Toyota Camry XV50 Altise (2012-2017)

Enjoy the Driving Experience – Introduction: Bought a 2016 ex demo model from Toyota dealership in November 2017. Impressed by the amount of leg room in both front and back seats. Can seat 5 adults comfortably. Air conditioner both for front and rear passengers. If you're like me, upgrading from a non tech savvy vehicle to one that has computerized everything, you really need… Read more

to read the manual to figure things out as the salesman didn't have a clue. What impressed me was how sensitive the power steering and brakes were. For a second hand car, those were the two things that sold it for me and nothing else.

Fuel: The positive side of this car is that it let's you know whether you're driving economically or not by a light on the dash. If you're a lead foot, you're going to feel it at the petrol pump each time you fill the 70ltr tank. I'm still getting used to driving a bigger car, but one thing I'll go on record as saying is that once you figure out how to drive this heavy car, you can easily reduce your highway consumption to 7.2ltr/100kms. Alas, if you live in a city and are prone to taking short, stop-start, brake n' wait trips....you could end up using between 11-13ltr/100kms. It gets pretty expensive driving this car around town. 1 full tank registers the distance you could possibly travel as being 750kms till empty, but I don't believe the computer. Filling up the tank the first time, I noticed the external port was in a much higher position on the body of the vehicle and that the fuel cap didn't need to be tight by listening to three clicks. It just went on very easy and has a leash that prevents you from over tightening it. I figured it must be because of all the computerised fuel bells n' whistles in the car and electronic monitoring of fuel consumption.

Steering: Started out light and easy to manoeuvre. Parking was a dream for such a biggish car, but....two weeks after taking possession of the vehicle, an alarm (like the one you hear if the key is in the ignition and you open your door) went off as I was driving in a 60km zone. No warning lights on dash, just the alarm. The steering got a little heavy, so I pulled over, completely stopped the car, and the moment I applied the parking brake (which is on the floor above your left foot rest), the alarm stopped. Turns out that the power steering decided to crap out. This did not impress me. The car was still driveable, but that one finger easy feel to the drive and parking that I previously enjoyed was long gone. Immediate action was required to fix the problem.

Brakes: The brakes on this car are good. The only thing I miss is the ability to quickly control and drop speed in an emergency. This car builds up speed quickly and you don't even realise you're over the limit. I miss not having an overdrive button I could click off and brake at the same time, but this car comes with the ability to shift from normal drive mode to sports mode where the engine will automatically kick down to a lower gear to assist you with the need to quickly control the braking ability. No one tells you how to use it properly, which annoyed me. It was one of those things I had to discover for myself. To shift across while driving, you need to have your foot on the brake in order to shift over and down from higher speeds (100+). Do not have your foot on the gas pedal when shifting over as you'll just be dumping fuel and increase consumption to as much as 20ltr+/100kms. I don't recommend driving in sports mode as you're burning fuel at a ridiculous rate. It is great to use on steep hills to assist with braking by engaging the engine braking system by restricting the maximum gear speed your car can travel in. The downside with the system is the computer which is meant to automatically shift into a higher gear to prevent transmissions damage. You can downshift in sports mode to override the correction, but you'll have to reduce your speed by braking normally first. It's never a good idea riding your brakes down steep hills as they will get very hot and you may even feel them shuddering through your steering as they begin to overheat and warp. To test brakes on a second hand car for your test drive (especially if the car has been driven for less than 30,000kms), drive slowly around the car lot and gently depress the brakes. If you hear any knocking noises or groaning from the brakes when bringing the vehicle to a stop, or you're releasing them, don't bother taking it out on the road. Chances are the brakes are warped and will cost you seriously to replace the drums. Don't let the salesman dismiss the noise or feel as mere brake dust, especially when the wheel rims are clean and you can see the brakes through them. Don't even think about driving/buying a car if you notice any rust or discoloration around the wheel area.

Interior: This model I bought has black cloth trim which makes the car feel not only luxurious, but also a bit sporty. I like the stitched leather trim across the dash. The centre display is huge with large buttons and most controls can be operated from buttons on your steering wheel. CD player is standard, Bluetooth connectivity for your smartphones and media connectivity. My particular model is NOT equipped with a built in SatNav system.

It has two central console cupholders (which are in a really stupid position for the driver as they're on the passenger side of the gear shift, making it easy for the driver to accidentally hit the shifter while driving, spill your coffee and completely miss the cupholders.) It also has bottle holders in all 4 doors and door storage pockets. Rear passengers also have cupholders in the rear central fold down arm rest.

The front centre armrest is wide enough for both the driver and passenger to lean on without touching. It also has deep storage and an adjustable slide lid which extends up to 4-5cm for drivers with longer/shortet arms to improve comfort.

Loads of leg room for all shapes and sizes.

I personally don't feel like the seats are particularly comfortable, but at least the driver can adjust their level of comfort by boosting the height of their seat and adjusting the height of the steering wheel.

The glove box is a reasonable size.

Both sun visors have personal automatic lights when you open the vanity mirrors. There are in addition to the main cabin light, two "map" lights overhead can be found in the roof section next to a cleverly hidden sunglass holder which folds down to open.

There aren't many storage compartments in this vehicle, and the ones they do have aren't very practical. There is NO cigarette lighter and no ashtray which is fine if you're a non smoker. It does have a 12v port and a usb port to connect devices or car phone charger but their position isn't the best if you're trying to mount a dash navigation system or camera as cables are obstructed by the lip of the flip top panel that hides the ports. Plus the size of the opening is too small to stash a Sony Xperia xz premium phone. Any item put under there will also slide around and out while you're driving. It's not practical.

The vehicle is equipped with smart day/night sensors that if you have your headlights set to the automatic function will turn on or off automatically. Fastest way to test it is to drive into a parking garage. The headlights will automatically turn on when you enter and off again when you exit and the car detects daylight. Night driving, they come on and stay on unless you park and remove your key, that'll automatically turn all lights off. There is a fade delay for the cabin lights which can be set for between 7.5-30 seconds.

The dash console has smart features for the vehicle that the driver can program. My favourite is the automatic door lock program that allows the driver to set features to lock all doors automatically once the car reaches speed of about 20-25kms, and the ability to automatically unlock all doors once the car is shifted into park mode so you don't have to worry about manually unlocking doors. It's a great safety feature if you have kids.

The reverse camera has guides to help you park quickly. My model does NOT come standard with reverse sensors, but you can have them added as an optional extra that will beep faster when you're getting closer to objects (a very annoying feature if you're a great driver and can see what you're doing when reversing.)

Body: The exterior is designed well. I like the look of the overall shape and style. It's not too boxy or rectangular like older Camry models. Each panel has its own personality and moulding to accentuate the sexiness of the vehicle. These features just might be cosmetic or specifically designed for aerodynamics. Either way, I think they're great. I especially love the driving lights on the front. However, the front part of the kit is quite low, so be mindful of your driving angle when entering or exiting steep driveways or speed humps as it will crack and damage easily.

If there's an external aerial, I have not found it, but there's no problem receiving radio. Your radio will be clear if in range.

Safety: Don't know whom the dipstick was that invented the concept of the airbag. To me, the thought of driving around with 7 bombs around me and my family is not appealing. If an impact doesn't hurt or kill you, the repercussions of these airbag bombs going off could leave you with other lifelong injuries which could make you wish you were dead. (hearing/sight loss and or lung problems due to inhaling/swallowing small metal and plastic particles which can lead to a delayed death). I'm not an airbag fan. I'm a survivor of an MVA without airbags. Sure bit my lip and banged my head, but kinda expected that to happen. Crashing is never recommend, but accidents happen. Humans aren't crash test dummies. Neither can we be wrapped in cotton wool in case of accident or injury. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. You can't convince me that a bomb blowing up in my face that deploys a pillow of air is safer for me or my passengers.

Traction control and anti lock braking system is still a great safety feature.

Conclusion: Of all the Camry models from the 90's through to 2016, I have to hand it to this one as being superior in most ways. It certainly is a tech savvy vehicle for the 21st century driver. It is a pleasure to drive and ferry passengers. The powerful 2.5ltr engine will reliably give you power when you ultimately need it. It is a comfortably quiet drive. The engine is very very quiet when sneaking up on pedestrians in parking lots. The base model has both power windows and cruise control - I know, right!!

Bland, boring, reliable and cheap! – We sold our 18 year old Subaru Forester for a larger newer car. Our needs had changed as we have visitors often and needed a family size car but also transport to and from work for my wife. We have had a Toyota before and this fitted the requirements. It had to be largish without having a 6 cylinder engine and needed to be reliable. This model… Read more

is entry level so fairly basic but my wife is no techie so it needed to be easy to operate in every manner. It has adequate electronics for her needs including Bluetooth, Ipod connection, USB, reverse camera etc. All of this was easy to connect and was running in minutes. The Media player is simple and more than adequate. The car has basic comfort features and most of the time is used to commute 20 minutes to work and return. It does this with ease. The engine is smooth, quiet and although not overpowered at all it does most things without fuss. Freeway driving is what it does best but it brakes and corners well but not at sports car performance. The factory tyres are only just as they screech at low speeds around corners but the alloy wheels are attractive and easy to clean. Tyre grip is adequate. If you want slick performance forget it this car is not designed for any thing other than normal driving. It is very quiet on the road so you need to watch your speed and it runs well on gravel surfaces. It is front wheel drive so care needs to be taken when driving in the wet. It has the normal safety features of other cars with the highest rating and car seats for the kids are easy fitted with the necessary equipment installed as standard. The interior is adequate and stylish however plastic pieces scratch easy especially door linings and foot steps. A quick wipe over with a chamois and its done as far as maintenance goes. The interior is very dark and carpets and seats need regular vacuuming as they show up dust and dirt. Leg room is amazing in the front and rear and although it easily accommodates 5 adults 4 people is ideal. Driving position is fine if not a little low and there are numerous storage areas, and cup holders for all. The dashboard is easily set out and has all that's needed for normal driving. The handbrake is foot operated which is a little quirky but that frees up more space for the centre console which is massive. It takes 5 minutes to adjust to using the foot operated hand brake. The seats are adequate but you feel after a while that they compress and 'bottom out' on long drives. Getting in and out is ok but I have a disability and getting out even on a sligt incline is difficult due to the low floor pan. The boot is massive and will hold a multitude of large and small items and has hooks and tied downs. Reliability is as you would expect for Toyota. Nothing other than excellent. Our fuel consumption according to the dashboard information shows an average use of 8.6km to 100ks. That includes city and freeway driving. We dont drive fast usually under 100km/h and I imagine if you push it hard fuel use would skyrocket. We use E10 fuel most of the time as recommended by Toyota. Air conditioning is just adequate for this model but does the job most of the time. This model is the newest version at present and we bought it from Sci Toyota in Brisbane and it had just over 10,000kms and was company owned. It was spotless and unmarked on delivery and is bronze in colour which makes it look quite classy for an every day car. It has bonnet, and headlight protectors and a drivers weather shield. It came with Toyota original mats in the front and rear and large handy boot mat moulded to the shape of the large boot. After we sold our Subaru for $1500 it cost us just on $19,000. Not bad for a car that listed at 28,500 new at the time we bought this. Haggling was essential but keep it nice and the Dealer was very obliging. It drove as new and the paintwork is unblemished as was the interior. It was fully serviced on delivery and comes with a complete Toyota Program History and fixed price servicing of $140 and remaining Factory Warranty. Insurance is at the lower end of the scale and parts are very cheap and easily available Australia wide. If you want reliable transport without the bells and whistles and dont want to be distracted by too much information from the dash and media centre then it will be fine. If you want performance, and you like the gadgets and are willing to pay higher operating and purchasing costs dont even consider this or any other Camry model. They are family cars slightly dressed up to sell easier but will last a lifetime and take a great deal of abuse and neglect before they fail. This is reflected in the new and second hand prices so when you buy one drive it into the ground and like most Toyotas it will last forever.

Nice car to drive – I don't own one, yet and was always concerned about the functionality of the Hybrids. Well, my work recently purchased half a dozen Camry hybrids. I was one of the first to drive one. A bit different , but what a surprise at the fuel economy, a large medium size car with 2.5 litre engine, that returns a constant 4.9 to 5.9 litres per hundred K … Read more

Highway, that's 2 litres P 100 K under my 2.4 Lancer. On highway travel, I finds that its better to let the car run on cruise control, and allow the engine management to control the system. The cruise control, on these cars, is brilliant; especially how it can hold the speed on the long downhill run, most cars that I've driven with cruise control will just gather speed.

Problems: Boot size due to battery pack, may be a reason not to buy as I need a large boot, normal Camry boot size is fine. Take off at lights, the car may hesitate as it tries to decipher, what does this driver want, a battery, or engine take-off? Resale value, as explained by a dealer. While the hybrids have really taken off overseas, in Australia, there is the concept, while Toyota has an eight warranty on the battery, people are reluctant to buy second hand as the expensive battery may fail and leave a huge replacement cost. Perhaps if they lowered the battery cost, they would get more after sales.

Reliable, economical, trouble-free motoring – I always buy Toyota for the reliability and fuel economy. My 2015 Camry is a large size car, economical on fuel (especially on the highway) and very reliable. I’ve never had an issue with the car and servicing costs at my mechanic is always reasonable. Show details

Best value and most reliable car after all – Since 2009 i have switched from brands to brands Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW,Range Rover but Toyota Camry is always in my garage for everyday use. It doesn’t feel luxury compared to other high-end car but completely reliable forna road trip. What i really feel like about it: 1. Hardly to break down and it’s cheap to repair 2. Affordable routine… Read more

services 3. Cheap body parts and easy to find replacement. 4. It’s still great car even with an old car. A friend of mine had a 16 year old Camry, odometer 220,000km and it is still running well without any dramas. Boot size is my most favourite, better those Audi Q5,Range Rover Evoque,X5 and GLE250 that i had..i prefer the boot separate and Camry has bigger size (I personally feel it provides more room than others)

TOYOTA quality. (no edit option to fix header.) – I bought a 2017 model Camry when it was less than a yr old with very low ks. Model is an Altise. To date its running costs, fuel, and reliability and performance has been good. I find servicing costs a little expensive, and in hindsight would have ensured the deal I thought I was getting on servicing, was actually included in my contract. It was… Read more

not honoured and Ive had to pay much more for servicing than Id hoped. Make sure you check your contracts as if its not in writing, they wont honour servicing deals. Other than that the car is a dream to drive, a great family sized car with great boot size. Quality interior.

Good overall – This car has big space, powerful enough for driving in the city. I was once driving it to Gold Coast, tried some mountain roads, not very good experience though. I am told that Camry is the only model assembled in Australia. I think that why the decorations inside are not as good as other models which are assembled in Japan. My Camry's trim… Read more

beneath the middle air-con was pulled out and had a big gap, but got fixed when doing the capped service.

Overall it is a good car.

Gearbox Issues with 6 speed auto – Purchased November 2016 - Altise sedan 2.5 litre Auto 2013 model Good on fuel - basic interior - not as nice as Mazda 6'3 I looked at. Also looked at Mazda 6 - Nissan Altima - Ford Mondeo etc - Should have purchased Mazda Used as UBER vehicle and does the job - Watch out for Automatic Gearbox problems- selects Neutral at stop signs and also… Read more

holds second gear. Why did the RAV 4 have the 5 speed auto? - due to problems with the 6 speed auto maybe? - I think Camry model is over rated - do your homework and buy with Toyota service history.

WARNING: Faulty Air Bag ECU & Faulty Seat Belt – I own a 2013 Camry Altise which has been recently involved in a crash & had significantly damaged to the face. Though it had a huge impact there was no single airbag deployed during the accident. (luckily no one hurt). Anyway, I sent my car to the authorised Toyota Dealer for repair & they have found the AIRBAG ECU (Electronic Control Unit) was… Read more

malfunctioned, also driver's seat belt tensioner has been found faulty since manufactured. So, I just want to warn everyone who owns 2013 Camry Altise built in May 2013, please get your car checked from nearest Toyota Dealer. I believe this a serious safety issue & also Toyota has failed to maintain product quality in this instance.

Great car! But has more wear and rear specially around tires and brakes compared to Mazda – I use the car for day to day commuting... Use it regularly for both domestic and long drives. It gives good mileage around 6-10 ltrs per 100kms mileage is excellent on high ways. This car requires very low maintenance only 1 service per year. Show details

Most economic and reliable sedan in the world – I usually use the car for working, family transport I use the car every day I get this car every two to three months once, mechanic never mentioned about any issues after using for more than 5 years Show details

Best reliable vehicle – I used this vehicle for personal and commercial use. I did drive Ola with my camry and it was good on fuel. It drives so smooth and never let me down. Highly recommended vehicle. Show details

Reliable, comfortable value for money – I bought this 2012 fleet car with 40K on the clock. Now with nearly 120K there havent been any problems - not even a change of brake pads. The car is comfortable on the open road and pleasant to drive around the suburbs Show details

Love it – Best car Ive had, its cheap rego and running costs are next to nothing really. It has plenty of space and enough power for cruising highways. The interior is very nice for the price of the vehicle Show details

Confidence in product – This is my second Toyota vehicle and very happy with the quality of the product. The Camry suits my driving needs when travelling long distances.Those being comfort and fuel economy. I purchased the vehicle from Maitland Toyota and during the first twelve months of owning the vehicle I moved to the mid north coast. This meant I had the vehicle… Read more

serviced at Taree Toyota under the same arrangement as Maitland. The quality of the service was excellent, completed as per the log book and on time.

A simple, affordable and reliable car – This is the best car I could buy for my budget (for around $27 000). No problems so far. Good fuel economy. Spacious interior and boot. Service cost also is reasonable under the capped price servicing option. Only problem I have is front bumper is too low and would rub against some driveways.  Show details

Best car I've ever had. I want for nothing and it always gives me a smooth, safe and dependable driv – I use the car twice a week for short journeys and not one glitch at all in the 2 years I've had it. Great looking car and the 2nd Camry I've owned. No complaints with the 1996 Camry Vienta I had before this vehicle. Toyota Camry - I wouldn't blink in recommending it to anyone.  Show details

Wonderful car – We purchased this this vehicle in 2017 and it is such a pleasure to drive. It has more guts then I would have thought ! The reversing camera is great, automatic headlights and great storage.. quite a bit of leg room , very spacious boot, heaps of cup/bottle holder areas. It has been great on fuel aprox 7.6l per 100km very reliable and just wonderful to drive.  Show details

The most reliable car I have ever had – Coming from a Nissan pulsar, this car is like a dream come true. The ride is very smooth and had all the new technologies including blue tooth aux and dedicated charging cables with usb ports. The reverse camera is also brilliant, and is very accurate. Have to fuel up once even 2 weeks and it runs on around 9L/100km  Show details

My favourite family car – It is very reliable and safe to drive. I love the shape of car. Gives me luxury feeling inside. Fuel consumption is very low. Perfect for long drives, solid build, since I bought it, never spent any single penny on any repair except service and cleaning.cruise control is the best feature.  Show details

Great economy but just a few improvements needed – This is my first Toyota after finally selling my Mercedes C180. Needed more room for the larger family now! The price and features are great value. Fuel economy USB average, as j expected better. The seats could be more comfortable though, as being a tall guy I need more ability to adjust the angles and length.  Show details

Perfect Family economic Car – This car is the best ever thing bought in my life. Very good Petrol Average. Perfect smooth ride. Even driving after hours make you feel relaxed. Changed body shape is even more better than its previous Model. *** They should show the real time speed per hour on the Odometer.  Show details

Great family car – We've had our Camry for 2 years now. It's a great car. The reason we bought it was the large boot space and there is enough room to fit 3 car seats across the back. Even with our pram and pot a cot in the boot we have room for the family bags if we're going away or for shopping etc day to day. We got the windows tinted which keeps the car a lot… Read more

cooler. Another great thing is how fuel efficient it is. I can generally get 500-600km on one tank of petrol depending if we're doing long distance of short trips. We've not had any problems with it and it's done a lot of kilometres in its short life. The other reason we went for it was because Toyota were offering free financing which was a big help.

Fantastic – Performance is great, comfortable, middle armrest is great. Love the dashboard, lots of legroom, lots of space in the trunk Good mileage, the same as it claims in their advertising. Ordered a cherry red and found it was in stock, paid extra for window tinting and the car was ready for delivery the next day, wonderful service from Nunawading Toyota  Show details

GREAT FAMILY CAR – I bought a Toyota Camry hybrid in 2017, the performance of the car so far so good,I can handling so well, not much noice. I do like the interior of the car, so comfy and my famlily like it very mush. I would recommend to my friend if they are intend to purchase a new vehicle.  Show details

Good Car! – UPDATE: Just over 70,000 K's now are the car runs like a dream. No issues. The car drives very smooth, handles and runs well. Uses around 9.5L for a 100 Km's in a reality which is great! The interior looks very nice and feels good. Seats are comfy. 56000K and never has a single issue. Just normal service only. had lots of safety features. Wish it had reverse parking sensors. That's the only issue.  Show details

Excellent choice – Purchasing a Toyota Camry has proven over the years to be a flawless decision. Value for money, reliability, resale value, fit for purpose, high manufacturing and finishing standards; purchasing a Camry is an easy decision. I recommend a Toyota Camry to all potential buyers. It has proven again and again to be a good decision. While there are… Read more

heaps of SUV's and other options that are leading many away from the traditional sedan, the value for money and usability of this model is outright excellent.

Good toyota car – I bought this new toyota car at perter warrent warrick farm. The performance so far is pretty good, easy to handling, low noise engines. I like the car seats and is so comfy inside and the wheels are good. Is so reliable and the price for the car is so reasonable, I highly recommend to many of my friends.  Show details

Perfect Famaily Car – its perfect family car with low mentainace with 3 years capped price service , bought it demo model with tinted windows and colour protection option , car runs excellent , good on milage on long run ,Touch screen for audio and blue tooth device , powerful break and comoftable sitting for small family recommand this car value for money  Show details

nice car – I bought this car from a car dealer, it's 2.5, it's quite big comparing to Toyota Corolla, large space inside, the only problem is that the door can't be locked when I started to drive. volkswagan series can automatically lock the doors when I started driving, it would be much more safer if toyota camry has this function.  Show details

It's a Toyota !!! – Having owned several Toyota vehicles over the years I have no hesitation in purchasing another...I only bought the base model so I feel the interior is ok.Hopefully this particular vehicle will have the same reliability that I have experienced with my other Toyota's..Running costs seem ok.If this vehicle stands up to my expectations I will have no concerns about purchasing another.  Show details

Good Vehicle – Bought a Toyota Certified 2016 Camry Altise in Feb 2017 with around 16'500 Kms on the clock with warranty. Very commodious, comfortable,smooth, ample leg room front/back, pleasure to drive. Good suspension,4 cylinder engine, low noise level all around. Adequate boot,reversing camera/screen, use it for town running only. Seems they have standard black colour upholstery. First time used Toyota in 1978, trusted them ever since.  Show details

Great all round modern vehicle – Rented a Toyota Camry Altise as a work vehicle for two months , found it an excellent all round vehicle, in regards to interior space, handling , boot space , power , and comfort. Good storage space in centre console and glove box, practical bonuses. The 2016 model looks sweet and purposeful on the road , the Led daylights look cool. Would have loved to have kept this Toyota .  Show details

Perfect family car – I am loving my Camry. The leg space and boot are huge and my family and friends love it everytime we travel. The boot is so huge that I transported my entire stuff when we moved to a new home. Perfect car for perfect people is what I can say.  Show details

A limousine – The Toyota Camry is my mum's dream car, and she bought it for her birthday. The ASV50R Generation of the Camry is fairly similar to the previous generation, our model was built in 2014. The Camry is powered by a 2.5L 133kW 2AR-FE Engine while paired to a 6 Speed Automatic. The driving experience is a dream, everything is perfect on it, even… Read more

though it does feel a bit bland on the inside due to the base model Altise that we have. We bought the car with 12k on it, while now it is at approx. 25k and it has no issues at all