Very nice ride

Author's Rating:

Pros: Comfortable, reliable, fun enough to drive, and a very good value.

Cons: The poor design of the keyfob, not going to win any style awards.

The Bottom Line: 
If you want reliable, comfortable transportation that's fun (not exciting) to drive, the Camry SE may be a good choice.

Author's Review
I bought a 2003 Camry SE as a replacement for a 2000 Sentra S as I needed more room for my kids. I cross-shopped the Altima and Accord. The Altima didn't appear to be as sturdy (do the "door slam" test), and the Honda didn't feel like it had the same amount of room, rode a bit more harshly, and (this is a big one), to get a sunroof, I would have had to pay about 2.5K more than the price of the Camry. The Camry SE has larger wheels, strut towers, former suspension, a spoiler and some trim details that differentiate it from the LE and XLE. Given the option, I'd have a sports car but a wife and two kids dictate otherwise. I opted for the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder with a 5 speed manual. I was unable to find a manual with ABS so I don't have it.

Ride: The ride is a bit firmer than the XLE and LE, but I feel the increase in handling more than makes up for it. It's very quiet, in fact it's easy to try to start it once it's already running. It soaks up bumps well, not floaty like a Cadillac or something; you get good road feel.

Driving: The SE has strut towers (I'm not sure what they are, but they aid in handling) and stiffer suspension than the other models, which increase the handling capabilities. The SE model also comes with performance tires, which also serve to increase the handling. It's hardly a BMW, but it is at least fun. The 157 HP (162 pound ft of torque) engine is satisfactory, if not terribly exciting. Drop it down a gear and stomp on it and it accelerates nicely. I am not afraid when I pull out on an on ramp that I won't have the power to merge. The performance tires are great in decent weather, but get a little snow, and the car turns into a sled. I replaced the front tires with all-season radials last winter (about 130$ each), and found it handled the snow very well. I put the performance tires back on in the spring.

Comfort: It's like a couch. I feel like I'm sitting in my living room. The seats are grippy enough so you don't slide around if you are driving fast, but have enough give to accommodate my bad back well. I've driven for 5 hours or more quite comfortably on numerous occasions. The driver's seat has powered adjustments, which are fun, and it's easy to find a good driving position. The back seat is very large; I can stick two 6 foot adults back there and not have to move my seat up. It isn't great for 5 adults as the center of the rear seat is hard.

Trunk: Huge. I've packed stuff for 4 people for a week long vacation with no problem. It's carpeted, and has a couple bins. The trunk lid supports don't crush your stuff.

Amenities: It has power windows, door locks, CD player (with optional subwoofer), a DC electrical outlet in the storage console and another under the radio, keyless entry, fog lamps, usable cup holders, and a nice big sunroof. My only complaint is the keyfob. The panic button is directly on the other side of the truck button, so it's easy to hit accidently when you are trying to pop the trunk. I'd expect something a bit more sensible from Toyota. Controls are well placed, and logical.

Mileage/Reliability: I've had it slightly over a year and have put 25,000 miles on it. I haven't had a single thing go wrong with it. I drive 30 miles each way to work, mostly highway, and average about 30 mpg overall. When I'm taking a long trip, I get closer to 35. I've never gotten worse than 26. It takes regular gas, and the 18 gallon tank gives you a big driving range.

I've owned about 9 cars over the past 23 years, and the Camry is becoming my favorite. Yes, it's a tad boring, and yes, there are an awful lot of them. Sometimes things are popular for the wrong reason, but I now understand the popularity of the Camry. It's comfortable, reliable, economical, large, but not too large, and well thought out (the keyfob aside). If you are looking for something that "speaks to your soul" or tells the world who you are, don't get a Camry. But if you value practicality and comfort, you can't do much better.