This is the big test: can the Camry, with the smallest engine and the highest kerb weight, match the others? The good news is that the Camry's weapon may be (relatively) small, but it's potent. The 2362cc, VVT-i engine is a gem, with surprising punch and great response. Power has risen from 141 to 143.8bhp, delivered in an impressively refined, linear manner. It's generally unstressed, perky anywhere in the rev-band, and the four-cylinder thrum only evident if you really push.
The new four-speed automatic works quietly and unobtrusively, kicking down happily when you need it. It shifts quickly, and the ‘shift lock’ in manual mode works well, giving you 500rpm more to explore when you’re changing gears manually.
The Camry is incredibly responsive and lunges forward with a mere tap of the throttle pedal. This makes it effortless in traffic and you really don't miss the responsiveness of a manual. The Camry's acceleration and top speed don't match the others, but because of the linear power delivery and good low-end torque, the Camry feels quicker than it actually is. In fact, in the important 20-80kph dash in kickdown mode, the Camry was marginally quicker than the Sonata, thanks to its quicker response, if nowhere in the league of the Accord. On the highway, the Camry is a superb cruiser and on the expressway it was possible to use the standard cruise control. The auto is pretty responsive too but you can feel the gaps in the gear ratios and there is a hint of transmission shunt on the upshift. An extra ratio would have helped too.
The Sonata V6 impressed us at launch, and the throaty, powerful engine did so again — but not as much. With 166bhp, performance is good but nowhere in the league of the Accord. Refinement is excellent though; idle is silent, and the delicious rasp comes only after 3000rpm, along with plenty of shove. The automatic mode is a bit of a wet blanket, hesitating before kicking down and generally feeling unresponsive. It has a secret weapon though: the 'tip' function: snick the gearlever to the left, and tap it up or down to shift, with instant response, the gears usefully displayed on the instrument panel.
The Accord, yet, again, runs away with the game. Its 2997cc VTEC V6 should be propped up on an altar and worshipped. Open the bonnet and it even looks beautiful, naked, not clad in wimpy plastic. It belts out 221bhp at 6300rpm, spinning silkily all the way. It'll run happily to a claimed 239kph, with little
fuss and less noise, but ask for immediate punch and it'll slam your head backward. It's far quicker than its rivals, and being the biggest engine, is the most relaxed at speed. It's the only one here with a five-speed auto; though not as good as the Merc autos, it's still the best here, quick to shift down and smooth.