Operating as Toyota’s performance and tuning arm, Toyota Racing Division is responsible for what you see on the race track, on pavement or dirt, as well as factory customized Toyota vehicles that show some flash around town. Current TRD models include the Avalon, Camry, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma and 4Runner, all of which cut a more striking image than their base counterparts.
Smooth, Strong Power
Clean Fleet Report spent a week in the front-wheel drive 2020 Camry TRD. The naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6, which is the same engine as in the base Camry, was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and three drive modes. This combination is good for 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. Running on regular unleaded, the EPA rates fuel economy at 22 mpg city/31 highway/25 combined. On Southern California freeways we averaged 28.6 mpg over 315 miles. Our best fuel economy came over a 100-mile, 65 mph cruise control run where we achieved 32.1 mpg. So even with the TRD treatment, it is still possible to crack that 30+ mpg number, which Toyota says is due to the transmission having been designed to offer crisp performance shifts, but also operating in a calm manner for fuel economy.
The V6 is pleasingly strong and, with 301 horsepower, no slouch when you want to get on it. We consistently saw 0-60 times of 5.5 to 5.8 seconds. The engine pulls-up through the gears with linear acceleration with never a stumble at any speed or demand, while the TRD-exclusive cat-back dual exhaust gives a satisfying rumble that never becomes obnoxious or overpowering. Many of the cars and crossovers we test are powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder, which can be fun with a rush of turbo boosted power. But it was good to drive a V6 again, as the feel is different–and pleasing. We recently drove the 2020 Toyota Supra, which also has a non-turbo V6–and came away big fans.
The three driver-selectable drive modes of Normal, Eco and Sport are self-expanatory. For the best fuel economy, leave it in Eco and let the computer adjust the throttle input for the most efficiency. Leave it in Normal for around town. Sport is by far the most spirited and fun, where the acceleration is sharper. For fun, cruise along on the highway at 65 mph in Eco, then put it into Sport and watch the tachometer rise 1,500+ rpm. Those rpms come on quick, and the Camry TRD will jolt forward by the increased engine power.
Drivability
While Toyota didn’t modify the engine on the Camry TRD, they did play with the suspension by tuning the chassis, a specialty of the TRD division. The 3,572-pound Camry starts with MacPherson strut fronts and multi-link rears, then TRD added stiffer stabilizer bars and stiffer coil springs that drop the ride height a half-inch to 5.7 inches of ground clearance. TRD specific shocks and thicker underbody bracing make the ride stiffer. This was all topped-off with 235/40 Bridgestone Potenza summer tires mounted on 19-inch matte black alloy wheels with red brake calipers peeking through. The steering was a good weight with no play in the wheel. All this combined for excellent traction with limited tire slippage even under hard cornering stress. Surprisingly, the freeway ride was not as rough as other sport models we have driven, but it certainly isn’t as cushy as the base Camry. If spirited cornering isn’t how you drive on a regular basis, then take a look at the Camry XSE. This top-of-the-line Camry looks great while handling bumps, ruts, and potholes, but in a more civilized manner.
All the handling tweaks mean nothing if you can’t stop when you want, as fast as you want. The electronically controlled brake system incorporates power-assisted, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution. The dual-piston caliber front-ventilated brake discs have been beefed-up to 12.9-inches, with the rear sold discs 11.6-inches. Good braking is needed at all times, but is greatly appreciated when attacking tight twisties on a mountain or forest road. The straight and consistent stops were reassuring when charging the corners.
TRD Interior
The 2020 Camry TRD interior has specific design elements, including aluminum sport pedals, black leather shift knob with a debossed TRD logo, TRD logo floor mats, red seatbelts, red top stitching and fabric inserts on the black Softex synthetic leather seats and brushed aluminum accent trim. The front seats get red stitched TRD headrest logos, with an eight-way power-adjustable and heated driver’s seat with power lumbar support, and a six-way adjustable heated front passenger seat. The seats were comfortable enough for a couple hours behind the wheel, but could use a bit more padding. The bolstering was right to keep the driver planted when cornering hard.
The cockpit design is driver-friendly with the gauges all in easy sight and reach. The dash has a unique asymmetrical design; the gauges have TRD red illumination and bespoke animation upon start-up. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, with red stitching, has a confident hefty feel in your hands. Audio, telephone and cruise controls are found on the wheel.
Additional interior convenience features included a dual-zone automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, an integrated backup camera with dynamic gridlines, push button start/stop, map and reading lights and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The rear seat comfortably accommodates three, with ample head and leg room, but there are no rear climate vents, power ports or a center fold-down armrest if you only have two passengers in the back. The trunk is large, but the rear seat does not fold flat, a consequence of accommodating the body brace that adds chassis stiffness.
The 7.0-inch high-resolution touch-screen is a bit small these days, but it was well-positioned and the extra size was not missed. The six-speaker sound system came with SiriusXM/FM/HDAM, USB ports with iPod connectivity, music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatible. A nice feature is the Wi-Fi hotspot that comes with up-to 2GB on a three-month trial. A big thank you to Toyota for both a volume and channel selection knob.
TRD Exterior
The exterior of the 2020 Camry TRD is a real eye catcher. If the normal Camry is considered to have a contemporary design, the TRD version has been transformed into something never expected on this five-passenger midsize sedan. Fortunately for drivers, Toyota matched the aggressive TRD exterior treatment with the performance elements mentioned earlier, starting with the stance, which is about one inch lower than a standard Camry.
The TRD design enhancements begin upfront with a gloss black grille and a full-width gloss black front splitter. The smoke tinted Bi-LED headlights are joined by LED daytime driving lights. The power exterior mirrors are painted black as are the side aero skirts and rear diffuser. The rear is finished off with dual chrome exhaust ports on the outer edges of the diffuser and a pedestal spoiler.
All of this was set against our test Camry TRD’s Supersonic Red with a black metallic roof. The striking contrast had heads turning. All in all, a very nice-looking package.
Safety
The Camry is well-equipped with the Star Safety System, Toyota Safety Sense and Safety Connect. Active and passive safety features include 10 air bags, vehicle stability and traction control and brake assist. The advanced driver pre-collision technology includes lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection. Additional safety features include remote keyless entry, a tire pressure monitoring system, a collapsible steering column, anti-theft alarm, engine immobilizer and a rear view camera.
In testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the 2020 Camry received five stars, its highest rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 Camry its top safety pick for overall crash protection.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2020 Toyota Camry TRD has a base MSRP of $31,170. Clean Fleet Report’s test car had a total price, including $925 in options and the $955 delivery and processing fee, of $32,920.
The 2020 Camry comes with these warranties.
- Powertrain – Five years/60,000 miles
- Basic – Three years/36,000 miles
- Maintenance Plan – Two years/25,000 miles
- Anti-perforation – Five years/Unlimited miles
- Roadside Assistance – Two years/25,000 miles
Observations: 2020 Toyota Camry TRD
The venerable Toyota Camry, in its eighth generation, continues to be one of the best-selling sedans in America. Since its debut in 1982, the midsize Camry has been a favorite of families, but has never been known for its performance. Completely redesigned for the 2018 model year with a “new athleticism,” Toyota promises the all-new 2020 Camry TRD “puts an exclamation point on that character with both its design and driving performance.” The Camry TRD looks like no other Camry before it, so don’t be surprised with the looks you get or hearing, “That is a Camry?!”
The TRD package does not include certain items found on some other Camry models, including an upgraded sound system, sunroof, navigation, rear air vents and power ports and other features. While all of those make for a more enjoyable ride, the deletion of blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert is a concern. So when visiting your Toyota dealer, make sure to check-out the different Camry trim levels.
There is much to like about the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD, such as the engine and transmission combination, the improved braking and handling, a pleasant sport exhaust note and, of course, the exterior design elements. There is nothing bland or boring about the Camry TRD. The price reflects the decontented nature of the TRD model, so be sure to research what options and standard equipment have not been included that you may want or expect on your next car.
Built in Georgetown, Kentucky, Toyota has added some pizzaz to the looks of the Camry, but also given drivers a taste of the performance that can be found in the 86 and Supra.
Treat yourself to a long test drive at your Toyota dealership, and see for yourself.
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Whatever you end up buying, Happy Driving!
Story by John Faulkner; photos by John Faulkner and Toyota.
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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