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:

• 

  lovin it - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By ladie - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Reliable smooth ride, extremely comfortable for long drives(particular compared to accords) Dont like position of ea radio control button..tend to get in way. Be sure to have lights in visors mirror! excellent acceleration for a 4cyl

• 

  Toyota Camry 2004 - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Rich - April 5 - 7:56 pm

  Most of my driving & ownership experience has been positive. There is some evidence that points to trouble with the braking system, as well as the interior design does limit vision when looking over your shoulder to check for blindspots.

• 

  This car is forever - 1995 Toyota Camry
  By Linda - April 5 - 12:01 am

  I bought my Camry station wagon in 2002, when the car was 7 years old, and now it has about 208,000 miles on it. Its the ONLY reliable car Ive ever owned. I own a small business, and after my having removed the rear seat cushions, the cargo space was huge. Has needed standard repairs and replacements, but some were to replace parts that have lasted 21 years! I had planned to keep it another 10 years, but it got totaled recently. The loss was huge to me. She had no book value, but the reliability of a Camry is priceless. If youre not concerned about resale value, I would think you can keep a Camry running forever. I was getting about 21 city/32 highway, due to my carrying a huge load of heavy tools and building materials, not any fault of the car.

• 

  Unsurpassed Reliability - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By sarah - April 3 - 7:46 am

  I bought my 97 Camry a year ago from an old lady with only 35k on it. I figured it would be a smart investment because it would last a long time and I wouldnt have to take a loan out on it. One year later I havent had any real issues. It blows blue smoke after its been sitting awhile, but it clears right up. It also burns oil, but its understood these cars are known for that problem. It is in almost mint condition, the metallic paint is still glossy and shiny without any real signs of fading. The only real complaint I have about this car is that it has absolutely no balls. The 2.2 liter engine has no gusto. I heard that Camrys V6 rectifies this problem quite nicely. A

• 

  TXCamryMan - 2017 Toyota Camry
  By TXCamryMan - April 2 - 1:16 am

  First of all you can rent this car at Hertz for any road trip to get an idea how it feels and performs. Next, find a great dealer which in my case was Classic of Texoma. And finally work with an exceptional salesman who in my case was Mike "Big Mike" Nelson.

• 

  Great Fix for the Glitch - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By JRTrin - March 31 - 5:20 am

  An article came out 2 weeks ago about Toyota having an upgrade on the sluggish shifting & hesitation for the Camry 2.4 5A. I took my car back to the dealer & they upgraded the engine software and calibrated the tranny. My car does not hesitate anymore & the auto shifting is smooth. Now I can say that this is an exciting car to drive. Good job Toyota, for correcting what should not have been in the first place. For owners who are having the same problem with the hesitation & shifting, I suggest that you bring it back to your dealer for the fix. You will feel the difference.

• 

  Excellent, is all I can say! - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By suspicious - March 30 - 10:00 am

  After loking at many cars, including BMWs, Accords, Maximas, and 626s, I had no choice but the Camry. Price, features, comfort, looks, and ride could not be better. Even to this day, the car feels exactly the same as the day I drove it off the lot. Id do it all over again. Excellent car! Please sir may I have another?

• 

  03 V6 XLE great car, but.......... - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By SURF DUDE - March 30 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased a 2003 XLE with the 210 V6 VVTi engine, equipped with the 5 speed transmission. The transmission is becoming a disappointment. I have noticed it has a problem downshifting from 5th into 3rd for passing. The transmission hesitates before a lower gear engages, then shifts into gear with a degree of roughness. There is a concern when immediate response is needed. Many owners of the Lexus ES300 have experienced the same problem, with the 5speed transmission [the Lexus and Camry share much of the same mechanical underpinnings] Lexus is aware of the problem, lets hope Toyota is in the loop and aware of the problem.

• 

  Problems+ + + + - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Fawaz - March 30 - 10:00 am

  i bought this camryproblem 3 months ago and sincs that im evry 2 or 3 days on the dealer problems evry where starts from the brake to the bad noise from the driver door the front psnger. door and the front glass adn the dealer dont want to fix anything he says that they dont know whats the noise problem ... its not only me in the dealer garage there is a lot of camrys like my problem

• 

  I Love my new Camry - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By JJ - March 29 - 1:30 pm

  This is my 4th Camry and 5th Toyota I have owned. In the past I had always purchased the LE model. After my girlfriend purchased a late model XLE with a 6 cylinder engine I decided my next care would be a 6. The XLE is an amazing car. Very luxurious and a pleasure to drive. This by far the best car I have ever owned.