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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  Its Like Driving A Cloud - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By attorneywrangler - June 14 - 2:00 am

  I went from an ergonomically incorrect 1993 Tercel to a 2003 Camry with full leather package. It is genuinely like driving a cloud. The turn signal is nearly silent, and the interior cabin, when at rest, is so quiet I can hear myself blinking. If you prefer a car wherein you like to do everything yourself - crank the window open, yank the emergency brake, twist and turn knobs, and feel like *you* are in control of the car, dont buy this model. This car drives you. If youre longing for a car that does everything for you, politely, quietly and without complaint, buy this model.

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  kayon - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By HENRY - June 14 - 2:00 am

  great car, perfect! At first i thought i wanted a big name car, and i was determined, but nobody could match toyota, there just great cars, and evry body loves them

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  kayon - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By henry - June 14 - 2:00 am

  great car, perfect! At first i thought i wanted a big name car, and i was determined, but nobody could match toyota, there just great cars, and evry body loves them

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  ITS LOVE - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By always9 - June 12 - 3:33 pm

  i love this car it has 225,xxx miles on it and it runs like new and the paint is still shiny! ive owned it for 3 years and all ive done is regular maitinance. It gets about 15,000 miles a year and its never failed me. I see a lot of other camrys from these years and i hate seeing them missing hubcaps or being dirty i mean come on hubcaps cost like 15 bucks buy some!! Still i love this car and im going to drive it until either it dies or i die :)

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  Transmission blew at 115,000 miles. - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Deston Nokes - June 12 - 11:07 am

  I enjoyed owning this car until its transmission blew out at 115,000 miles. I was under the impression that Toyotas lasted a lot longer. Wont get fooled again.

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  Almost Perfect -Toyota are you listening? - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By camryguy11 - June 12 - 9:56 am

  Given the recent outstanding offers, we leased a 2011 Camry 4 cyl with alloy wheels. This is an outstanding car that provides an exceptional level of security. I cant stress enough how impressive the overall design of this car is. Where it falls short is handling, which seems to be largely due to the awful Bridgestone tires. During the first week of ownership, our car veered left consistently on the highway, and the steering wheel shook over 55 mph. Unacceptable in a $24,000 automobile. The dealer re-balanced the tires but the condition remained. I took it to my tire dealer; all 4 tires were still out of balance and the left front had a bubble. They showed me it. Problem partially fixed.

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  Very Bad sound system - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By henrygh81 - June 11 - 12:46 pm

  Never thought I would be in such a disappointment with Toyota! I have always been a fan of Toyota cars, and own them. However this time I had a very bad experience from the Toyota Company and I feel that I had to share my experience! I walked into the dealer knowing exactly what I wanted to purchase, which was the brand new 2015 Camry XSE. One of my most important concerns about my car is the stereo and speakers. I believe that we spend so much time in our cars and I love to listen to my music while Im driving so therefore my stereo and speakers needs to have the best quality.

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  Best car out there! - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By master alpine - June 11 - 5:03 am

  This is a car that has lasted us forever. This is a great car also because the parts are widely availible so there is no problem with repairs. the cd player seems a little over worked. But thats really it.

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  Love my Toyota! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By maddogca - June 9 - 6:59 am

  I was a little skeptical about getting this car at first. Now, Im glad that I made the purchase. It has NEVER left me stranded and has ALWAYS sent me from Point A to Point B. So far, the only maintenance I have done to my car was oil changes, a new battery, and tires. I also love the moonroof and the leather seats. The JBL sound system is also a pretty nice system. The only thing that I can think that I dislike is the rear window shade. Other than that, thumbs up on this end. Toyotas might be expensive to purchase, but maintenance cost and insurance are SO LOW that it makes up for it.

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  Best Camry yet! - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Gina - June 9 - 4:06 am

  This is my fifth Camry, and definitely the best yet. Very comfortable seating position for both me and my husband. Smooth shifting. Good acceleration for engine size, and good mileage, especially when highway cruising around 70 mph (33-34 mpg). Lots of nice standard features. Steering wheel controls for stereo mode, presets, volume, temperature, Bluetooth, computer info. Great dual zone climate control. Customizable features which dont require dealer help like some brands (auto lock modes, interior light modes, etc.). Reclining rear seat.