FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Toyota Camry 2.5V – RM190k

Say what you will, but the 2019 Toyota Camry no longer deserves to be called an “uncle’s car.” Launched last year, the all-new D-segment sedan is available in the sole 2.5V guise, and it’s priced at RM189,900 on-the-road sans insurance. It’s also fully imported from Thailand.

Size-wise, the eighth-generation Camry is longer, wider and sits lower to the ground. It rides atop the new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform that improves stability, agility and safety as well.

Under the bonnet, you’ll find the familiar 2AR-FE 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine, carried over from the outgoing Camry along with a six-speed auto. The Dual VVT-i and ACIS-equipped unit makes 184 PS and 235 Nm of torque at 4,100 rpm. That’s 4 PS more than the outgoing rating. The continued use of the 2AR-FE means that we’re not geting the latest 2.5 litre “Dynamic Force” engine that’s available in Thailand – that motor has 209 PS/250 Nm, and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

In terms of kit, the Camry 2.5V rides on 18-inch wheels, gets automatic bi-LED projector headlamps with LED turn signals, LED daytime running lights, as well as LED fog lamps and LED tail lights. There’s also hydrophilic wing mirrors, leather seats with eight-way powered front seats, eight-inch touchscreen display with navigation, nine-speaker JBL audio system, a seven-inch colour multi-info display between two Optitron dials, and a 10-inch colour head-up display (HUD).

For safety, it gets Toyota Safety Sense as standard, which includes Pre-collision System, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beam. There’s also seven airbags (dual front, side, curtain, driver’s knee), Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, hill start assist, front/rear parking sensors and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Find out what our man Hafriz Shah thinks of the Camry in the video above.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • landswapper on May 16, 2019 at 11:19 am

    Below 40kmh, that 2.5 litre engine is lazy & slow.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 25
    • This game changing sedan is always getting more handsome in every generation. Now the Camry looks so aggresive and combined with elegant design makes it a perfect sedan choice. We have the Perdana but sadly, that sedan already game over as sales is very low and the model is already outdated. No more hope of competing with Camry and Accord already

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 40
    • Haidi on May 16, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      I agree with you, but not sure why there is so many UNIKE under your comment. Guys, go to test drive it.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • it looks so pretty irl. wish we could’ve the sportier bumper like in the US

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 4
    • Samantha Loo Loo on May 16, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      Pretty alone can’t get buyers….Must also penny wise, practical and luxury, undoubtedly first choice to go is the all new mini alphard veilfire aka Avanza.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • Veyron Owner on May 16, 2019 at 11:34 am

    At that prices, very few would go for it as compared to an A-class sedan.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 5
  • All of us waiting XinYue to launch in Malaysia, nobody want this Camry.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 24
    • Dylan Ch'ng on May 16, 2019 at 1:08 pm

      The Geely Xin Yue is not coming to Malaysia. You can stop waiting now.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 6
  • Dylan Ch'ng on May 16, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    Written review?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • RM190k Camry?? on May 16, 2019 at 12:24 pm

    RM150k Accord or RM160k Mazda 6 now sound like a bargain.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 33 Thumb down 1
  • 190k ITS ABIT STEEP FOR a camry with an old engine

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 48 Thumb down 1
    • Haidi on May 16, 2019 at 6:42 pm

      Don’t know when will UMW launch the 2.0L model here in Malaysia? This 2.5V model is a CBU, and so it is expensive.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Tommygun on May 26, 2019 at 10:09 am

      Exactly, even Thailand gets the updated engine ! What the heck and paying so much for it…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Is the dual vvti direct or port injections? Or both?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Einstein on May 16, 2019 at 10:06 pm

      At that prices, it should have came with nuclear fusion power.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1
      • Susukotak on May 18, 2019 at 6:30 am

        even navy submarine use diesel. what you think niclear fusion in car?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • panjang on May 16, 2019 at 1:38 pm

    In Malaysia, history show that a smaller engine model will sell a lot more compared to the bigger engine. RV for bigger engine model is also very bad.

    This is a very risky gamble by Toyota in Malaysia by only offering the bigger engine model. There will be sale but wont be long before they will be in unfamiliar territory with sales figure.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • As usual, UMW predict its diehard fans to buy in the 1st and 2nd years because let’s face it, they will buy anything with a T logo on it. When those sales dried up, UMW will come up with an upgraded or/and cheaper variant to fight for sales.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • Ouch Dee on May 16, 2019 at 6:45 pm

      I do not agree with you. Cause the previous gen (our current gen) 2.5L Hybrid model is the best selling of its kind.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
      • That was because tax free for hybrid version. Take that away then u can see. Between this old 2.5L engine and the newer, soon to come 2.0L with dual injection, 2.0L seems to be a better package

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • (i) Re Turbo engines, a high no. of them have reliable issue often requiring higher maintenance?
    (ii) Agree with the D-segment sedan being squeezed; guess market changes, quicker now than previously?
    (iii) Compared to the Hybrid, guess the Hybrid simply wins on being less thirsty?
    :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Haidi on May 16, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    Saw this Camry on the road, it is so handsome, aggressive. Tested it as well, a pleasant car for ride, but not the case for driver. Guess it’s because of the old engine and gearbox. Hear that the TNGA powertrain will have a better driving experience.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • NoSaleGuy on May 16, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    Previously the buyer of Camry are: Toyota Die hard Tauke, just-get-promoted executive, safety conscious family man, house wife, family run business car, company car.
    But now day:
    Die hard Tauke = non economic with 2.5L
    Young executive = plenty of choice beside Toyota
    House wife car = recon vellfire/alphard, C-HR
    Family run business car = non economic with 2.5L
    Company car = Camry 2.5L = low sale = UMW Toyota giving up D-segment sedan market.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
  • Toyota, what is the logic for giving Malaysia inferior specs as compare to Thailand?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
    • autodriver (Member) on Jul 29, 2019 at 9:18 am

      If bring in the dynamic force engine and new 8 speed transmission the price will shoot up more than 200k. For this price people top up a bit can get german premium badge C or 3 series.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Shashi on May 16, 2019 at 11:43 pm

    Whatever we can say…..but the car is over priced

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 1
  • Not dynamic force engine..another rip off.. all the features have improved then why not the engine?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Habis old beng! on May 17, 2019 at 10:47 am

    Yeah….its not uncle anymore but is old beng !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Opinion Needed on May 17, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    Okay, 190k?
    Want to see how is everyone here choosing regardless brand and segment.
    (LIKE) DS7 crossback
    (UNLIKE) New Camry 2.5V

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 13
  • Uncle on May 17, 2019 at 8:44 pm

    Is it just me who thinks it looks like a shocked whale?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • passion on May 23, 2019 at 10:04 am

    WRONG PRICE!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Ollie on May 24, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    Ugh, the website shows 4 shades of grey and 1 red color. Enough ugly grey cars on malaysian roads, have some imagination people!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ALEX CHONG on Jun 03, 2019 at 11:53 am

    I WOULD RATHER GO FOR BMW 318i TURBO

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • autodriver (Member) on Jul 29, 2019 at 10:26 am

    The reason I bought Passat 2.0 not Camry 2.5 at similar price

    Advantages
    1. More powerful engine and fast shifting dual clutch gearbox (DQ250 wet clutch is realiable since it launched in year 2003 until today). The less reliable one is DQ200 dry clutch and still several problem reported until today.
    2. Handling is better and it comes with DCC for selection of comfort, normal or sport mode.
    3. The only D-segment below 200k come with digital instrument display.
    4. Bigger trunk space with powerboot function.
    5. Passat combine fuel consumption is about 6.2l/100km whereby Camry 2.5L is about 7.8l/100km.

    Disadvantages
    1. Passat lack of some safety features such as Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blindspot and AEB.
    2. Rear seat legroom. Camry and Accord rear seat legroom are longer. Passat legroom smaller than duo but better than N. Teana and Mazda 6 definitely.
    3. UMW Toyota after sales services is better than VW.
    4. Passat resales value is much worst than Camry.

    I am not waiting for Accord as the accord 1.5T will likely sell at RM200k like Camry. Since the trio are about 200k I go for Passat with more fun to drive.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3
 

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