Owner Review: For When You Want To Chill and When You Want To Be Angry – My 2002 Toyota Camry 2.2GX (XV20)

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Basic information

2002 Toyota Camry 2.2GX (XV20)

Reasons why I bought this car

This is a 2002 Toyota Camry 2.2GX codenamed XV20 which to my eyes, is the best-looking Camry ever made. Compared to the ACV30 which replaced it and the newer Camry generations, it has a sleek styling that never ages. It came with a good number of toys such as electrically adjustable powered seats for both driver and passenger, cruise control, automatic “one-touch” power window for driver’s side, retractable side mirrors and a few more things that can be found in the original owner’s manual which surprisingly my Camry still has after 18 years.

The car has had two owners before my dad and I picking the car up – the first being an old uncle, and the second was a student hailing from Turkmenistan. Sure, the car isn’t aesthetically perfect, but it was mechanically sound and most importantly, the air-conditioning is cold, and the radio is just amazing – the previous owner spent a lot of money on the audio system, though.

Car selection process

• Models that I have considered include: Nissan Cefiro A32 or A33, Toyota Harrier 2.4 (first generation), Mercedes-Benz W210 E200, Mercedes-Benz W202 C-Class

At the time, my dad was looking to replace the Alza manual we had in the family for an automatic, and some of the options we considered were the Cefiro A32 or A33, another Mercedes-Benz W210 and a Toyota Harrier. After much thought and discussion, we found this car on Mudah and decided to go for it. We got the car for a shy above RM10,000, which isn’t too bad. It was only two days before we went to pick up the Mercedes-Benz W124 220E which I reviewed earlier.
The Camry’s primary user is my brother, and he drives it 99% of the time. However, there are instances where he didn’t drive the car – usually on weekends when he has no work and his friends come to pick him up instead or on weekdays when it’s nighttime and he isn’t going out anymore – so I do get the chance to take the Camry instead and I find it interesting how it can cater to two different emotions in me – Chill and Anger. Allow me to elaborate.

User experience

For when I want to chill

This is where the Camry does best. The four-speed auto shifts gear very smoothly and its 2.2-liter 130hp Inline-4 DOHC 16-valve 5S-FE engine packs a good amount of shove to keep the car cruising within the national speed limit. The steering is nice and light to maneuver in town and wind noise is kept to a minimum when driving on the highway. The suspension and thick 205/65R15 tires soak up bumps impeccably. You can run over poorly patched roads, rats in SS15, or rumble strips and you’ll barely feel a single thing. I can just switch on my cruise control and vibe along to whatever I was listening to on the radio.

For when I' m angry

The best thing about the Camry, being a Toyota, is that it can take a lot of abuse. Sometimes, I got some steam to let off and thrash the Camry. However, here is where the Camry’s strength immediately became the Camry’s drawbacks. That soft suspension and thick tires are amazing for ride comfort, but the handling suffered immensely when I pushed it on my usual favorite back roads. The insane amount of body roll is one thing, the suspension pretty much maxed out very quickly and as a consequence, you’ll be greeted with a massive unpleasant “THUNK” if you hit a bump or any imperfection mid-corner. For reference, all four absorbers are new. Also, the Camry is the easiest car to throw sideways – not something I thought I’d say about an “uncle’s car.” Revving the engine out greets me with a pleasant surprise, though, with its decent soundtrack and nice power delivery from low down in the rev range up to its 6,000rpm redline.

Comparing the Camry to the 220E

Having been used to the 220E, it still amazes me at the stark contrast these two cars have. Despite sharing the same idea – which is to be a gentle cruiser for the sort of gentleman with graying hair and has no desire for the high-adrenaline rush – these two cars couldn’t be any more different. Then again, I am talking about two different cars from two completely different eras.
The Camry, like a car, is just that – a car. One that’s good, solid, comfortable and returns quite a decent turn of pace and fuel economy. The four-speed auto is smooth, and the ride is plush. While my 220E will let me know that it doesn’t like to be rushed, the Camry just obeys whatever driving style I may have on that particular day. I know what you’re thinking: wow, that’s boring. The car lacks character. However, I see this as a window of opportunity for me to mercilessly whack the car like no tomorrow. I don’t do it often, of course, but driving the Camry gives me the reassurance that it can take a lot of abuse. Moreover, there are also more things that the Camry does better than the Merc. For one, the engine is much more responsive, and the gearbox is much sharper and quicker to respond. It is also far more comfortable to cruise in and is more than capable of being abused. However, it still loses to Merc in high-speed stability on the highway and overall solidity. But like a car, all in all, the Camry does what it’s supposed to do brilliantly.

Another important aspects that the discerning gentleman would seek in a Camry is its practicality. Enter the Camry and you’ll be greeted with a bland interior that’s actually well-screwed together. You land your bottoms onto the soft, plush seats and the car is very spacious – even more so than my 220E, especially in the back seats that will happily pass the WapCar Tennis Ball test because Adrian wouldn’t have enough tennis balls to illustrate the Camry’s rear legroom. There are plenty of storage spaces and – get this – CUP HOLDERS! Seriously, how do you live with a car without cupholders? The Camry was also kitted out with a good amount of convenience features such as powered mirrors, powered seats, a central locking switch, and automatic one-touch powered windows. It’s a car that is best enjoyed at a gentle, cruising pace, but if I’m ever in the need to let off some steam, I can do so without a single worry. After all, it’s a Toyota. Give it good maintenance when necessary and off you go.

Pros&Cons

Pros

• The engine is rather punchy

• The ride is very plush, as is the seats

• It’s reasonably economical for a D-segment boat

• Very spacious

• Decently well-screwed together

• Cupholders

• It looks sleek

• Light controls make it easy to drive

• The amount of convenience such as powered retractable and Adjustable side mirrors and seats

Cons

• You Still look like an uncle driving one

• The handling isn’t that great

• It doesn’t have any form of character

• So-so stability

Ratings:

• Total Score:4

• Performance:3

• Quality & Features:4&5

• Space:5

• Ride Comfort:5

• Fuel Economy:4

• Price & Cost:4

Summary

The Camry is a blank canvas, like an omelet or scrambled egg – hardly exciting but it does what it does rather well, and can also be spiced up, depends on individual taste. You can either take the Camry nice and easy with a gentle cruise or mercilessly whack on it on a good set of B-roads. At the end of the day, the Camry really is that – a car. It can get you from point A to point B, but how you want the car to take you there is totally up to you.

• Instagram: @luqcars (Luqman Hakim)

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