Overview & Reviews

The Toyota Camry quietly debuted late in the 1983 model year, when Toyota replaced its old rear-wheel-drive Corona with the front-wheel-drive Camry, a car aimed specifically at the U.S. market. From these humble beginnings, the Camry would go on to dominate the midsize family sedan segment for virtually all of the next quarter-century, as consumers immediately embraced it for its high build quality, comfortable ride and impressive durability.

New or used, the Camry comes pretty highly recommended. As the Camry sells in such high numbers, finding one that matches your criteria should be pretty easy. It is worth noting that the family segment has improved greatly in more recent years. Many competing sedans have matched or outpaced the Camry in terms of quality and desirability, particularly in comparison to the sixth-generation model. The latest version of the Camry, however, has largely shored up the car's reputation as a go-to choice.

Current Toyota Camry
The five-passenger Toyota Camry is offered in L, LE, SE, SE Sport and XLE trim levels with a choice of two engines. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder produces 178 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, while the available (depending on trim) 3.5-liter V6 makes 268 hp and 248 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic is the only transmission offered, and sends power to the front wheels.

The Camry L's feature highlights include air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a touchscreen display and a six-speaker sound system with a USB interface. Stepping up to the LE gets you a few more features, while the SE spices things up with a sport-tuned suspension and sporty styling treatments. The SE Sport features bigger wheels, a sunroof and a power driver seat. The luxurious XLE reverts to a softer suspension and adds a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats and leather upholstery (V6). A premium audio system with a larger touchscreen and upgraded navigation system can be added to XLE models.

It should be noted that halfway into the 2014 model year, the Camry's standard equipment was revised. As such, the rearview camera became standard across the board, the upper trims picked up some enhanced audio features and the Entune name was expanded to cover all of the car's infotainment systems (not just the one with smartphone integration).

In reviews, we've praised this Toyota Camry's interior, which provides roomy seating, admirable outward visibility and well-placed controls. What the cabin design lacks in cohesiveness, it makes up for with generally good materials quality, especially the handsome stitching on the dash and door panels of upper trims. Toyota's Entune system is also praiseworthy in the way it easily adds enhanced audio, information and navigation features, although the touchscreen's virtual buttons can be a little frustrating to use at times.

Overall, this Camry provides the comfort and the quiet and smooth ride that should please a wide swath of midsize sedan shoppers. Power and fuel economy are excellent with either engine as well. The only major downside is the car's handling, which isn't as lively or engaging as that of other top family sedans, such as the Honda Accord or Nissan Altima.

Used Toyota Camry Models
The latest (seventh) generation Toyota Camry debuted for 2012 and has a number of significant improvements over the previous one. The interior is significantly nicer than before, and the four-cylinder engine is more powerful. Yet the car is still unmistakably a Camry, with a focus on pragmatic appeal and convenience. Changes since have been minimal. For 2014, the SE Sport trim level joined the lineup, while halfway through that model year saw some minor equipment shuffling that included the rearview camera becoming standard across the board.

The previous sixth-generation Camry was produced for the 2007-'11 model years. In reviews, we commented favorably about the Camry's spacious cabin, powerful and fuel-efficient optional V6, plush ride quality and top crash test scores. Unlike older Camrys, though, this one was let down by disappointing interior plastics, inconsistent fit and finish and uninspiring driving dynamics for non-SE models. It's a respectable choice for a used family sedan, but we thought more highly of competing models, such as the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima.

For most of its production run, the Camry was offered in LE, SE and XLE trim levels. The entry-level model was labeled as the CE trim, but only for the first year. Base and LE models came fairly well equipped, while the SE brought with it a sport-tuned suspension. The softer-sprung XLE included items such as a premium sound system, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power passenger seat, reclining rear seats and leather upholstery (V6). Most of the features on the higher-trimmed models were offered on supporting trims as options. Other major options included a sunroof and a navigation system.

This Camry was offered with either a four- or six-cylinder engine, with improvements made over the years. The initial base engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produced 158 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque (slightly lower in California and other states). A five-speed manual or five-speed automatic was available, though four-cylinder XLEs were automatic only. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque and was paired to a six-speed automatic only.

In 2010, the base engine was increased to 2.5 liters and power output was boosted to 169 hp. The SE was further pushed to 179 hp. Both manual and automatic transmissions were also upgraded to six speeds. Other 2010 changes included a restyled grille and taillights, and standard stability control, satellite radio and Bluetooth for all models.

Previous to this was the fifth-generation car that was produced from 2002-'06. As expected, it was a comfortable sedan that offered a roomy cabin, a choice of inline-4 or V6 power and, depending on trim level and optional equipment, most of the latest safety features such as stability control and side curtain airbags. However, prior to 2005, the base Camry did not come standard with antilock brakes. As with other Camrys, we generally found this generation to be very good in terms of room, comfort and feature content.

Three engines were available for this generation. The first was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that made 154 hp (145 with PZEV emissions controls). It was mated to either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission (four-speed prior to '05) and should be powerful enough for the majority of buyers. A 3.0-liter V6 that generated 190 hp was also available (18 hp less prior to '04) on the LE and XLE trim levels, while a 210-hp, 3.3-liter V6 (introduced for 2004) was available on the SE model only. These six-cylinder Camrys came with the automatic only. In previous years, these power numbers were higher because of a change in measurement that occurred in 2006, although actual output never changed.

Like the more recent versions, the 1997-2001 Toyota Camry sedan offered a quiet, stress-free driving experience. Many desirable modern features were also available, including side airbags and antilock brakes (which became standard on all trim levels except the base CE). It, too, was offered with four- and six-cylinder powertrains.

Although a Camry older than 1997 is likely to have quite a few miles on it, it is still something to consider for folks on a tight budget. Provided it has been faithfully maintained, a 1992-'96 Camry (which was available in coupe, sedan and wagon body styles) should be able to spin its odometer to nearly 200,000 miles without major problems. It's this final trait, more than any other, that has kept the Toyota Camry popular with buyers over the last two decades.

User Reviews:

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  v4 vs. V6 - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By Rich - August 22 - 11:16 pm

  Having owned a 2007 Camry LE with the V6 I must say how wonderfully surprised I was when I purchased a 2011 XLE 4. Plenty zippy and wonderful on the freeway. First tank full of gas 28 MPG with the V6 on the same route just 23 Mpg. Highway blows away the 32 MPG estimate and this at 70 MPH. This time Toyota under-promises and over delivers. Leather seats excellent and ride may be cushy but I love it after a hectic day of work. The JBL sound is crystal clear and the speakers are dynamic. If your thinking V6 think again and drive the V4. In a Venza the difference is pronounced because of the weight difference. In the Camry quiet, smooth and MPG, trump 0 to 60.

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  Seat is killing me - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By mike - August 21 - 3:56 pm

  Bought this car in 2002. Didnt get to spend enough time in it to discover the drivers seat is just awful. It feels misaligned, and wreaks havoc on my back. Brought it back to the dealer and they said it was fine. The acceleration was terific for the first year, then it was noticeably slower getting on the freeway. Just age I was told. The interior is bland, the exterior is okay, but more suited to senior citizens. Ive had an okay experience, never been stranded. I am definitely looking to get out of this car in a hurry though.

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  Very very very dissapointed - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By dissapointment - August 20 - 8:10 am

  This is my 3rd camry since 99 and probably my last. Ive owned basically only Totyotas for the last 25 years, Land Cruisers, Corollas and Camrys and Ive never been so dissapointed. The transmission, doesnt work properly, as well as the cruise control, the car shakes after 60 miles, the radio and CD player had to be excchanged, overall I am the proud owner of a NIGHT MARE!!!

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  Reliable Point a to b transportation - otherwise kinda boring - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By dreamer123890 - August 19 - 8:05 am

  Camry is a good reliable car. Driven it 41k since Aug09. Doesnt get your pulses going and begs to not go fast but its reliable, comfortable and spacious. The 4-cylinder engine is ok. Not as fuel efficient as compared to the current crop of midsize cars. I get about 26-27 mpg with mostly city driving. Highway driving gets 30 mpg. I am mostly satisfied but the interiors are cheap plastic and downmarket. HOwever seats are comfy. Suspension is soft but hits its max pretty quickly. I wouldnt buy a camry again - too ordinary and cheap looking for me. The new Accord looks amazing and has the same reliability, better fuel efficiency. I will probable consider that before i consider Camry.

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  2016 CAMRY CLEARANCE PURCHASE - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Bonnie Konjevich - August 17 - 10:52 am

  Better MADE AND SAFER than my 8 YR OLD Honda Civic

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  Great car, but horrid infotainment system - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Sad about infotainment - August 16 - 5:39 pm

  I like everything about the car except the infotainment system and the auto-temp control. The infotainment system appears to have been designed by different groups that didnt bother to share design ideas. If you you play a CD, you get one interface, play music via bluetooth, you get a very different interface and if you play music via a flash drive in the USB port, you get yet another interface. To make things worse, if your flash drive happens to have 60+gb worth of music, the infotainment system takes forever to index the music and invariably forgets what is knew only seconds before and has to reindex it yet again. With any other music interface, if you are playing an album and select repeat, it will repeat the entire album. If you only have one song selected and select repeat, it will only repeat the song. With the Toyota, selecting repeat will only repeat the song selected. You cant have it repeat all songs that you are currently playing. Also, if you have a number of songs that it is playing randomly, if it happens to randomly play the last song in the list (even if it is only the first or second song out of 100), it will frequently drop out of the large list of yet unplayed songs and start at the top of the root list of artists and play their music. If you have the thermostat set to auto for temp control, it will not let you control if the upper/lower fans are turned on. For instance, it was sunny and hot outside. I set the temp to 72 degrees F when I got into the car. It quickly cranked up the air conditioning and fans (as desired). However, once it had cooled the car off inside, it turned off the top fan and only kept the fan turned on for my feet. So I end up with nice and cool feet, but with the sun on me and the top fan completely off, I was still rather hot. I ended up having to give up on the auto temp control. its ok when it is cold outside, but worthless if it is hot.

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  Great car! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Tyree326 - August 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had this car for a week and love it! I was looking at BMWs, VWs and Audis but the Camery SE(Sport Edition) V6 had just as much to offer with a much lower price. More horsepower too! The 3.3 liter V6 offers 225 hp! And an automatic 5 speed transmission.

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  MY CAMRY - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By BRENDA SOLTERO - August 15 - 2:00 am

  iVE ALWAYS BOUGHT A CAMRY. NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THEM. I DONT CHANGE THEM FOR NONE OTHER.

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  A happy customer - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By mysterb - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Still in the breakin period, 400 miles. No problems experienced to date. Everything appears tight.

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  Good family sedan - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By joy - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Got this car about two weeks back. I test drove Accord and Jetta. I love its smooth run, good handling and almost noiseless engine. It is very comfortable and fun .