View Photos of the 2018 Toyota Camry SE 2.5L

Notably, it does so without sacrificing roll stiffness or lateral grip.

In fact, this 2018 Camry SE managed to circle our 300-foot skidpad at an impressive 0.88 g wearing a set of Hankook Kinergy GT all-season tires.

Thanks to the predictable and composed attitude of the chassis, as well as the responsive and well-weighted electrically assisted power steering, the Camry SE encourages its driver to take advantage of its relatively lofty lateral limits.

Every 2018 Camry—from the base L, to the mid-level LE and SE, and all the way up to the top-of-the-line XLE and XSE—comes standard with a 2.5-liter inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Armed with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque (206 horsepower and 186 lb-ft in the quad-exhaust XSE model), the Camry’s all-new four-cylinder produces an additional 25 horsepower and 14 lb-ft of torque compared with its predecessor.

The new four-cylinder Camry is also considerably more economical than the previous-generation car, with EPA fuel-economy figures that climb by 4 mpg in the city (to 28 mpg), by 6 mpg on the highway (to 39), and by 5 mpg overall (to 32 mpg combined).

We matched that combined figure over the course of 1188 miles. Even more impressive was the Camry SE’s 45-mpg showing on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy run, which is 1 mpg better than that of the Camry hybrid.

The four-cylinder’s straight-line performance was less rousing. Zero to 60 mph required 7.9 seconds, just 0.1 second ahead of the old car.

Meanwhile, the new Camry’s slow-to-downshift automatic transmission contributed to a 50-to-70-mph passing time of 6.0 seconds, 0.4 second worse than the previous-generation Camry SE and 1.2 seconds behind the Mazda 6.

Even though the 2018 Camry’s more engaging persona has transformed it into a competent driving companion, at heart it remains, well, a Camry.

Despite a wheelbase that has been stretched 1.9 inches, overall passenger volume is down a smidge and rear legroom decreases by 0.9 inch.

The supportive and well-padded rear bench has a 60/40 split-folding seatback (except on the base L).

But the pass-through is relatively small, and it’s further compromised by the seatbacks’ inability to lie completely flat.

Only NBA-size passengers will notice the difference, as the Camry’s aft quarters remain plenty spacious.

Like the entry-level $24,390 Camry L and the $24,895 Camry LE, the Camry SE comes standard with LED headlights and taillights, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beams, and automated emergency braking.

The SE adds automatic climate control, cloth-and-faux-leather seats with power adjustability for the driver, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters.

SE models also include their own special dash trim, 18-inch wheels, a tacky-looking exterior kit that features a decklid spoiler and fake vents below the taillights, and an odd striped pattern on the seat inserts that doesn’t give off an upscale vibe.

We’d take a hard look at stepping up to the better-equipped XSE or XLE model, which substantially improves the perceived quality of the interior.