My Experience Driving the 2018 Toyota Camry

Sep 27, 2017

Alina Czub is the Director of Advertising for the Continental Motors Group. She has been driving the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry for a few weeks and decided to share her experience with us.

For the last seventeen years, I’ve been an SUV girl. I’m a mom of three boys and they play sports. So, room was necessary. Add to that any extras of people or “stuff,” my needs in a vehicle were definitely space and comfort. I drove a lot, 18K-22K miles per year. My boys and I have practically lived in my SUV; we’ve spent so much time between here and there. However, as my kids, three six-foot teenagers have grown, my needs have changed. They are still playing sports, but there are fewer car pools; one has his license, and the second one will be driving on his own in the next several months.

All of this has brought me to think maybe I could drive a sedan. Therein lies my 2018 Toyota Camry LE test drive from Continental Toyota. I’m not going to lie the transition from a larger SUV to a sedan has been an adjustment. However, I welcome the change. Now when I say test drive, I’m fortunate for the opportunity to drive for several weeks and really get a feel for the 2018 Camry.

With all of the miles I put on vehicles, the way a vehicle handles is very important to me. My SUV handled the roads well; it was smooth and had good pick up, and I never felt like it was a truck. Admittedly, I thoroughly enjoy driving this car. Local driving or highway driving, the Camry does not let me down in the way it grabs the road, accelerates, or maneuvers in and out of traffic. Plus, additional safety features like lane departure alert, Toyota Safety Sense pre-collision system with in-vehicle camera and radar, and of course ECO mode to save on gas mileage, all add to the comfort of my driving experience. I’ve switched to the Manual mode when I’ve been on the highway because, well, I started out driving a manual transmission, and it’s fun to go back to without the clutch to worry about.

Since I do still have my boys frequently in the car, their comfort was very important to me. What’s their legroom like? Headroom? And, of course, where are the cup holders positioned because we still end up eating in the car as we rush to our next commitment. The 2018 Camry was perfect! A total thumbs up – in both the back and front seats there is a very open feeling and plenty of room for my growing boys. I’ve rented cars in the past and always felt a little cramped and as though my views were blocked. It was almost as if the curve of the roof impeded the size of the windows, but this is not the case for the 2018 Toyota Camry. As the driver, I feel safe, secure, and can easily adjust the seat to my comfort to drive. The Camry LE comes with a Star Safety System and ten airbags. Not only do I feel safe driving a sedan, Toyota makes certain the vehicle is safe.

Of course, where do I put my coffee? Convenience, while not feeling cramped in a sedan versus an SUV, was a pleasant surprise. This Camry did not disappoint. As I sit to drive, the shifter is comfortably positioned where I can keep my elbow on the armrest and my drink is just to the right. The controls to adjust radio, temperature, and phone, are all right at my fingertips. Overall, this car is very convenient. I’m just waiting for the perfect design to answer; “where do I put my oversized purse?”

Trunk space is equally important when I am carting equipment, groceries, or anything else. Without the convenience of the cargo space and hatchback found in an SUV, I was concerned with transitioning to a sedan. My mom drives a sedan and you can only open the trunk with a remote key, which is not always convenient, but with the 2018 Camry, I get both easy access and great cargo space.

All in all, the new 2018 Toyota Camry LE has been a positive driving experience. It looks great, has sensible conveniences, performs well on the roads, and provides plenty of room for my family. Camry has been a Best Selling vehicle in America for years, and the new 2018 Toyota Camry continues to excel on the roads. Continental Toyota in Hodgkins has been selling Toyotas for more than fifty years, and is a quality choice on where to buy your perfect Toyota Camry in the Chicagoland area.