New Car Review 1994 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V-6 COUPE (The Auto Channel First Toyota Camry Review And ChatTPG AI Summary)

1994 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V-6 COUPE JOURNALIST REVIEW

by: BILL RUSS

SEE ALSO:Toyota Buyer's Guide

In the decade since its introduction Toyota's Camry has acquired an enviable reputation. When people think of Camry they normally think of competence, reliability and value - all excellent attributes for a benchmark family sedan. It has developed a commendable image of appliance-like utility and practicality without any pretensions of sportiness.

In the beginning the Camry was a compact four-door, four-cylinder, high-mileage economy sedan. The latest edition of the now venerable Camry is a mid-size, two-door, optionally V-6 powered, sporty and powerful coupe. This all-new model was designed in Toyota's Ann Arbor, Michigan Technical Center. The mission of the coupe is to add a more sporty and personal dimension to the Camry image. All of the Camry coupes are manufactured in Georgetown, Kentucky. An expansion project is now underway at this large manufacturing plant, and by early 1995 its production capacity will be doubled. Soon two-thirds of Toyota automotive products sold in the United States will be American-built.

A week of both utility and sporty driving left these impressions:

APPEARANCE: Even though its a coupe, no one will doubt that it is a Camry. It has all of the styling characteristics of its four-door sedan and wagon siblings - the wide horizontal grille, wrap-around head and tail lights, integrated bumpers, black window trim, near flush glass, large side mirrors and body colored rub strips. Even though it has only two doors and a short rear deck, it has the same platform and length as the sedan. The sports car look of the SE Coupe is verified by its high rear spoiler, twin exhaust tips, seven-spoke alloy wheels and Bridgestone Potenza P205/65R15 speed rated performance tires.

COMFORT: Like the sedan, the coupe is well-equipped for convenience. All of the power accessories are part of the SE package, while the leather trim, tilt and slide sunroof and upgrade sound system are optional. The drivers' six-way manually adjustable seat is quite comfortable, and the passengers' tilts and slides forward for easier rear seat access. The back seat features excellent head and legroom for adults, and when additional storage space is needed. the seatbacks can be folded down. Other features include a quiet and efficient heater-air conditioner, cruise control, tilt steering column and height adjustable front shoulder straps. Controls and instruments are well-placed and instrumentation is very good.

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Dual front airbags, three-point outboard seat belts, and side-impact protection are incorporated into the coupe. The SE V6 is equipped with four-wheel disc brakes, but anti- lock brakes are optional.

ROADABILITY: Because of its special sport-tuned suspension system and, in keeping with its sporting pretensions, the Camry SE Coupe delivers a firm but predictable ride. Its handling is smooth, well- behaved and refined, but not too refined. In fact, it might be thought of as near-luxury/near-sports car handling. The Bridgestone V-rated performance tire are real road-holders. In combination with the coupe's front-wheel drive, disc brakes and anti-lock braking, as well as special steering and differential ratios, sure-footed maneuvering and stopping are assured when behind the wheel of the SE Coupe.

PERFORMANCE: The all-new aluminum engine and electronically controlled automatic transmission powertrain combination that was originally developed for the Lexus ES300 powers the Camry SE V6 coupe. The new lighter weight 3.0 liter, 24-valve, double overhead camshaft, with direct ignition produces 188 agile horsepower as well as 203 foot/pounds of broad-range torque. Power is delivered to the front wheels via an improved automatic transaxle that now has a built-in intelligence system that allows for smoother and more responsive shifting as well as enhanced performance.

CONCLUSIONS: Toyota is entering new territory with the Camry coupe. It offers the solid practicality of the Camry sedan and wagon combined with the performance potential of the Lexus ES300. It is not a traditional sports coupe, rather, a vehicle that combines sporty flair with practicality.

SPECIFICATIONS:
1994 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V-6 COUPE

	   
	   Base Price              $  22,238
	   Price As Tested         $  26,777
	   Engine Type             V-6, dohc- 24v, mpfi
	   Engine Size             3.0 liter/182 cid   
	   Horsepower              188 @ 5200
	   Torque (ft/lbs)         203 @ 4400
	   Wheelbase/Length        103"/188"
	   Transmission            four speed auto w/od
	   Curb Weight             3180
	   Pounds per Horsepower   17
	   Fuel Capacity           18
	   Fuel Requirement        Unleaded regular (87 oct)
	   Tire                    Bridgestone Potenza RE88 P205/65VR16   
	   Brake                   anti-lock optional    disc/drum    
	   Drive Train             front engine/front drive
	   
			    PERFORMANCE 
	   
	   EPA Economy - miles per gallon,        
	     city/highway/observed      18/25/22.3
	   0 to 60 mph                  8.1 sec  
	   1/4 mi (E.T.)                16.3 sec       
	   Coefficient of drag (cd)     .32             

1994 Toyota Camry SE V-6 Coupe — 2025 ChatPTG AI Summary

Overview & Positioning

• Trim & Body Style: The SE V-6 Coupe is a 2-door version of the third-generation Camry (XV10), launched in 1994. It offered a sportier, more personal alternative to the sedan and wagon bodies WikipediaAutoDetective.

• Engine & Performance: Powered by a 3.0L V6 DOHC 24-valve engine, producing approximately 188 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 203 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm Kbb.comAutoDetective. This aligns with the 1MZ-FE engine Toyota introduced in North America beginning in 1993 riding higher in efficiency and reliability Wikipedia+1.

• Powertrain & Drive: Front-wheel drive (FWD) with a 4-speed automatic transmission AutoDetectiveKbb.com.

Dimensions & Capacities

• Size & Weight: Measures 187.8 inches in length with a 103.1-inch wheelbase, 69.7 inches wide, and a curb weight around 3,164 pounds Kbb.com+1AutoDetective.

• Interior & Cargo: Seats up to 5, offers about 108.9 cu. ft. of interior space and 14.9 cu. ft. trunk capacity Kbb.com+1.

• Fuel Capacity & MPG: Equipped with an 18.5-gallon fuel tank. Estimated fuel economy is about 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined Kbb.comAutoDetective.

Features & Equipment

• Comfort & Convenience: Standard features include cruise control, power windows, tilt steering, optional leather seats, and alloy wheels Kbb.com+1.

• Warranty (when new): Came with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion warranty Kbb.com.

Market & Rarity

• Limited Lifespan: The Camry Coupe was only offered for the 1994–1996 model years. In 1997, it was replaced by the Camry Solara Wikipedia.

• Collectibility & Common Views: While not exceedingly rare, the coupe version is less common than sedan or wagon variants today. Enthusiasts on forums note:

  “I’ve only ever seen 2 in the flesh… I imagine pretty rare now!”
  “The coupes are not as rare as they’re made out to be… wagons are actually more difficult to find usually.” Reddit

  And others remark:

  “1994 Toyota Camry 2 door is RARE” Reddit

These comments highlight that while not ultra-rare, the V6 coupe stands out due to its limited production and aging population.

Engine Background

• 1MZ-FE V6: Debuting in this generation, it featured aluminum construction, DOHC design, and a reputation for reliability and efficiency. It eventually earned a spot on Ward’s 10 Best Engines list in 1996 Wikipedia.

• Predecessor Engine: Earlier Camry V6s in North America used the bulkier 3VZ-FE, but from 1994 onward, the 1MZ-FE took over Wikipedia+1.

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At a Glance