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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  Great car. I love it. - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Happy Camry Owner - September 29 - 2:10 am

  This car rocks. I love how the Camry looks and feels. The radio system sounds great. The drivers seat is really comfortable. When I push on the gas the car goes. I like the smooth ride and the smooth accelration.

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  Mercedes drove me to a new Toyota - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By RealtorNate - September 28 - 8:23 pm

  Let me just say I review this car having owned a little bit of everything. Ive previously had a similarly equipped Ford Fusion, and in between have owned a couple of Mercedes. While they are wonderful cars, I decided the $3000 maintenance a year on my S430 4Matic was getting old. I work in real estate and am on the road a lot and need something reliable and that wont leave me on the side of the road, or spending wasted days at the repair shop. My goal this was reliability. I initially didnt like this car when I first drive it. I compared it to a me Sonata, and also a Honda Accord Sport. I finally went for the Blue Streak Metallic Camry Special Edition. So far Ive only drive about 600 miles, but Im liking my experience. I was sold on the Camry for its reputation, resale value, and decent amount of features on this special edition. If Honda would offer push button start and a sunroof on the Accord Sport, I would own one. Surprisingly Ive not missed the power of a V8 yet. The 4 cylinder and 6 speed seem to work to provide the most power possible. Compared to the 2012 Fusion I owned and loved (mostly), the engine and transmission harmony make all the difference. The Fusion transmission always seemed to hunt for gears or hesitate. The Camry does quite well with barely noticeable shifts, and always seems to be in the needed gear. Coming from a Mercedes, the interior was a bit of adjustment. But I love it. The blue accents are refreshing and help liven up the black. Theres quite a bit of hard plastic inside, but I reason that it will be more durable in the long run and more easily cleaned. Infotainment options area straightforward and easy to use. Trunk is more spacious than the big Benz. The ride quality is decent, made a bit more harsh but the 18" rims. However the look of them is far worth the trade off. Overall Im pleased with my purchase. Ill be interested to see how well the interior holds up to wear, and if that Toyota reputation that I craved is as fullfilling as I hoped.

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  You get what you pay for! - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Camry owner - September 27 - 4:15 am

  I purchased the 2015 XLE V6 fully loaded with the technology package. Lots of features to discuss. Performance: Acceleration is strong - this car has LOTS of get up and go! The V6 will not let you down. Just be sure to realize that when youre in the higher gears and drop the pedal, there will be a hesitation as the RPM increase in the engine is translated to the drive train. Speaking of the drivetrain, shifting from gear to gear is very much a non-event - barely noticeable. Dropping it into "manual" shift mode gives you some control over performance, but the car will still shift for you if youre exceeding limits. Steering is softer than Im used to (previous car was 02 Honda Accord). The electric steering is very lightweight and allows some slop in handling, as a result road handling is lessened a bit. Body sway is noticeable on highway entrance ramps. Braking requires more pressure than the Accord. Comfort: All aspects are deemed "OK." Front seats are stiff - not sure yet how theyll be on long road trips. Back seat has plenty of legroom and supportive seating makes the ride comfortable. Exterior noise is minimal, and for the first 1500 miles there have not been any noticeable vibrations (knock on wood). Entering and exiting the car is easy as the doors swing wide open. Careful review of the backseat entrance should be made by anyone with limited mobility. Longer legs will need to be picked up before swinging them out in order to egress the vehicle. Interior: Instrumentation, controls, and design of the interior all get top marks. The car looks like a luxury car! That having been said, the weak spot on this car is the storage. Trunk size is sufficient, but interior storage is limited at best. Coming from an Accord where there was literally storage everywhere you turn, the Camry is sorely lacking in this realm. You get a panel console that doubles as a charging bay, the glove box is pretty much worthless for anything but the owners manuals, and the door storage bins will hold nothing bigger than a small umbrella. The armrest console in the middle is nothing but one big bin. In essence, if you have small cables (phone charging cables), small objects (I carry pens, chewing gum, and my daughters hair accessories), or other items know that theyll end up in the big console without any sort of organization. To find them while driving down the road is nearly impossible, so you either have to plan ahead or just wait until you hit a stop light. As for the quality of materials, the leather used in the seating is fine, but the materials used for the ceiling panel is cheap. The doors are part leather and part hard plastic. Previous Toyota ownership shows that extreme care must be taken with the hard plastic as it scratches easily. Those scratches are permanent and will not come out no matter what you do. For a $30k+ car, I would think that Toyota could afford to finish the doors in leather and provide a better ceiling. Safety: Luckily, I havent had to test out the safety features yet, but from what I can see they will perform as expected. The LED headlights are OUTSTANDING! Vision at night, even rainy nights, is perfect. The LED daytime running lights are bright enough to be seen in the sunniest of days, and on rainy nights help ward off the road glare of oncoming traffic. As mentioned above, I have the technology package on my car which includes the blind spot monitor, lane departure warning, pre-collision alarm system, and adaptive cruise control. The blind spot monitor and lane departure warning work perfectly, the later beeping softly when you get close to leaving the lane without a signal. I have noticed that it will occasionally warn of lane departure when the road markings suddenly end. The pre-collision does work. If youre accelerating when the person ahead of you is braking, the car starts braking and the beeping starts. Obviously, this is useful but it could be a real pain in the rear if you accelerate to change lanes when the car in front of you is slowing down. I have only tried the ACC once and it seems to work well. Technology: The head unit is relatively intuitive to use. Touch screens dominate the interaction between driver and unit. Aside from AM/FM/CD Player options, the unit allows for satellite radio, Bluetooth input from cellphone/music player, USB flash memory, and "Aux" in options. The Entune apps allow for use of cell phone data to play Pandora, IHeartRadio, Slacker Radio, as well as Facebook Places, OpenTable, and MovieTickets. You can also check weather maps and forecasts, review sports scores, check your stocks, and locate the nearest or lowest price gas station. Be aware that use of all of the Entune apps requires use of cell phone data so either have a large data package with your cell phone provider or limit your use of the Entune apps. I was able to change the greeting picture to something more meaningful to me than the Toyota logo,

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  Great Ride with Toyota Reliability - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Drew - September 25 - 4:50 am

  This is a great car... I use it to get to work everyday and it gets great gas mileage even for being a pretty big sedan in urban environment (24-26 mpg). The two door coupe is great for me because one big door lets me get in and out of the car easily (Im 63" tall). I also enjoy just enjoy taking it out for a cruise because the styling is pretty good for a ten year old car. My car has the sunroof/moonroof 3-disc CD changer and cruise control... perfect for long rides. The ride is very smooth especially at highway speeds. I just had a simple tune up on the car and it rides even better now... it will drive at 70mph at only 2200- 2500 rpms. This is a great, comfortable, affordable car

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  Love it!! - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Jenny - September 25 - 3:04 am

  I dont know what everyone else is complaining about this vehicle. Ive owned my 2016 Camry for almost a year, just under 10k miles. This car is amazing!! We just took it on a 10-hour one-way trip to Northern California over the weekend of the 4th. The trip is 780+ miles one way!! Driving on the highway and making 44mpg was amazing. Darn thing only drank about a tank and a half. The front seats are comfortable (I have the cloth upholstery), as well as the back seats. Plenty of storage room throughout the vehicle, the stock sound system is excellent (for being stock), and Ive had absolutely NO noise issues. The car rides quiet, no dash snaps or door snaps. Nothing!! I highly recommend this car to all of my friends and family.

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  Love It!! - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Healthlady - September 24 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Toyota, but wont be my last. I truly love my Camry. It was a hard choice between the Camry and the Accord, but I am glad that I chose the Camry. I am glad that I purchased a vechile with all the options, because I use them all!!

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  You need to drive one yourself - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By stephanie - September 22 - 11:50 am

  This is my first car, I bought it about 2 years ago and am in love with it. Ive had to deal with maintanance (tune up, tires, oil, brakes) and what not, but for a 12 year old car that is expected. It is SOLID and drives smoothly. In the snow, it holds its own and you feel safe in it. The v6 engine is awesome and I hope Ill never have to descend down to a v4 ever. After driving one, you wont be able to part. The appearance could be better, but it looks ahead of the game with a late-90s look. Dependable, reliable, simply common sense.

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  Solid vehicle at a fair price - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By TerryTheSwede - September 19 - 5:10 pm

  The 2007 Camry is a well built car. It handles nicely, and offers a cofortable ride, and great features. I have had this Camry LE for only a month, but I have no regrets. My conclusion after doing a ton of research regarding safety, reliability, comfort and gas mileage: the Hyundai Sonata is thousands of dollars cheaper and matches the Camry in all respects except comfort. Bottom line was that I was going to be in that drivers seat for years to come and I was not going to skimp on the critical comfort factor.

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  Whew never again - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By Kathi - September 19 - 3:37 pm

  Be sure to drive this car on bumpy roads. I feel every small bump in the road. Wind noise inside is terrible. Should have bought the Hyndai, much quieter interior. Truely hate the black dashboard, I am in and out of my car all day. Gets very warm. Thank goodness the full blast air conditioner cools it quickly. I bought this car too fast , felt rushed by the dealer. Needed a car, my trade in had a major sunroof leak. Should have walked away. Already looking for another car. Would not go back to Sloan Toyota.

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  not happy with our Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Kevin - September 19 - 3:36 pm

  I purchased two 2007 Camrys the same day; one for my wife and one for my daughter. My daughters has been great from day one, my wifes although it was always dependable had engine hesitation and the drivers sun visor continually fell off into the drivers lap every time you tried to move it up or down. With Toyotas current problems I decided to dump it and buy a Volvo. Yes, I took it back to the dealer several times and finally got tired of dealing with them - now ai dont have to.