Looking for thoughts on a new 2020 / 2021 Camry?
I know Scotty has covered the earlier ones of this same generation (the 2018 models, which have the same 8-speed transmissions that the 2020/2021 have). And the transmission is the one thing I'm most concerned about with the newer Camry's as some people claim they hunt for gears and hesitate when shifting.
@sirhawkeye
As with any new technology, there are gonna be some bugs.
If you trust that Toyota fixed the issue in the 2018 models, then go ahead and buy a new one.
Personally, I like buying proven technology if I'm spending a lot of money.
I have a 2017 Camry V6 and Avalon with the older style 6 speed automatic which they have used for a decade now.
Like the new 8 speed, the early 6 speeds had coasting problems but they fixed it eventually.
I do have to say when I test drove a 2020 Camry the other day, it wasn't that bad. Yes at times there was a bit of hesitation, although I didn't really notice any jerking from the transmission, and this was in some stop and go traffic along with regular city traffic. I mean I guess 2020 will mark the 3rd year they've used that transmission so from what I saw, I guess it's not that bad. When I think of jerking in a transmission, it reminds me of the 2012 Focus I had with the dual clutch transmission, which the Camry was nothing like that. (Unfortunately I've ruled out the Avalon due to price, and many of the older Camry's I've also ruled out simply because of mileage versus price--being that since Toyotas can hold their value, I might as well just buy a new one for a bit more.)
My 2020 V6 had not had any issues, and even if the transmission may be programmed slightly odd and shifts at some times you may not expect, it probably will not be a big deal to you. With so many gears, you would think that you'd notice shifting quite often, if you are actually trying to notice them. I never am bothered by this transmission, but you should still test drive a Camry and low and high speeds to see if you are not bothered either.
How about a non-turbo Mazda 6? Engine and transmission are tried and tested (unchanged for 5+ years) and you can still get a stick-shift! iirc, Consumer Reports rated Mazda #1 in terms of reliability. Toyota dealers are living high off the hog and don't have much incentive to negotiate. Also, depending on where you live there's an unpleasant middleman who gets a cut and plays games (several hundred dollars worth of useless add-ons, like spray-on "rustproofing"). They go by names like 'Gulf States Toyota' in several states around Texas. Just google them and see the billions they milk out of unwary customers every year (it's all non-negotiable free money for a deal they cut with Toyota in 1969).
The subject transmission is a UB80E 8-speed, but remember 7th and 8th are overdrive gears.
In my 19 Camry XSE V6, never a hint of a problem in just over 11K miles. Vehicle used 3-4 days/week, suburban/rural paved roads but sometimes urban use.
First gear to second is a big ratio change, bigger than most other 8 speeds (5.250 first gear, 3.028 second, 57% delta), after that gear ratios for 2-6 are rather close together, so some amount of gear hunting in mixed-speed driving (especially urban) will likely occur.
Manual gear selection may be advantageous to some drivers, but expect a drop in fuel economy and an increase in driveline usage and wear. The unit definitely doesn't like "speed-up, slow down, speed-up, slow down" driving !
The bottom line, in my opinion, is that the unit is as reliable, or better, than any other unit currently on the market (and far superior to anything GM offers). However drivers in that use the vehicle in certain (mostly urban) driving scenarios are the most likely to experience transmission "issues".
