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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  Dont believe terrible hype! - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By ThePhoenixKing - February 25 - 3:36 am

  Okay i felt more than compelled to write a review about this car. You see all official sites that review cars (I.E. Motortrend, Edmunds, CarandDriver, etc) severely underrate this car. Its criminal really. If based your purchase off the magazine reviews or youtube. You would be robbed of a great car. And im serious. The 2015-2017 Camry SE model is a superb handler. I have chucked this car into many corners bit hot. And the car simply settles in and hunches down. Body roll is very minimum. Acceleration great in sport mode. However in regular drive sometimes the transmission doesnt give you the gear want for more rapid takeoffs. My remedy is simply throwing the shifter into sport. Dropping down two gears and you dont even have nail the gas for it to fly off. Over 100 miles an hour though and the governor limits the otherwise good pulling power. Brakes are excellent as well. However when compared to the Chrysler 200 (2015-2017) the brakes take more pedal really bite down and kill off momentum. This is most prevalent on the highway when you suddenly need to stop because traffic is getting congested. But once biting the brakes are good and front end dive is minimum with all other body motions. The fuel economy is excellent since the car always wants to be in ECO mode(which contributes to the sometimes slower takeoff speeds). The smaller tank means 20 dollars has full or an hair under the full tank mark. The interior is lovely. Materials are good for the class. I have the ashette color scheme(ash colored seats with leatherette fabric mixed) Back seat room is mind boggling. My customers always give me compliments(I uber Lyft) and some have even said they cant tell difference between my car and a luxury vehicle. (I am not making this up). The fact is owners do nothing but PRAISE the camry. Its only reviewers that make the Camry seem subpar. And ive driven the class favorite Madza 6(2016). Both are neck and neck but overall I prefer my car. Its the number 1 car in AMERICA 15 YEARS STRONG FOR GOOD REASON. THEY GOT IT RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

• 

  Dont believe terrible hype! - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By ThePhoenixKing - February 25 - 3:36 am

  Okay i felt more than compelled to write a review about this car. You see all official sites that review cars (I.E. Motortrend, Edmunds, CarandDriver, etc) severely underrate this car. Its criminal really. If based your purchase off the magazine reviews or youtube. You would be robbed of a great car. And im serious. The 2015-2017 Camry SE model is a superb handler. I have chucked this car into many corners bit hot. And the car simply settles in and hunches down. Body roll is very minimum. Acceleration great in sport mode. However in regular drive sometimes the transmission doesnt give you the gear want for more rapid takeoffs. My remedy is simply throwing the shifter into sport. Dropping down two gears and you dont even have nail the gas for it to fly off. Over 100 miles an hour though and the governor limits the otherwise good pulling power. Brakes are excellent as well. However when compared to the Chrysler 200 (2015-2017) the brakes take more pedal really bite down and kill off momentum. This is most prevalent on the highway when you suddenly need to stop because traffic is getting congested. But once biting the brakes are good and front end dive is minimum with all other body motions. The fuel economy is excellent since the car always wants to be in ECO mode(which contributes to the sometimes slower takeoff speeds). The smaller tank means 20 dollars has full or an hair under the full tank mark. The interior is lovely. Materials are good for the class. I have the ashette color scheme(ash colored seats with leatherette fabric mixed) Back seat room is mind boggling. My customers always give me compliments(I uber Lyft) and some have even said they cant tell difference between my car and a luxury vehicle. (I am not making this up). The fact is owners do nothing but PRAISE the camry. Its only reviewers that make the Camry seem subpar. And ive driven the class favorite Madza 6(2016). Both are neck and neck but overall I prefer my car. Its the number 1 car in AMERICA 15 YEARS STRONG FOR GOOD REASON. THEY GOT IT RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

• 

  Dont believe terrible hype! - 2015 Toyota Camry
  By ThePhoenixKing - February 25 - 3:36 am

  Okay i felt more than compelled to write a review about this car. You see all official sites that review cars (I.E. Motortrend, Edmunds, CarandDriver, etc) severely underrate this car. Its criminal really. If based your purchase off the magazine reviews or youtube. You would be robbed of a great car. And im serious. The 2015-2017 Camry SE model is a superb handler. I have chucked this car into many corners bit hot. And the car simply settles in and hunches down. Body roll is very minimum. Acceleration great in sport mode. However in regular drive sometimes the transmission doesnt give you the gear want for more rapid takeoffs. My remedy is simply throwing the shifter into sport. Dropping down two gears and you dont even have nail the gas for it to fly off. Over 100 miles an hour though and the governor limits the otherwise good pulling power. Brakes are excellent as well. However when compared to the Chrysler 200 (2015-2017) the brakes take more pedal really bite down and kill off momentum. This is most prevalent on the highway when you suddenly need to stop because traffic is getting congested. But once biting the brakes are good and front end dive is minimum with all other body motions. The fuel economy is excellent since the car always wants to be in ECO mode(which contributes to the sometimes slower takeoff speeds). The smaller tank means 20 dollars has full or an hair under the full tank mark. The interior is lovely. Materials are good for the class. I have the ashette color scheme(ash colored seats with leatherette fabric mixed) Back seat room is mind boggling. My customers always give me compliments(I uber Lyft) and some have even said they cant tell difference between my car and a luxury vehicle. (I am not making this up). The fact is owners do nothing but PRAISE the camry. Its only reviewers that make the Camry seem subpar. And ive driven the class favorite Madza 6(2016). Both are neck and neck but overall I prefer my car. Its the number 1 car in AMERICA 15 YEARS STRONG FOR GOOD REASON. THEY GOT IT RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

• 

  Even more refined for 2005 - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By QCGUY - February 24 - 10:00 am

  The updated exterior styling for 2005 improved the looks of the car dramatically. It looks and drives like a luxury car, but without the "float." Interior attention to detail is remarkable, and the new white backlit gages are classy. An unbelieveable price tag for all of the amenities!

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  Great Car.... My Third Camry - 2008 Toyota Camry
  By GC - February 23 - 7:10 pm

  This is my third Camry and by far the best. I love my new car, and its quiet and refined ride. Exterior looks great, and the interior is Lexus like. Love the interior lighting at night. If you are looking for a great car with a super quiet and smooth ride, check the Camry. Great gas mileage so far too, and with only 900 miles so far, it is not even broken in yet.

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  Great Car - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By kennyrod - February 21 - 7:13 am

  Not sure where all the negative comments are coming from. I find this to be a wonderful car. Many people have mentioned a hesitation in the transmission; I havent seen it. Perhaps since I bought late in the model year, it was corrected. Good energy from the 4 cylinder. Very comfortable, quiet interior. Would suggest control of the dash lights. I love the display, but the light from the radio can be distracting. Some have mentioned disappointing build quality. Dont see it at all. Traded in a Mazda3 S for this and Im fine with the decision.

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  Toyota Camry LE - 1997 Toyota Camry
  By DanC. - February 21 - 2:00 am

  We baught this car new and it has been a great car. We like the performance of the 4 cylender engine and the great gas milage. I was suprised at the power of the 4! It is very comfortable to drive. I am 62" and 220 lbs. and my wife is 52" and petite so it was had finding a car to match both of us. This is our 2nd Camry and we plan on buying another one when the time comes.

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  Good, reliable car - 1993 Toyota Camry
  By Karel - February 21 - 2:00 am

  Bought it last year with a 50000 miles on it. Still runs great and has been very reliable in snowy and cold condition. Very good handling, no snow tires needed.

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  Transitioning from SUV to Camry... - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By lyndab418 - February 19 - 3:09 pm

  I recently purchased a 2011 Camry LE after driving a Jeep Liberty for 10 years - what a difference. I love jeep but decided I would try something more fuel efficient. So far I like the car - Im not over the moon about it because Ill always be an SUV girl - but its a nice ride. Reviews tell me how dependable it is - and Im hoping with the right snow tires - will go pretty good in the Pittsburgh snow.

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  Road Warrior - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Sando - February 16 - 1:50 pm

  I purchased this car new in 2002 basically as a commuter vehicle as I was driving 100 each day, 6 days a week in Florida. A lot of highway driving. This vehicle has been nothing but reliable. It has 220,00 miles on it and going strong. I have only maintained oil changes, brakes, batteries, and tires. Otherwise, NO problems. Its not a looker but its the most comfortable, dependable ride Ive ever had. I am giving this car to a family member , whom I know will take care of it as I was gifted a Merc Sable................with only 30,000 miles on it. Big decision. Still gets 29/30 mpg on the highway !!!!!!!