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10 Most Popular Cars of the Year

Meet the top 10 contenders for the Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award.

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By the Road & Track Staff

Toyota Camry

2009 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry holds the distinction as America’s top-selling car, based largely on a reputation for dependability and great build quality. In addition to these virtues, the Camry excels in its diversity of models. This lineup of front-wheel- drive sedans runs the gamut from the base CE to the midrange LE, sporty SE and luxurious XLE. A fuel-thrifty 158- horsepower 4-cylinder is standard, teamed with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Those seeking more power can opt for a 268-horsepower V-6 paired with a 6-speed automatic on the top three trims. And of course, Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy drive, which combines an electric motor with the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, provides 33 mpg city/34 mpg highway while giving performance numbers that rival V-6-powered cars.

Riding on a 109.3-in. wheelbase, the Camry has contemporary styling with minimal ornamentation aside from the prominent Toyota logo floating above the front grille. Base models are equipped with 15-in. wheels and tires, while LE, SE and XLE come with larger 16-in. rubber. The Camry possesses competent road manners thanks to its fully independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes. The roomy interior has ample space for five and the cabin isolation and refinement rival that of the cars from Toyota’s luxury Lexus division.

Virtually everything one could want in an affordable midsize family car is available including navigation, a 440-watt audio system, leather interior and Bluetooth connectivity. For those with sporting intent, SE trim brings the otherwise sedate sedan alive with sport suspension settings, Optitron gauges, 17-in. alloy wheels and a body kit. With a diverse product lineup, high quality and a myriad of options, it’s no wonder that the Camry is top selling car in America today.

Up Next: Toyota Corolla

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