2017 Toyota Camry XSE V-6

The Toyota Camry is the Bud Light of family sedans: it’s inoffensive, reliable, reasonably priced, and gets the job done. And much like that mainstream, low-calorie brew, the American public continues to purchase the Camry in droves. The Japanese family sedan has held the title of America’s best-selling car for 14 years, and, as of this writing, the Camry is on track to once again wear the crown at the close of the 2016 calendar year.

Still, even Anheuser-Busch offers a tangier Bud Light Lime for those wanting to spice up their workaday suds. In the same vein, Toyota gives its customers the opportunity to ditch the Camry’s ho-hum 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine for a little additional flavor courtesy of a potent 3.5-liter V-6, which powered our 2017 Toyota Camry XSE test car.

Powered Up

Along with the luxury-oriented Camry XLE, the XSE is just one of two Camry models available with Toyota’s bent-six. Starting at $32,235, the V-6 version is a $5060 upgrade over the 2.5-liter XSE model and also gets LED headlights, a proximity key with push-button start, a power sunroof, power and heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system. The as-tested figure of $34,195 attached to our test car also included the $750 Advanced Technology package (automated emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control), which also requires a premium JBL audio system with navigation ($710) and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert ($500).

Armed with 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque, the Camry’s V-6 is stout, yet it makes less power and torque than six-cylinder competitors from Ford, Honda, and Volkswagen. We’ve recorded a 5.8-second zero-to-60-mph time for a similar 2015 Camry XSE V-6, which puts it in league with the Honda Accord V-6 (5.8 seconds) and the Volkswagen Passat V-6 (5.7 seconds). All three cars are naturally aspirated and front-wheel drive, but our 2017 version needed 6.1 seconds to do the deed. That’s still quick, but it’s a full second behind the 325-hp, twin-turbo all-wheel-drive Ford Fusion Sport we recently tested.

While the Camry V-6 may not be the quickest family sedan available, it’s plenty brisk for real-world driving. Thanks to a relatively svelte curb weight (our 3478-pound test example weighed 650 pounds less than the Fusion Sport) and a six-speed automatic transmission that’s fairly eager to kick down, the Camry executed our 50-to-70-mph passing test in 3.9 seconds, 0.3 second quicker than the Accord and 0.1 second quicker than the Passat.

Trading Grip For Gas

More impressive, though, was the V-6’s fuel efficiency. Rated at 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, the Toyota returned 25 mpg overall, which is 1 mpg better than the EPA’s combined rating. The Camry also annihilated its EPA highway figure with a 35-mpg run on our 200-mile, 75-mph highway loop, a feat that’s as much a credit to the Camry’s well-tuned powertrain as it is to the car’s 0.28 drag coefficient.

Wrapping around XSE-specific 10-spoke, 18-inch wheels, our test car’s Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02 all-season tires did not generate much in the way of dry grip. Around the skidpad the Camry squealed mercilessly to the tune of 0.79 g—a surprisingly low figure given that the XSE is the Camry’s sportiest trim level and is fitted with stiffer suspension pieces, extra bracing, and aggressive bodywork. A stiff ride and numb, heavy steering further added to our subjective frustrations. What’s more, a 70-mph-to-zero stopping distance of 189 feet didn’t just trail competitors such as the Fusion Sport (178 feet), Accord V-6 (176 feet), and Passat V-6 (170 feet), it also lagged behind the 187-foot distance we recorded from a 1279-pound-heavier Toyota 4Runner. Once again, our 2015 Camry XSE V-6 performed better, coming to a halt in 178 feet. Credit is likely due to the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires on the 2015 XSE.

Flavored Water

The XSE also has the unexciting but appealing qualities that continue to bolster the Camry’s success. A low beltline provides fantastic outward visibility from behind the three-spoke steering wheel, while an ergonomic if overstyled dashboard includes a standard inductive charging pad for compatible smartphones, a number of deep storage nooks, and easy-to-use HVAC and multimedia controls. Specific to the XSE are seats and door panels partially covered in faux suede; it also has a pair of steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters like those in the lower-level Camry SE. As in Camrys past, the trunk is quite roomy and the back seat is among the largest in the mid-size-sedan class and has plenty of space for stretching out.

As is the case with Bud Light Lime, the 2017 Toyota Camry XSE V-6 is surrounded by a number of equally competent and more engaging alternatives. Nevertheless, if forced to chose between bland and somewhat zesty, we favor the latter almost every time. Sure, it’s no Jack’s Abby Brewing Hoponius Union, but the XSE V-6 indeed brings some flavor to the Camry’s table.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $34,195 (base price: $32,235)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 211 cu in, 3456 cc
Power: 268 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 248 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 109.3 in
Length: 190.9 in
Width: 71.7 in Height: 57.9 in
Passenger volume: 101 cu ft
Cargo volume: 15 cu ft
Curb weight: 3478 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 15.0 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 23.1 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.4 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.6 sec @ 98 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 129 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 189 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.79 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 21/30 mpg
C/D observed: 25 mpg
C/D observed 75-mph highway driving: 35 mpg
C/D observed highway range: 590 mi