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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  Reliable and economical - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - August 14 - 7:03 am

  Bought it in July of 1995. Since then Ive averaged 17k miles per year. It now has 184,000 miles and still runs great. Never needed any major repairs. Gas mileage is good (generally between 20 and 22 mpg in mixed driving), but power and especially handling could be better. The power antenna and locks sometimes stick in the winter.

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  Smooth but FUN! - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By TTSSN - August 14 - 2:06 am

  Upgrading from a 2002 Toyota Corolla S. Toyota has served me well so why wander away: No more Celica or MRS, dont want a Scion, Solaras arent the prettiest of things...Lets get a Camry SE! My Corolla had a decent aftermarket suspension setup, and my new Camry SE handles better through the canyon roads with more power to boot! Driving to/from work, the drive is smooth and relaxed. JBL sound system with the sun roof open is great driving down the coastline. Havent taken it on a long (50+ miles) drive yet. For now Id say the the interior is very comfortable. Plenty of room for four adults. The exterior is gorgeous. Even had local police comment on it at an intersection!

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  03 Camry LE Review - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By g - August 13 - 1:26 pm

  Ive had this car for 5 years and have put over 100,000 miles on it. Comfortable riding car but with a fairly generic feeling interior. Okay stereo. Not a good handling car, tends to float over the road providing a fairly vague feel. Taking my eyes off of the road to adjust the radio can result in drifting into other lane, even if just for a second; no feel of the road here. Reliability is not what I would have expected. Did sunroof cables and intake manifold at 70k ($1500). At 107k miles, now needs a new steering rack. Nice car for trips, but disappointing otherwise.

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  Now a real road machine! - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By Glenn Norris - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought my auto last Friday and immediately went on a 500 mile trip. I now have a 04 Toyota MR2, a 2009 LE Camry and this 11 SE. This car has a great comfortable ride with stiffer suspension than the LE. The fit and finish is outstanding. It held the curves very well on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I especially recommend the Smart Key System with PB starting and wireless door entry and XM radio w/Bluetooth wireless. Also, spend a couple of hundred dollars and get pin-striping and side body molding. It will pay off in the long run. Fox Toyota in Clinton, Tn was great to deal with. I choose this car over the Hyundai Sonata Because of the much better trade and the dependability of the Camry.

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  Unexpected - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By andram - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I was looking to replace my base model Yaris with a more feature laden car. After driving the Subaru Legacy, Forester, Outback I was drawn back to Toyota. I appreciated the reliability and confidence you get by owning one, they truly are well built cars. I originally drove an S model Corolla, but wanted to try out a manual Camry. Luckily the dealer had a 2007 5 spd Camry on the lot, I was surprised. It drove great, competent but not sporty handling, great brakes, and very spacious. Having driven both the 2007 2.4L 5 spd and the 2011 2.5L 6 Spd Camrys, I can say the 2.5L 6spd combo is the way to go. Very smooth, plenty of torque. They are hard to find cars, but well worth it!

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  Quality and Reliability? Think Again. - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By robertoduh - August 11 - 10:26 pm

  I bought this oh so reliable Camry in March 2010 with only 96k miles. I was thinking this car would at least run to 200k or maybe even 300k, but I found out it wont even make it to 130. I have 123 on the clock now, and in the time I had it, I poured over $6500 in repairs. A rebuilt transmission/engine, faulty airbag module, two broken window motors, and a new gas tank. The transmission went out at 100k, and the engine went out at 103k. Now with this "new" engine, it loves to stall at red lights. Not really helpful if Im stuck on a grade in traffic. Also, the interior quality sucks. My door panels are all cracking and falling off because of weakened clips. Thats quality for ya!

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  Nice car - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Garrett - August 11 - 8:37 am

  It is a very nice car. Worth way more than what I paid for it. Ive had it for about two years now and it had 189,000 miles on it. The handling is very good, the leather seats are very comfortable, the visibility is good, moon roof is fully functional, acceleration is rather decent, and brakes are good. The radio is not very good. The speakers sound very good for this generation, but the antenna motor (the one that is supposed to retract the antenna back into the vehicle after the radio is switched off) does not retract the antenna; it just makes noise. The CD and Tape players no longer work, but the AM/FM Tuner works great. The trunk is absolutely massive and the interior room is superb. Overall, a very nice car.

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  1994 Toyota Camry review - 1994 Toyota Camry
  By Jeremiah - August 11 - 1:40 am

  Ive owned my Camry for four years and have over 217,000 on the odometer, and I believe its an excellent choice for someone with a small budget. Interior design is excellent. The seats are well-shaped and comfortable, and the placement of controls is intuitive. At high speed, road noise is nearly non-existent, like a luxury car. Wind noise is moderately high, but no more than could be expected. Engine performance is mediocre. Noise is high at revs over 3000, and acceleration is adequate at best. Fit and finish inside is terrific, with snug and well-fitting parts, and reliability is good. For the money, youd be hard-pressed to find a better family sedan.

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  Awesome - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - August 10 - 1:13 pm

  Bought this car last weekend. I love the power the V6 provides. The ride is nice and smooth and the SE sport package really adds to the look of the car. I got it in black with the 17" rims and love the way it looks!

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  Oh, what a feeling! - 1996 Toyota Camry
  By Greg - August 9 - 5:10 am

  This Toyota is rolling right along. I bought it with 19,000 miles as a lease turn in. I now have 203,000 miles on it and still a daily driver. NO major repairs. Just batteries, tires, water pump and timing belt. Its one thing to pay the upfront cost, but then the maintenance cost over the years is where this car shines.