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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  Transmission is not good. - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Louis - December 7 - 11:10 am

  The transmission slips. Overall it is a good value car.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By clxi - December 6 - 7:46 am

  20 mpg city, 35 on the road, comfortable, quick and roomy ! I replaced the Michelins with Firestone Firehawk GTs and it became better in the corners and better in the snow.

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  Toyota quality has dropped. - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By PsychoRed - December 5 - 5:03 pm

  I loved the looks of this car more than any other in the price range of 25K to 30K. I previously owned a Toyota 4Runner which had incredible build quality and reliability. However, this Camry is terrible in both aspects. Poor transmission. Cheap plastic dash. Noises and rattles from everywhere. Not very sturdy build.

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  Not happy - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By jspec31 - December 5 - 7:49 am

  I decided on the Camry because theyre supposed to be known for their reliability. I bought it with about 38K miles on it. When I first took it on the highway the steering wheel shook pretty bad. The used dealer balanced all of the tires, and it did get better. A week later he put on 4 new tires and it was a vast improvement. However, approaching 45K, the rotors are warped , as I can feel pulsation when applying brakes. The car does shake again on the highway. Also the gas mileage is junk! Probably the way I drive because I went from a 6 cyl to 4, but when being conservative I only got 27mpg at best. Interior cheap and uncomfortable, paint is chipping on plastic body parts.

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  Highly disappointed! - 2018 Toyota Camry
  By Don Martinez - December 2 - 9:58 pm

  Traded in out 2016 Toyota Van XLE for this and been nothing but trouble. Shifts horrible and at times the engine response because of it is flat and scary. Weve had it to the dealership 3 times now for a burning smell under the hood. Finally the dealer has given us a loaner car and had the engineers come to check the car throughly. Were scared to park it in the garage or drive it as were afraid it might burn on the side the road or worse yet burn our house down. Will update this review if they fine the issue. I would not recommend this car to anyone currently. Some of the interior pieces could have been made better and the lack of GPS on all models is disappointing but were not surprised because the GPS we had on our Toyota Sienna was not great either. Toyota missed the mark only offering the GPS option on the XLE and XSE and supposedly they have to be V6 models as well. One of the things that frustrates me the most about the 2018 Toyota Camry is the trunk. you can only open it from the button on the dash or the key. If the car is running the key will not open the trunk. Why is theres not a switch on the trunk lid to open it from outside baffles me.

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  Worth the money - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Terptracker - December 1 - 9:00 pm

  Excellent compromise of quality, design, performance and fuel economy ... goes when you need it too, comfortable on trips. Excellent acceleration for a family sedan and gets upper twenties in combined driving, over 30 on long trips. Controls are mostly large and easy to read while driving. Could use memory seats, but its a minor complaint. Steering has minimal road feel, but it still grips the road fine. Brakes are responsive and have a secure feel. On occasion, would like a fold-down rear seat.

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  Great Honeymoon Period! - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Figatissimo - November 30 - 3:23 am

  Ok, this may be a bit premature since I only have about 350 miles on it, but Ive got to praise this car! Exceeded all expectations. Smooth ride, excellent handling, abundant power. Loaded even at the base level. Incredible build quality. Im having a problem getting adjusted to this car, though. It does such a good job of isolating the driver from the road, I sometimes dont realize how fast Im going! Sometimes it feels more like sitting in my living room watching a movie than driving!

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  How long is forever? - 2001 Toyota Camry
  By in2daark - November 29 - 2:23 pm

  I saw a post that said I wish itd break down so I can buy the tacoma I want. I was waiting for my Camry to pack it in in the past. But at this point (148K miles) I realize that it will be there for me when I need it. Ive only replaced a tail light bulb on this over and above regular scheduled maintenance!

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  Ive had enough - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By RJ in A - November 27 - 8:56 am

  Aside from a few expensive annoyances, the SE was fun to drive. Toyota makes a great family car with the sporty look, but it needed some tweaking. Based on prior Camry ownership, Im disappointed in the 02 SE. Major repairs on this car were a bit more frequent than I expected from a Toyota. Maybe the new 07 comes with better results. I may give Toyota another try.

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  Demand this car - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Wolf Breath - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I test drove many Camrys . . . all good quality. I would have bought sooner, but the Camrys you find with a good deal sell too quickly. Not only that, but some dealerships have jerks for managers. It was a hassle to find a good deal, but the car is worth it. Its good all around, dont expect sport, young or hipness, but very smart and sensible.