2012 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6
ENGINE
Front-transverse 3.5-liter/211-cid DOHC V6
Power: 268 hp @ 6,200
Torque: 248 lb-ft @ 4,700
Compression ratio: 10.8:1
Minimum Fuel requirement: 87 octane
My Nissan
VQ30DE has a compression ration of 10.0:1 and the manual states "
For maximum performance, the use of premium gasoline is recommended. However, if premium is unavailable, unleaded regular of at least 87 AKI can be used."
The 2012 Camry manual states "
Octane Rating 87 (RON 91) or higher".
If you had a a 1970 era muscle car with at least a 10:1 compression ratio, premium gas was required.
The Toyota manual specifies the minimum octane rating. The electronic engine controls compensates for the lower octane by retarding the engine timing, thereby, reducing the engine's performance. 60's-70's era cars had no such controls. We used to advance the engine timing to just where it began to slightly knock and then back off a degree. This gave a more responsive acceleration and better fuel economy when cruising.
The use of premium gas in the 2012 Toyota V6 is currently still being hotly debated.