2018 Toyota Camry LE
I was actually hoping to be able to rent a Camry, even if it was just a base model. The redesigned 2018 model marks a huge shift towards injecting some much needed personality into the rather mundane nameplate and was looking forward to trying one.
I almost snagged it at HNL (missed it on the Exec line by a few minutes). A few days later, in Las Vegas, I saw a dark blue 2018 SE in the lot when I was picking up from Enterprise. I went in and asked for the Camry -- and they were more than happy to oblige. When I went out to the lot, it didn't work on the SE, no matter how much I pressed the remote. Then I realized that I had a white LE that was tucked away in the corner. Not as flashy as the SE, but I was happy to be able to try the Gen 8 Camry.
The LE is one up from the base model, the L. Standard features include LED headlights, 17" aluminum wheels, 7" display, 4" color multi-information display in the gauge cluster, and Toyota's full suite of safety features called Toyota Safety Sense. I used the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control on the freeway and it did a good job of adjusting the speed to maintain a certain following distance. There were no options ticked, so optional features on the LE such as push-button start and blind spot monitoring aren't on the models that National purchased. I got around 33 MPG according to the trip computer in mixed driving, but I really didn't put that many miles on it to be all that accurate in terms of judging fuel economy.
The new Camry is noticeably lower to the ground than the previous model. Visibility is good. Slimmer A-pillars and door mounted mirrors help. I found the seats to be on the firm side. You sit on the seats, rather than in them. I prefer my seats to be firm (and I drive a Toyota at home), so it didn't bother me, but I've read reviews that called this out as being a bit uncomfortable. The driver's seat has power adjustments including lumbar.
The Camry remains a full-size car (FCAR), so it'll be a common sight on the Emerald and Exec lines. In fact, when I returned to HNL, I was greeted by a row of brand new Camrys in my choice of color on both lines.
