Business

Car Review: 2015 Toyota Camry

Published

11 years ago

January 6, 2015

Oakland Post

2015 Toyota Camry (Courtesy of AboutThatCar.com)

By Frank S. Washington
NNPA Columnist

PONTE VEDRA, Fla., – The Toyota Camry has been the bestselling car in the United States for 12 years. Yes, 10.2 million have been sold and more than half – 6.6 million – are still on the road. So why change it? We never got a definitive answer. Only explanations such as we made it more premium, more fun to drive or more emotional were tossed around but that doesn’t really answer the question. That tells what was done, not why it was done.

A reasonable guess is that the competition is getting better and in an effort to stay in front of the pack it was decided to improve the Toyota Camry now rather than later when it might be too late. The oomph remained the same. There was four cylinder-engine that made 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. It got 25 mpg in city driving, 35 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined.

The V6 made 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. It got 21 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined. Both engines were mated to six speed automatic transmissions. The Hybrid still put out a combined 200 horsepower generated by its electric motor and 2.5-liter four cylinder engine.

That is about all that went unchanged on the 2015 Toyota Camry. The automaker made about 2,000 adjustments on the latest model. All of the changes were designed to improve the car’s riding characteristics, styling and its interaction with drivers and passengers.

To improve the 2015 Camry’s ride, Toyota reinforced the body structure with more spot wells to better rigidity. They stiffened the suspension and widened the track to get more responsive handling. On short test routes here the car did handle better, turn-ins were crisper and the suspension seemed sturdier. It was hard to tell whether resistance to noise, vibration and harshness had been improved; in this part of the country the roads were smooth, elevation was nonexistent and surfaces were pretty homogenous.

Toyota also wanted a Camry that was more expressive. So they gave the 2015 edition a new bumper and an attention grabbing grille. The character line was more prominent and it extended from the front fender flares through the doors and through the rear quarter panels. The car did look good and the design was expressive; that was something really new for any Toyota.

It would be foolish to make these sorts of changes to the substructure and to the exterior of the Camry without improving the interior. Designers restyled the center stack, they installed a 4.2-inch TFT screen between the gauges and they installed some soft touch surfaces on the dash.

A quick tactile test revealed that they could have been softer but it was a step in the right direction. And as with any competent mid-size sedan, the back seat was spacious and capable of carrying average size adults in comfort.

Toyota upped the ante in equipment, too. The 2015 Camry can be outfitted with a wireless charging system for cell phones. It also tightened the seals on windows and doors and increased insulation to make an already quiet Camry quieter. It worked; we never heard the engine or the transmission during normal surface street driving; no matter what trim line we tested, all that was heard was the sound of the car cutting through the wind.

There are five versions of the 2015 Toyota Camry, including the hybrid. The LE with a four-cylinder engine starts at $22,970, the SE starts at $23,840 with a four cylinder engine, the XLE with a four cylinder starts at $26,150 and the XSE with a four cylinder engine starts at $26,150. Only the XLE and XSE can be equipped with the six cylinder engine and they both start at $31,370. The Hybrid comes in three trim lines the LE, the SE and the XLE. Starting prices are $26,790, $27,995 and $29,980, respectively. Prices do not include the $825 freight charge.

With the new Camry, Toyota has served notice that it is becoming more aggressive in its styling, engineering and equipment. That could be bad news for its competitors.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com.

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC