A 42-year REVIEW of the Toyota Camry – Toyota Camry Evolution

The Toyota Camry is a popular family sedan known for excellent reliability and strong resale value. One thing long missing from the Camry had been any sense of driving excitement, but that’s changed with the redesigned 2018 model. The Toyota Camry is the face of reliability when it comes to motoring all over the world and that does not exclude Nigeria. The Toyota Camry in Nigeria is arguably the most reliable mid-size sedan that has proven its worth times and times over in the Nigerian motoring space.

This is a car that keeps going up in value for all relevant models because it is what Nigerians can afford to bank on for everyday mobility.

Let’s delve into the history of this most wanted car in Nigeria.

The Evolution of the Toyota Camry

Before the Toyota Camry came to become the most reliable car in the automotive industry, it started from somewhere and to top it all, it’s actually 42 years old. Let’s see where it starts from. 

• The Birth Of a Legend (1982-1986 )

The first generation Toyota Camry was first produced in 1982, this car was a Japanese car that was purely intended for the Japanese market. It was basically compact and practical, the design was straightforward and it gave a reliable excellent performance. It became a success in the USA and Australia due to its reliability.

• Expanding Popularity (1987 – 1996)

The production of the second generation (1987-1991) and Third generation (1992-1996) made the Camry a known vehicle in the automotive market, and it needed to have a competitive design. The Toyota Camry then introduced a more refined design and advanced interior quality something that could compete with other cars in the market at that time. Being the first time the Toyota Camry will be given a V6 engine option and a wagon, it became popular for its spaciousness and comfort and attracted more audiences. 

Making the Toyota Camry became available in the Tokumbo market, it became one of the first Toyota cars that started going on sale in Nigeria as Tokumbo. It was in the third generation Toyota Camry and was nicknamed ‘Orobo’ because it has a flowing body design and rounded edges. And compared to the older generations, it looks chopped up and good-looking.

• Emphasis on Safety and Technology (1997 – 2006)

The Fourth generation Camry (1997- 2001) rolled out with an entirely new design language and advanced safety features.  It was sturdy compared to the older generations, it was flat, shorter, wider and had a very thin light that made Nigerians nicknamed it ‘Pencil Light’. The pencil light Camry was a game changer in Nigeria at that time because it was a really good and very strong car at that time.

Coming to the Fifth generation (2002-2006) the Camry comes bigger in everything, the engines, lights, and designs all come bigger, which gave it the name ‘Big Daddy’ while some even call it ‘Big for nothing’. This time the Camry began to combine more technology, including navigation systems, and enhanced audio options, making its reputation for reliability and value stronger.

• A Shift in Designs and Performance (2007 – 2017)

Toyota changed everything about the Sixth-generation Camry (2007-2011). The car became attractively pleasing to everyone at that time, it was so peculiar that it was nicknamed ‘Toyota Muscle’. It is regarded as the most successful Camry ever sold to date. This was also when Toyota tested its first hybrid version on regular cars for the first time, creating the growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles that made the generation so unique and special.

Moving to the Seventh generation Camry (2012- 2017), it wasn’t really appreciated as the muscle but it looks very cool and sporty.  The interior had a touchscreen entertainment, and later models had reverse cameras. The Toyota focused majorly on improved handling and advanced interior, making it appealing to buyers.

But at that time, the 2013 Honda Accord was a big competitor because it had a better design, this made Toyota deliver a facelift of the Camry in 2015, a facelift that was totally different from previous generations, making it stand out completely.

• Modern Innovations (2018- Present)

Toyota has only one thing in mind while building the Eighth generation Camry (2018 – Present ), ‘there is no way Honda is beating us in designs’. Toyota went full aggressive on this Camry, giving it a dedicated sport edition called ‘XSC’, which comes in two colours (black colour on the roof and another colour on the body) and a big grill. 

Competing with bigger brands like Kia, Honda and other brands that have incredible designs, Toyota is offering excellent advanced technology, which includes an advanced driver-assistance package and an Infotainment upgrade. It also gives an extremely bold design with updated features. Showcasing a sportier side of the Camry, the TRD model was introduced.

The production of the Toyota Camry didn’t start a few years ago; its existence can be traced all the way back to 1982. Ever since then up till now, the Toyota Manufacturing Company has been doing a great job of giving the world a good car wearing the Camry cloak. Making Toyota Camry stands its ground on reliability and is one of the most frequently seen cars on Nigerian roads. The car is literally everywhere and it is one of the most purchased Toyota models in Nigeria.