the new becomes familiar and other, more exciting models catch the public's

eye.

Not so the Camry. Last year--the final year for a five-year-old design--Toyota

sold more Camrys than ever before. Thanks to its status as the benchmark

among family sedans, the Camry manages to sustain ever-increasing sales,

even with a comparatively steep pricetag.

The Camry's virtues have included bulletproof reliability, excellent

fit and finish, and a comfortable, quiet interior. Its performance has

never stirred the soul, but it has been predictable and precise. In redesigning

the car, Toyota had no interest in tinkering with the formula. Its goal

was to enhance the car's features without changing its fundamental nature.

In this, the company has succeeded. The new Camry is slightly bigger

and slightly more powerful, with an all-new exterior and interior, a longer

list of safety and convenience features and more refined ride and handling.

The low-volume Coupe and Wagon models have been dropped. The trim levels

have also been tweaked. The base model is now called the CE instead of

the DX; the mid-level LE, which makes up 60% of sales, and top-of-the-line

XLE remain the same.

The new Camry is less than an inch longer than before, but it looks

bigger and more substantial, thanks to smart design. The car's lines are

more angular, and angularity generally lends a larger appearance. Toyota

also stretched the wheelbase two inches and chopped the front and rear

overhang. This puts the wheels closer to the corners, which gives the car

a sportier stance and a fuller look overall.

The car's aerodynamics have been improved significantly (from a coefficient

of drag of 0.33 to 0.30), thanks to a sharply swept-back windshield and

a squared-off tail with wraparound lights. The aerodynamic new tail design

does double-duty by also changing the trunk opening, which is an inch and

a half wider and has a lower liftover, making loading easier. The simple

gooseneck trunk hinges are unchanged, however, and still intrude into the

cargo area.

The interior of the trunk is slightly wider (it can hold golf clubs

crosswise) and fully lined for a nicer appearance and less noise. The rear

seats can be folded forward (in a 60/40 split) to increase cargo capacity

even further.

To jazz things up even more, Toyota has added five new exterior colors,

some of them positively exotic, such as Sunfire Red Metallic, Blue Velvet

Pearl, and Frosted Iris Metallic.

in the U.S. and it displays a welcome Americanization. You notice the first

difference as soon as you sit in the car: The bottom seat cushion has been

lengthened to better fit long American legs. Plus the seat and seatback

can be adjusted to more positions, fitting a wider range of people.

The Camry LE we tested had a clean, simple dashboard with a low cowl

for good visibility. The white-on-black gauges of the instrument panel

are larger and brighter this year. A low washer fluid light and odometer

with dual trip-meter have been added. The most helpful change has been

to invert the audio and temperature controls, with the more frequently

used audio controls on top.

Several thoughtful amenities have been added. A second power outlet

is located at the bottom on the front console, next to the new built-in

tissue dispenser. The sun visors have extension panels. The front cupholders

now hold 20-ounce bottles, and new rear cupholders can take either juice

boxes or cans. There are numerous new storage cubbies, and the glovebox

is almost 30% larger.

Interior dimensions are slightly larger, particularly in rear legroom,

thanks to the longer wheelbase. The amount of sound-deadening material

has been increased, making an already-quiet interior luxuriously quiet.

The radio antenna has been replaced on all but the CE-level cars by a new

in-glass antenna at the rear that improves reception and reduces wind noise

and carwash damage.

Safety is important to family sedan buyers, and the Camry has received

several improvements in this area. Body structure has been strengthened

thoughout, as have been the rear seatbacks to resist intrusion from objects

in the trunk. The lap belt in the rear center seat has been replaced with

a safer, three-point belt. An integrated child seat is now available on

all cloth-seated models ($125).

Antilock brakes are now standard on all but the four-cylinder CE models,

which is a good deal considering they were an $1100 option last year on

all but XLE models. Traction control is also an option for the first time

on a front-drive Toyota car, available on six-cylinder LE and XLE models

($300).

is a remarkably smooth piece of work. Horsepower this year has been boosted

from 125 to 133, a small but noticeable increase, particularly since the

car is 33 pounds lighter than before.

A four-cylinder engine in a car this size is usually a dismal choice,

but not here. The 2.2's acceleration is acceptable, and once up to speed,

it rolls along nicely. It has to downshift more frequently, and passing

on two-lane roads requires more planning than with a larger engine. But

the 2.2 is a refined engine, with none of the roughness typical of a four-cylinder.

It's economical to buy and operate, which is why 85% of Camry buyers opt

for it.

The optional 3.0-liter V6, generally recognized as one of the best in

the business, is a significantly more powerful engine, but it will set

you back an additional $2300. For the money, you get a family sedan that

will go from zero to 60 in 8.7 seconds, as opposed to 10.9 seconds for

the four-cylinder. It passes with ease, and accelerates briskly away from

stoplights. Horsepower is improved here, too, from 188 to 194. However,

the uprated V6 now requires premium fuel for optimum performance.

An intriguing new combo this year is a CE fitted with a V6 and a manual

transmission, to satisfy sporty tastes (base price $19,668). It's the fastest

of them all with a 0-to-60 time of 7.6 seconds. Take note, though, that

the CE V6 is a little short on standard equipment; air conditioning, power

windows and locks, and a cassette player are all optional. (The same limited

equipment list is true for the four-cylinder CE models.)

In terms of ride and handling, the Camry has always had the poise of

a far more expensive sedan, thanks to the underpinnings it shares with

the Lexus ES300. Steering is more precise this year, giving greater maneuverability. Though the car is no sports sedan, it is smooth and competent, giving the driver a confident sense of control.

possible. The yen strengthened dramatically during the car's development

period, and saving money was imperative to keep the Camry within reach

of American buyers.

Surprisingly, we can't see any cheapening. Many changes are even improvements.

The new bumpers, for example, are cheaper to build and install yet protect

up to 5 mph instead of 2.5 mph, as before.

However, it's not easy to see the savings on the Camry's window sticker.

The company says new Camrys are 3% to 4% cheaper than comparably equipped

1996 models. That may be technically true, but it is largely because antilock

brakes are now mostly standard instead of mostly optional at a relatively

high $1100.

Nevertheless, the new Camry is just what Toyota set out to achieve:

more of everything but still a Camry. It is more refined, better handling,

roomier and better equipped. The Camry holds its resale value well, and

its reliability means you probably won't have to see much of your dealer

until it's time for a new one.