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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  satisfied, but would consider others, too - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By SS - July 24 - 10:16 pm

  I got what I expected, reliability. I do not think the brakes are as good as my 1992 Camry. Front seats are not deep enough. Head rests do not fit a short person! Some plastic interior pieces are cheap. I like not having to have headlights on.

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  Front seat issue - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By BB - July 23 - 1:23 pm

  The front seats are very poorly constructed. There is not enough cushion on the seat and it becomes very uncomfortable to ride after just a short drive. You feel like you are riding on a board!

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  2004 Toyota Camry LE - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Ron Donahoe - July 21 - 8:03 am

  Overall, Ive been very pleased with my Camry. Weve driven it under a great variety of circumstances, from urban Los Angeles to barren West Texas. Trip fuel milage has averages about 31 MPG which is appreciated with the current price of fuel. The Camry is comfortable on trips, although the seats are a little firm and could benefit from some more prominent side bolsters. Mechanically, it has been absolutely reliable. My only real complaint is some vibration noise in the dashboard/instrument panel, which can be annoying at times. As a family sedan, the Camry should definitely be on your short list for consideration.

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  This is a real Workhorse - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By tsarang - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I got this vehicle at 30,000 miles . I have now 114,000 miles on it, no majour breakdowns/repair. did my regular 30000, 60000, 100000 service on time. changed timing belt and Oxygen sensor as preventative maintainence plus the regular Oil change every 8000 miles (I use only synthetic oil). This vehicle is a benchmark for reliability. Just recently we shifted from California to Florida and i drove almost 2500 miles nonstop with my family with the car Totally loaded with lugggage and other stuff !!!!. We encountered no problems and reached our destination safely. Thank you CAMRY!!!!

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  I love my Camry!! - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By jcp#1 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  My 3rd Camry they just keep getting better. And dollar for dolar this was cheeper then my 99 Camry!

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  The Best, Most Reliable Sedan - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By DPROF11 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Having owned seven Toyotas over the years, I find the Toyota Camry to be the most reliable and most functional sedan of the Toyota family. Also, most of my friends who previously drove Fords, Lincolns, BMWs, and Saabs have migrated to the top-end Camry models. There are reasons why this sedan outsells all others.

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  Difficult to get past the issues - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By JMLEW70 - July 20 - 9:56 am

  I bought my 2007 Camry in Aug 2007 and it seems like I am having issues with reliability. The transmission is "driving" me crazy. It shifts erratically between gears and it stays in a lower gear when it should be shifting to a higher gear. Hesitation during acceleration is a problem. While the transmission is downshifting you can feel it thumping through the gears and an audible banging sound can be heard coming from the trans. The dealership said there was nothing wrong. The radio display has gone dark on me. After tapping the dash directly over the radio it comes back on. I even had a problem with the horn sounding when the headlights were switched on. None of these issues are resolved.

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  2009 Toyota Camry XLE - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Rahul Singh - July 18 - 7:13 pm

  Purchased my 2009 Camry and I love it. The ride is smoother quieter and more comfortable than the Honda accord. I do majority of my driving in city and town combined and i am averaging 32 MPG. This is phenomenal for a car this size. Couldnt have made a better choice.

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  Typical Toyota Except for - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By Lorr - July 16 - 9:43 am

  Solid feel. Door close with a solid thump. Brake feel is the best--dont have to drive Benz, Bimmer, Porsche to know that. Steering effort is light but still retains enough road feel at all speeds--perfect. Smooth running and very quiet on most road surfaces. All these traits spell quality and translate to great value for the money. One gripe--suspension a bit stiff and a little short on wheel travel. Absorbs small road imperfections well but bigger bumps hammer cabin LOUD and HARD.

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  Workhorse ! - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Llewelyn - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Weve really enjoyed this car...it has provided years of trouble-free driving. We test drove the 4 cylinder and it was pretty good for a 4, but the 6 is just perfect.