The Camry with a Lexus underneath

The common refrain from Lexus' luxury rivals is that the entry-luxury ES sedan is nothing more than a tarted-up Camry. Toyota product planners prefer to think of it the other way around — that the Camry is a Lexus with less content.

Indeed, the 1992 Camry — the first Toyota that had the fingerprints of American engineers and product planners on it — had to be good because it was going to share its platform with a Lexus. They knew this because the stopgap ES 250 was based on the previous-generation Camry, and it did not measure up.

In hindsight, some Toyotans have whispered that the 1992 Camry was "too good" and that hitting the price-cost-profit targets was impossible.

Even though this is an iconic vehicle, the Toyota Museum does not have one. Instead, I borrowed a 61,000-mile example from Toyota product engineer Chris Cocores. He obviously is proud of his 15-year-old car because it is in better shape than many mid-sized sedans just off the dealership lot.

While underpowered compared to today's mid-sized competition, the 2.2-liter four-banger has plenty of pep, and freeway speeds arrive surprisingly quickly. Perhaps that's because first and second gear are short. Perhaps it's because the electronically controlled throttle button is set to "power." Yes, there actually is a difference in response between the "power" and "econ" settings.

What really separates the 1992 Camry driving experience is that it feels of a piece. Ever get into a car where it seems as if no one coordinated the feeling of the steering, throttle, brakes and suspension? That each component engineer had a different idea of how the car was supposed to drive? It's frustrating, to say the least.

This Camry clearly had chief engineer Shoichi Miyagawa's meticulous oversight in all parts of the driving experience.

The driving sensation in one's hands, feet and butt is measured and consistent, no matter what the car is being asked to do. The throttle and brake inputs are crisp, the four-speed automatic transmission shifts seamless, the steering assured and the suspension pliant while quite responsive.

Some chastise Toyotas for being numb. And perhaps compared to the more dynamic Honda Accord of the era, that is correct. To the Camry's credit, though, this may be the easiest-to-drive car ever built.

After getting approval for the U.S. Camry to be different from the Japan-market model, U.S. product planners gave the car considerably more width and length. Compared to the previous-generation Camry, there are acres more shoulder room, elbow room and knee clearance. A 6-footer fits tidily into the back seat, even if another 6-footer is driving — although headroom does begin to run out, given the slope of the C-pillar.

So what Lexus touches are in the Camry?

While the instrument panel fonts are austere and dated today, the sweep of the dashboard and waterfall of the center console surfaces are graceful and timeless.

The signal and washer stalks have cushioned strokes, rather than the plinky ones of most mass-market cars of that era. The radio and climate dials and buttons also have cushioned detents. The seats still have sturdy and supportive bolstering after 15 years' use. And the air conditioner still blows ice cold, immediately, on a 90-degree Los Angeles day.

Was the 1992 Camry too good? Well, that's if you drink the Toyota Kool-Aid. Was it very, very good? Absolutely.

— Mark Rechtin