New Toyota Camry/Daihatsu Altis (XV70)

Back in January, Toyota launched the all-new Camry at the North American International Auto Show and while Americans are the first to get the new model, not to mention that it was part of this year's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series alongside its rival Ford Fusion and the soon-to-be-replaced Chevrolet SS, it's hard to fathom what will the Camry for the world market will be since the previous model but the new Camry we last saw in NAIAS last January has now arrived on the Japanese market and it promises to be a global midsize sedan known the world over with its new styling, new high-tech features, and eye-catching performance that sounds very promising but is it?

2018 Toyota Camry

2018 Daihatsu Altis

Like almost all of the wide-body Camrys since the Gracia, Toyota will sell you the new Camry for 3,294,000 Japanese Yen ($33,000) but if your nearest dealership was a Daihatsu and you want a midsize saloon like this one, don't fret because its Daihatsu Altis equivalent is now available to order starting at 3,499,200 Japanese Yen ($35,000). So, what's new with the design, perhaps? 

Come to think of it is a mashup of something old, something new, something Asian-American or so they say. Up front, the front lamps look like it came from the old V50-spec Camry of 2006 while the bumper is more of an enlarged version of the one seen in the previous generation model. The grille is now T-shaped like the ones on the C-HR compact crossover, just to give the new Camry a keen look that won't be as tasteless as a tasteless sugar-free vanilla ice cream you bought at the supermarket. On the back view, well, let's just say it looks nice enough for a Camry of this magnitude but if you are asking for more about the back, better talk somewhere else.

2018 Toyota Camry interior

2018 Toyota Camry interior

2018 Daihatsu Altis interior

2018 Daihatsu Altis interior

Inside, it's becoming more luxurious than the previous model and while the dashboard kind of reminds you of the Prius, the instrumental panel looks suspiciously familiar to the Nissan Teana L33, one of the Camry's chief rivals in the midsize saloon stakes. The instrumental panel looks very vivid and easy to see out of, the spacing on the rear is very promising indeed as well as the boot space is big enough for your yard sale hauls you bought last weekend with the grannies.

2018 Toyota Camry

2018 Daihatsu Altis

Okay, enough about the design impression because it's time to get an earful about how the new Camry behaves with its earful TNGA platform, the new Camry promises to be comfortable and stable while delivering fun-to-drive handling you wouldn't expect on a car like this. It's also more rigid and even lighter as good thanks to its lightweight materials on the body. While this car delivers the sporty handling you would expect on a Japanese midsize saloon like this, the powertrain is not what you called convincing.

Like last time, the Camry is hybrid-only but it bears the brand new 2.5L A25A-FXS petrol engine mated to an 88kW electric motor and at long last, a Li-ion battery, resulting in a combined power output of 211PS of power, and with a CVT standard, fuel efficiency varies by 28.4 to 33.4km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards but due to the WLTC Mode standards in force by next year, these stats are now irrelevant.

Still, if you are one of the people who go by the name of Truex Jr., Hamlin, Busch, Jones, Kenseth, Suarez, Sieg, Gaulding, and Gase, best to stick back to your NASCAR because with a performance of that caliber, the new Camry won't match against its NASCAR equivalent but for an average joe, it's not half bad to drive that Camry. It may not be as fun as a NASCAR but for work and at play, this Camry always gets the job done and this is more than just a family car you can take it for work, it's a road trippers' car fit for your next weekend trips, especially when this car comes with Toyota Safety Sense P and a wide array of safety tech great enough to keep yourselves safe and happy.

So, I think that's enough about talking about the new Camry and its Altis equivalent from Daihatsu despite being involved in NASCAR, it's nowhere near as fun as its NASCAR equivalent but you can feel thankful that this car isn't as tasteless as a vanilla ice cream and with its sharper design that looks uncanny for a midsize saloon, it's even more attractive as well and that is the bottom line.

Available colors: Platinum White Pearl Mica, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Emotional Red, Steel Blonde Metallic, Graphite Metallic, and Dark Blue Mica Metallic.

Photo: Toyota/Daihatsu