DALLAS — Toyota Motor Corp. is giving the re-engineered Camry a big bump in fuel economy and horsepower, especially with a new standard four-cylinder engine.
The fuel efficiency of the 2018 Camry's new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is estimated by the EPA at 29 mpg in the city, 41 mpg on the highway and 34 combined. That's 26 percent better than the outgoing base model's 24 mpg city/33 highway/27 combined rating.
The new four-cylinder engine generates 206 hp, a step up from the outgoing base engine's 178 hp, and the revamped sedan has an eight-speed automatic transmission, replacing a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The retooled Camry's new 3.5-liter V-6 engine, also mated to the eight-speed automatic, gets an 8 percent bump in EPA-estimated fuel economy to 22 mpg city/33 highway/26 combined compared with the outgoing model's 21 mpg city/30 highway/24 combined. But it gets a power boost to a stout 301 hp vs. the outgoing motor's 268 hp.
The hybrid versions also receive enhanced fuel-economy ratings, with EPA numbers at 51 mpg city/53 highway/52 combined for a 30 percent improvement.
The Camry LE hybrid is the only trim to have a lithium ion battery pack and some other efficiency gains vs. the higher SE and XLE trims, which come in at 44 mpg city/47 highway/46 combined for a 21 percent gain over the 2017 hybrid's 42 mpg city/38 highway/40 combined rating.
The hybrid uses a four-cylinder engine with 176 hp and a lithium ion or nickel-metal hydride battery pack for a total net power of 208 hp. That setup is similar in numbers to the outgoing model in terms of power.
The entry LE model of America's best-selling midsize sedan will have a suggested retail price of $24,885, including shipping, compared with $23,905 for the outgoing 2017 model. An L "value" version of the 2018 Camry, with smaller wheels and a few less convenience features, will be priced at $24,380.
