2009 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry has been America's best-selling car for years now and for 2009, Toyota apparently has invoked the if it ain't broke, don't fix it clause. After all, the Camry was redesigned for 2007 -- and then beat the competition to become our 2007 Car of the Year -- so its looks are still fresh and its technology is still relatively cutting-edge.

The biggest difference you'll notice on the 2009 Camry is that the CE trim level has been dropped. The entry-level Camry is now simply the Camry, with the LE as a mid-level package, the SE in sport trim, and the XLE as the premium brew. Of course, there is also the Camry Solara for those who want two doors and a drop top (the Solara coupe has been discontinued for 2009) and the Camry Hybrid for those looking to be even more eco-friendly or just to save at the pump via its 33/34-mpg city/highway mileage rating.

All Camry trim levels come with a base 2.4L four-cylinder engine that produces 158 hp and 161 lb-ft of torque and will get you 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway when mated to either a five-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission. Opt for the extra eco-friendly PZEV-rated engine and you'll lose 3 hp and 3 lb-ft. Jump up to the 3.5L V-6, and you'll get 268 hp and 248 lb-ft on tap, as well as a six-speed automatic with manual shifting capabilities. The extra power won't cost you too much at the pump, though, since the V-6 nets 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and the six and the four run on regular unleaded. The Camry Hybrid mates the 2.4L engine in 147-hp trim to a 40-hp electric motor, for a total of 187 hp running through a continuously variable automatic transmission. On hot days, an "Eco" button will scale back the A/C output to maximize fuel mileage.

The Camry, LE, XLE, and Hybrid ride on 16-in. wheels in steel for the Camry and LE or aluminum for the XLE and Hybrid, while the SE picks up 17-in. six-spoke aluminum wheels. The SE also gets a firmer ride and sits almost a half inch lower than the other models in an effort to make it sportier. The entire Camry range comes standard with Anti-lock Brakes and Brake Assist, with Vehicle Stability Control with integrated Traction Control optional. The Hybrid gets a special Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system to help keep it on the road.

The options list for the 2009 Camry is rather short, but that's largely because the standard feature list is so long. Standard on all models is A/C with a pollen and dust filter, power windows, locks and mirrors, body-color mirrors, cruise control, automatic halogen headlights, a tilting/telescoping steering wheel, vehicle immobilizer, and a six-speaker, 160-watt stereo with CD player and auxiliary input jack.