The 2009 Toyota Camry has been the best selling midsize car in the country for several years and is quickly becoming Toyota’s bread and butter product. Like bread and butter though, the Camry has suffered from bland taste, and with increased competition from Ford, Chevrolet, and Nissan, many are beginning to wonder when the Camry will lose its crown.

It has been the choice of hundreds of thousands of buyers each year and we wanted to find out what ingredients Toyota used to make the Camry the top-selling titleholder for so long.

The Camry comes standard with a 2.4L, 158 horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or automatic. Optional on LE and upper trim levels is a tire-spinning 268 horsepower, 3.5L V-6 that’s mated to a 6-speed automatic with manual shifting.

The base engine is powerful enough for daily driving, making the V-6 for those that want the faster acceleration, reduced NVH, and manual shift-able six-speed transmission.

Highway driving was as smooth as butter and almost annoyingly quiet, except for some window noise above 65 mph. The electric steering had very little feel and made driving a bit of an exercise, especially when passing vehicles. It was hard to keep the vehicle from swaying side to side in light winds and small corrections made the Camry tilt a bit too much to the side.

The cruise control system got a bit out of control when a small hill came up on the highway, dropping from fifth to third gear and revving the engine for a few seconds. It sounded strained too, so we’re not sure if the engine is under powered in that sort of situation or if the transmission needs to be recalibrated. Just as an FYI though, Toyota issued several transmission recalibrations in 2007 when this generation Camry first came out.

Around town, the Camry was silky smooth and easy to drive, but suffered from a lagging throttle. There was a noticeable delay from when the gas pedal was pressed to when the car started to move. Otherwise, the suspension absorbed impacts with a nice “thump” and the entire vehicle felt very solid and well built.

Braking performance was great. The ABS system works very quickly and stops the Camry very well in wet conditions. The pedal has a solid, linear feel right from initial depression and our only complaint is excessive nose-dive because of the suspension tuning.

The Camry has grown in every possible dimension since it was introduced here in the late 1980s. This has helped it become a class leader in useable interior space and cargo volume.

Our LE trim level featured an 8-way power adjustable seat with power lumbar, cruise control, and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. The gauges in front of the driver are LED backlit, and were very clear and legible. In bright sunlight though, they tend to be washed out and could be hard to read.

At night, the center stack illuminates in soft light blue that helps the interior feel like a little bit sexier. The climate control knobs are large, easy to use, and straightforward. The radio was simple to use as well, but the sound coming out of the speakers was probably the worst we’ve heard in a while.

The seats up front are OK but could use more thigh support for a 6-foot driver. The driver’s seat can get somewhat uncomfortable on a long drive and we think it’s because it needs more bolstering in the right places. The back seat is great though. It has tons of leg and headroom, and fitting three friends across the back seat is a cinch thanks to the almost nonexistent hump in the center.

One area that the Camry definitely shines is storage space. There’s room in the front doors, a small opening in the center console that features a 12V outlet, the closeable storage area in the center console and underneath the center armrest. The Camry has two cupholders up front and two more in a fold-down center armrest in the back. Trunk space is measured at 15 cubic ft and that grows even larger thanks to fold-down rear seats.

The base radio and speakers are some of the worst we've heard and should be ditched if you listen to anything besides AM radio. FM reception was great though, and the Camry comes standard with an AUX input that’s recessed deep behind a closeable storage area. It’s great for keeping your music player safe but a hassle when you actually want to plug in the cord. The system plays MP3/WMA discs and offers XM radio as a dealer installed option.

A JBL Synthesis radio is optional on LE and SE, and standard on the XLE trim level. The upgraded radio offers a higher wattage output, two more speakers, a six-disc changer, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. If you want to keep the factory look, we’d recommend upgrading to this unit. It still doesn’t have the punch that other upgraded systems in this class have, but it’s definitely better than the base system.

A navigation system is optional on upper trim levels and isn’t worth the extra cost.

The Camry also comes with a keyless entry fob that is a part of the key, and optional keyless entry and start on the XLE.

Automatic headlights are standard and they include Daytime Running Lights. The headlights themselves are projector type and offer good distance and intensity, and the high beams are some of the best we’ve seen.

Part of the Camry's recipe is its focus on safety. The latest generation comes with seven airbags. Dual front, side thorax, side curtain, and a knee airbag for the driver. The knee airbag is designed to reduce forces on the driver’s legs when they impact the lower dashboard.

ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, and brake assist are standard across the board on the Camry. Stability and traction control are optional on all but the XLE trim. A vehicle immobilizer is standard on all trim levels, which helps reduce insurance costs.

The Camry is a safe bet when it comes to buying a car. It has top safety scores, has better long-term reliability than the competition, and holds its value well. It's the car for those that don't want the headache of electronic gremlins, poorly designed mechanical components or constant visits to the dealer.

Just remember which Camry is yours as there are a lot of them in parking lots across the nation.