2021 Toyota Camry TRD review: Flash with some performance sizzle

Forgive me, but I couldn’t help but initially be skeptical about the Toyota Camry TRD. Granted, the existing-era Camry is unquestionably the most aggressive-searching 1 to day and Toyota has been generating headway in making additional participating cars with products like the Supra. But a effectiveness edition of the Camry? Really?

A lot more visible flash

To give the Camry TRD additional mindset, Toyota’s designers developed a overall body kit that adds a black grille with mesh insert, entrance splitter, facet aero skirts, trunk wing and rear diffuser. If these aren’t plenty of to alert other motorists on the road that they aren’t working with a normal operate-of-the-mill Camry, then the pink TRD badges will make it clear as working day. The total offer rides on trick 19-inch matte-complete black wheels.

I have to say, this Camry TRD features some styling aptitude and mindset. The entrance close appears to be plenty aggressive, and all the black TRD overall body extras distinction properly with my exam car’s Ice Edge paint. The total matter functions perfectly with the Midnight Black roof for an impactful two-tone appearance.

Within, the TRD exclusives incorporate black SofTex-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, pink distinction stitching, a TRD shift knob, TRD gauges, pink seat belts, TRD floor mats and aluminum pedals. I do would like Toyota would have absent 1 step further more and beef up the entrance seat facet bolsters. As is, there is some help there, but a tiny additional would be appreciated to retain riders better nestled in spot.

The relaxation of the Camry’s interior is on par with all the things in the midsize sedan class. The supplies are pleasant with most key surfaces wrapped and switched, although the really hard plastics are properly completed. Passenger space in equally rows is generous and there are various slots and cubbies to stash stuff up entrance. Sadly, individuals in the again will have to make do without local weather vents, a centre armrest or electricity details. Trunk space actions in at a roomy 15.1 cubic ft but carrying longer products in the TRD will be challenging because the second-row seat backs do not fold down mainly because of a V-brace mounted at the rear of for included overall body stiffening. 

Current engineering

Like just about every 2021 Camry, the TRD gets a new floating touchscreen infotainment exhibit that places the controls a tad nearer to passengers, and assists lower glare on the rather smaller seven-inch monitor. Buttons and knobs flanking the monitor permit uncomplicated entry to the typically used menus and stereo adjustments, although the touchscreen’s structure is uncomplicated to navigate. Sadly, the system has a obvious hold off when changing among menus.

Typical characteristics incorporate a 6-speed seem system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot and equally Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile connectivity. If you might be an audiophile, you can choice out your Camry TRD with a nine-speaker JBL audio system for an further $1,585.

On the active basic safety entrance, the TRD gains normal blind-spot checking and rear cross-visitors alert for 2021 in addition to an improved Toyota Protection Feeling 2.5 Additionally offer. Ahead-collision warning can now choose up bicyclists and is better at detecting pedestrians in minimal-gentle cases. Adaptive cruise handle, computerized crisis braking, lane-departure warning and road sign support are also provided.

A better performer

Inspiration comes from a silky 3.5-liter V6 pumping out 301 horsepower and 267 pound-ft of torque. As competitors have abandoned 6-pot engines in favor of turbocharged fours, I applaud Toyota’s conclusion to adhere with a 6 for its seamless and linear electricity shipping. Throttle reaction is snappy at idea-in and minimal-close torque is satisfactory, however absolutely not as muscular as pressure-induced I4s in rival cars. From the center of the rev array to the 6,800rpm redline, however, the V6 pulls forcefully and appears sweet, emitting a amazingly great midrange growl through a TRD cat-again exhaust. 

An 8-speed computerized transmission routes electricity to the Camry’s entrance wheels and goes about its work in a seamless manner. Equipment variations are constantly perfectly-timed and there is zero hesitation to go down a cog or two when you have to have to get transferring. If you want to use the massive steering wheel-mounted paddles to manually orchestrate the gears, they are amazingly responsive to downshift instructions. Behavior for upshifts is additional erratic, however — fast to respond at instances and hesitant at many others.

When pushed usually, the TRD’s drivetrain returns an EPA-approximated 22 mpg in the metropolis and 31 mpg on the highway. In combined driving, I observed 25 mpg, matching the EPA’s mixed gas economic system score.

The Camry TRD’s most important variations come in the chassis section. Thicker underbody and aforementioned rear seat bracing raises the sedan’s torsional rigidity. A suspension overhaul provides different shock absorbers, stiffer springs, a 50 %-inch reduce journey peak and more substantial antiroll bars. Perch all of that on 19-inch Michelin Primacy MXM4 all-year tires and you have you a tidy handler.

At corner convert-in, the TRD’s overall body squats slightly and confidently corners better than any Camry I’ve ever pushed. You will find plenty of grip and composure to have a pretty great time at the rear of the wheel. Of system, pushing the Camry really hard results in the entrance close washing out in a gradual manner. The trade-off to the firmer chassis is a smaller lower in journey consolation. Impacts from bumps are felt additional than a normal Camry, but are in no way violent or unpleasant. The progress staff did an incredible job balancing effectiveness and journey high quality in this article.

The brakes are also upgraded — and not only with pink paint on the entrance calipers. The TRD’s entrance clampers are two-piston units in its place of single-piston stoppers on non-TRD Camrys, and they clamp down on bigger twelve.nine-inch rotors (up from twelve). They’re potent, scrubbing off speed in a hurry, however firmer pedal comments is on my would like record. The steering is direct plenty of and acceptably weighted, regardless of a smaller dead spot on centre.

How I’d spec it

The Camry TRD starts at $33,285, like $1,025 for desired destination. As for me, I’d start off by examining the box for the two-tone Ice Edge paint and Midnight Black Metallic roof like my tester. It appears to be excellent and is worthy of the $500 upcharge. Because I appreciate my tunes, I’d also get the $1,585 JBL audio system to have some thing better than the normal 6-speaker set up. And eventually, $129 to give rear passengers uncomplicated entry to a pair of USB ports is a no-brainer, bringing the base line of my excellent Toyota to $35,499. That’s additional than my $34,312 tester, but I truly feel the pair further niceties are worthy of it.

A additional entertaining Camry

As opposed to the foundation car or truck, the Camry TRD is unquestionably a sharper specimen. The overall body kit isn’t garish, doing plenty of to visually pump this sedan up, although the additional boisterous exhaust and better dealing with reflexes present a travel knowledge that is indeed additional entertaining. There is, having said that, area for improvement — some tinkering to the steering and brakes would further more amp up this Camry. All factors regarded as, having said that, the TRD is a nice surprise.