The Toyota Camry has been America's best-selling car for years now and for 2009, Toyota apparently has invoked the if it ain't broke, don't fix it clause. After all, the Camry was redesigned for 2007 -- and then beat the competition to become our 2007 Car of the Year -- so its looks are still fresh and its technology is still relatively cutting-edge.



The biggest difference you'll notice on the 2009 Camry is that the CE trim level has been dropped. The entry-level Camry is now simply the Camry, with the LE as a mid-level package, the SE in sport trim, and the XLE as the premium brew. Of course, there is also the Camry Solara for those who want two doors and a drop top (the Solara coupe has been discontinued for 2009) and the Camry Hybrid for those looking to be even more eco-friendly or just to save at the pump via its 33/34-mpg city/highway mileage rating.

All Camry trim levels come with a base 2.4L four-cylinder engine that produces 158 hp and 161 lb-ft of torque and will get you 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway when mated to either a five-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission. Opt for the extra eco-friendly PZEV-rated engine and you'll lose 3 hp and 3 lb-ft. Jump up to the 3.5L V-6, and you'll get 268 hp and 248 lb-ft on tap, as well as a six-speed automatic with manual shifting capabilities. The extra power won't cost you too much at the pump, though, since the V-6 nets 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and the six and the four run on regular unleaded. The Camry Hybrid mates the 2.4L engine in 147-hp trim to a 40-hp electric motor, for a total of 187 hp running through a continuously variable automatic transmission. On hot days, an "Eco" button will scale back the A/C output to maximize fuel mileage.

The Camry, LE, XLE, and Hybrid ride on 16-in. wheels in steel for the Camry and LE or aluminum for the XLE and Hybrid, while the SE picks up 17-in. six-spoke aluminum wheels. The SE also gets a firmer ride and sits almost a half inch lower than the other models in an effort to make it sportier. The entire Camry range comes standard with Anti-lock Brakes and Brake Assist, with Vehicle Stability Control with integrated Traction Control optional. The Hybrid gets a special Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system to help keep it on the road.

The options list for the 2009 Camry is rather short, but that's largely because the standard feature list is so long. Standard on all models is A/C with a pollen and dust filter, power windows, locks and mirrors, body-color mirrors, cruise control, automatic halogen headlights, a tilting/telescoping steering wheel, vehicle immobilizer, and a six-speaker, 160-watt stereo with CD player and auxiliary input jack.



The LE trim adds remote keyless entry and an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat. The range-topping XLE model ups the ante with a Plasmacluster ionizer that kills bacteria and spores in the air on its way into the cabin, dual-zone climate control with steering-wheel controls, 440-watt JBL sound system with Bluetooth, a power moonroof, foglamps, leather seats, and faux wood trim. You'll also get rear seats that recline up to 8 deg. The Hybrid model is similar in trim to the XLE, but also gets Smart Entry and Smart Start systems that allow the driver to keep the key pocketed and simply get in and drive.

Options include the aforementioned power moonroof, leather seats, and the Smart Entry and Smart Start systems on lower trim levels as well as heated front seats, rear spoiler, and voice-command DVD nav system. Combining the nav system with the JBL audio system on SE, XLE, and Hybrid models adds an in-dash four-CD changer.

In addition to plenty of space for five passengers, the Camry also can hold a good amount of gear. The base Camry has 15 cu ft of trunk space, while the SE and XLE get 14.5 cu ft. The Camry Hybrid uses some of that cargo area to house the hybrid hardware, resulting in a 10.6-cu-ft trunk. Warranty coverage is standard Toyota -- a 3-year/36,000-mile comprehensive warranty, 5-year/60,000 powertrain warranty, and 5-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion-perforation coverage.

Pricing for the Camry is competitive. The base model with a four-cylinder engine and manual trans starts at $19,145 while the V-6 automatic XLE runs $28,695. The Camry Hybrid drops in slightly below the XLE at $26,150. Reasonable pricing such as this is part of the reason why the Camry continues to reign as the king of family haulers.