1995 Camry DX Reviews

Overview:

There's a lot to like about the sublimely smooth new Toyota Camry. Just 15 minutes behind the wheel and you'll understand why it's a best-seller, and why it actually soared to the top of the national sales charts in June 1994. Clearly one of the best midsize family sedans under $25,000, it shares much of the look and feel of its kissing cousin, the Lexus ES 300, but sells for thousands less. 

Compared with its chief competitors, the Ford Taurus and Honda Accord, the Camry is a little more expensive, but many dealers are offering buyer-friendly lease packages to make it easier to get past the relatively high suggested retail prices. 

And if you're a member of the 'buy American' camp, you might be surprised to learn that Toyota Motor Manufacturing in George-town, Kentucky, is the sole worldwide builder of the new Camry wagon and coupe, and that it manufactures almost three-quarters of all the Camrys sold in the United States. 

Like Honda, Toyota is rapidly becoming a major exporter of U.S.-built automobiles. Since its total re-design three years ago, the Camry has been Toyota's bread-and-butter car, the all-around midsize family ma-chine that is by far the company's biggest seller. Like its sedan and coupe siblings, the Camry Wagon is meant to meet the needs of a wide range of buyers, from those seeking solid basic transportation to the luxury-minded. That's a tall order. 

The Camry faces some tough opponents. Honda, for example, offers the excellent Accord Wagon, similarly equipped, for about the same price as a Camry. It's possible to buy a Ford Taurus Wagon or Mercury Sable Wagon with more features for a little less. And there are a few other manufacturers that have wagons that compete with the Camry in terms of price, package and size, too. 

But Toyota didn't earn its reputation with smoke and mirrors. The Camry Wagon has been given the virtues it needs - style, solidity and comfort, among them - to face head-to-head comparison with almost everyone else's wagons and not be found lacking. 

One major Camry advantage is its use of major exterior, structural and mechanical components from the more expensive Lexus ES 300. In theory, a luxury car with a few amenities removed should be an impressive product. That's how it works in the Camry's case.