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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  Toyota Reliability? - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Micah - June 8 - 4:10 am

  We bought our SE because we thought it would look cool in black with the sport body kit, but there are so many Camrys, theyre everywhere. They always looked bad exterior wise, but I thought the reliability was worth it. After 7 months, I ran out the warranty (I drive a lot for work) and the car had electronic problems from the first week. The interior has been falling apart from day one when the door panel came off. I have to go to the shop once every two months because the engine makes odd noises. The interior is, unimaginative to say the least, it truly is an appliance vehicle, no style.

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  Great car overall...but... - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Lukewarm in Florida - June 7 - 8:26 am

  I bought this car back in the spring right when the new model came out. I love the new styling and the interior, ride and acceleration are great. The upgraded stereo with satellite and bluetooth is amazing for a factory stereo. Connect a good MP3 to it and you will be amazed at the sound quality and clarity. The voice-activated bluetooth works very well so far. If you are considering this car, PLEASE NOTE: The new automatic transmission shifts smoothly in highway acceleration and cruising BUT the auto transmission does NOT do well in stop and go, around town driving...it never seems to know what gear to be in and downshifts rather harshly when slowing or coming to a stop-very annoying!

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  camry review - 1992 Toyota Camry
  By roe - June 5 - 10:00 am

  This car has been magnificent in reliability!

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  WONDERFUL CAR!!! - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By Summer490a - June 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new and have had it 10 years now and just love it. I have had no problems with it at all, and the 4 cylinder engine is fast and shifts smoothly. Ride is quiet and it handles great!!! Great car for a teenager just starting out driving.

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  Camry LE 2000 4 cyl - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By W. Lederer - June 5 - 10:00 am

  We have driver this car for just over 3 years and it has performed excellent and beyond our expectations. To this date no repairs necessary.

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  Camery XLE - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By ep - June 5 - 10:00 am

  The Camery XLE provides power with comfort.

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  The New Camry - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By ATOYOTAFAN - June 5 - 10:00 am

  This car is well built. It has personality style but not that exciting to drive. The tranny and engine are smooth and well contolled. The 2.5L 4- banger is fuel effecient but not exceptionally powerful. The interor is quiet. The steering is improved over my previous Camry but not as responsive as it could be. The brakes have good stopping ability but feel a little mushy to the touch. Toyota needs to find and fix that annoying rattle that I hear in the door. Ive gone to the dealer but, of course they claim they never here it.

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  My 5th vehicle, my 2nd Camry - 2014 Toyota Camry
  By wbrem588 - June 3 - 5:50 am

  After having a great experience with my 2001 4-cylinder Camry (which I still own - soon to be passed onto my sister (216,000 miles by the way!)), I just couldnt bring myself to purchase a new (to me) mid-size sedan that wasnt named Camry. While the Camry has always been called bland, and "an appliance," this generation of Camry is probably the best looking one, in my biased opinion. The SE trim is just so understated and sharp looking, from the low-profile rear spoiler to the reshaped front and rear bumpers, and the black-tinted headlight bezels and chrome exhaust tip, these little details just bring the look of the Camry together really, really well. The only thing I would change about the exterior appearance would be the wheels. Theyre very clean looking, but the charcoal 18" wheels on the V6 SE models are damn good looking. The interior is also very understated, with a clean and ergonomically biased design. Interior quality has been top notch so far! All buttons and logos are very easy to read and are located in logical spots on the dash and steering wheel. The gauges are very large and easy to read, and the 2 small LCD screens on the dash are just as easy to read. The steering wheel feels nice in the hands, and the grip bolster extensions feel just as good, and the paddle shifters are a very nice touch. The 6.1" touchscreen is very easy to read (can you see a pattern yet?), is very responsive, and the Bluetooth works like a charm. I do also appreciate the very deep center console, and the damped glove box. The seats are shaped nicely, and are comfortable, but I do notice on longer drives a little bit of pain in my back (Im 63", 290 lbs.). I will play with the lumbar adjustment each time, and that seems to do the trick. My thought is that I just havent adjusted fully to how these seats fit me, and perhaps Ill get used to it over time. Its a very minor gripe to me. The 2.5 4-cylinder and 6-speed auto combination have been rock solid in the month Ive owned the car, and the oil is still easy to change! (albeit with a couple of added steps compared to my 2001). Its a very peppy little engine, and will satisfy the majority of those who drive it (but by all means, get the 3.5 if you can!). Other than that minor thing concerning the seat comfort, I have zero complaints about my 2014 Camry otherwise. I love this thing, and I always look forward to driving it everyday. I plan on owning it for quite awhile, at the very least until its paid off, but even then Ill probably still hang onto it. People say there is a reason for why those who have owned a Toyota once always buy them again. Theyre damn good vehicles, and have that rock-solid reputation for reliability to show for it. The Camry isnt flashy, and yeah, everyone and their mother drives one, but theres a reason for that. When shopping for a mid-sizer, a Camry should always be on your list for consideration.

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  its a toyota!! - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By don f - May 31 - 10:00 am

  What an excellent car!! The V6 should be standard for this car. With the V6, this car is perfect. Lots of get up and go. No problems so far.

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  N/A - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By neonman12 - May 31 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle replaced a 1992 Olds Cutlass, which was like going from a Volkswagen Beetle (older type) to a Porsche 928. The performance of this vehicle has been surprising considering its size and weight. As for fun-to- drive, the car will get you into trouble with law enforcement very quickly, so pay attention to the speedometer, as 100+ mph is no strain at all for this car. The ride quality is as good as your living room couch...functional, but responsive when needed. Long trips are easily handled with little or no fatigue.