1997 Toyota Camry OVERVIEW

Among ordinary cars, sales leap after a redesign and then gradually decline as the new becomes familiar and other, more exciting models catch the public's eye. Not so the Camry. Last year--the final year for a five-year-old design--Toyota sold more Camrys than ever before. Thanks to its status as the benchmark among family sedans, the Camry manages to sustain ever-increasing sales, even with a comparatively steep pricetag. The Camry's virtues have included bulletproof reliability, excellent fit and finish, and a comfortable, quiet interior. Its performance has never stirred the soul, but it has been predictable and precise. In redesigning the car, Toyota had no interest in tinkering with the formula. Its goal was to enhance the car's features without changing its fundamental nature. In this, the company has succeeded. The new Camry is slightly bigger and slightly more powerful, with an all-new exterior and interior, a longer list of safety and convenience features and more refined ride and handling.