Toyota reportedly began work on the 2007 Camry back in 2002, the year the current best-seller debuted, and its diligent approach to improving this car shows strongly in the results. The 2007 Toyota Camry is larger, more powerful, better performing, and safer than the outgoing model. Once dubbed a plain sedan perfect for families, this new Camry offers a series of gradual improvements designed to recast its image as a vehicle perfect for all walks of life. Aside from the obvious design and interior changes, a significant amount of work went on behind the scenes, and the result is a car that gives its driver more of the road, and more car with which to handle the road ahead.

There are now three engine and transmission choices with the Camry, four if you count the partial-zero emissions (PZEV) engine sold in so-called green states such as California, and five if you count the Hybrid Synergy Drive gasoline/electric drivetrain. Engine choices start with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder power plant that makes 158 horsepower (PZEV models do 155) at 6,000 rpm, and generates 161 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm (PZEV versions produce 158). While Toyota claims that the four-cylinder is improved, you won’t be able to tell from the performance numbers, or the EPA: it’s a paltry eight horsepower stronger than the 2006 Camry, and fuel economy is virtually unchanged, coming in at 24 city/34 highway. The bigger news comes with Toyota’s marvelous 3.5-liter V6 engine, making 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and kicking up a cloud of torque that measures 248 lb.-ft. at 4,700 rpm. This is an astonishing 78 horsepower better than the outgoing 190-horsepower V6 engine, and fuel efficiency is slightly better, up to 22 city/33 highway miles per gallon. The four-cylinder is matched to your choice between a five-speed automatic and a five-speed manual, while the V6 gets a new six-speed automatic transmission.

While the steering remains a power-assisted rack-and-pinion setup, Toyota engineers have tinkered with the existing front MacPherson and rear dual-link independent suspension by lengthening the lower control arms and retuning the shocks, springs, and anti-roll bars in order to make the Camry more responsive to the road and to driver input. The sport-tuned SE model received a more extensive retooling. In addition to a body kit that lowers the car, engineers added extra bracing and a covered underbody for better aerodynamics. Connect this revised suspension to a wheelbase that’s two inches longer, keep the vehicle’s dimensions the same, add larger wheels (16-inchers are standard on CE, LE and XLE; 17-inch alloys come on SE models), and what you’ve got is an improved performance pedigree for a car not known for performance. Stopping all that newfound performance are four-wheel disc brakes, measuring 11.65 inches up front and 11.06 inches in back, and a slew of electronic safety systems, including antilock braking (ABS), Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).