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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  loved it - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By amarji - June 13 - 8:09 pm

  so i bought this car back in 2009 with 6k miles on it !! now it has 47k miles on it and it still runes like new !! i never had one single problem with this car, all i did was changing the oil every 5000 miles ( i know it should be 3000 miles) and i changed the tires at around 35K !!! very reliable car, fun to drive, smooth steering, great response from the gas pedal and the brakes. the ONLY problem might be the blind spots caused by the big side airbag panels !!

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  Garbage - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By morther - June 13 - 2:33 am

  I wish I could return this piece of junk but I am locked in for another 2 years on my lease. This car is no fun to drive because the pickup is horrid. When you need to accelerate there is nothing there. Mine even stalls a bit before accelerating. Dash board makes a squeaky/rattle when the weather is below 50 F. Toyota has good financing but it is not worth it. The car looks great, but that is about the only thing good I can say about it.

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  Great Selling Price - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By SBonar - June 12 - 10:00 am

  Got a great deal in Atlanta, GA. New 2004 LE for $16,400 out the door (before taxes and title). Would recommend visiting the Atlanta area if you are looking for the best deal. This is the fourth car we have bought in the Atlanta area. We have always saved at least $1,500 over purchasing the car locally. So far the car has been great, no problems.

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  Most impressive for the money - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Richie Rich - June 11 - 7:03 am

  The missus and I really fell in love with the new styling. We have now owned for 9 mo, a very competent performer indeed. The gauge cluster is a big hit with the different modes at the touch of a button and the sound system is awesome. Plenty of room abounds in the back seat for the adults and the reclining seats are a nice touch on the long trips. Driving is quiet and refined for a 4 cyl.,handling is good as well.The factory choice of tires could be better, they are not long lasting tread, they will need to be replaced before 25K miles. At 65-70 we can average 32-34 mpg - 27 overall mpg. If we were not so tight we should have gotten the V6. We wouldnt hesitate buying another.

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  Love it! - 1998 Toyota Camry
  By Emmy - June 11 - 5:46 am

  I bought this about 4 weeks ago and I can honestly say that I am so lucky to have gotten this for my first car. The ride is super smooth and the seats are very comfortable. I love that you can raise the seat up higher if you need to. For an 11 year old car, it still runs and looks brand new. The paint isnt faded at all. My only complaint is that the air conditioner makes a whistling noise on the higher settings... its strange. Gets cold fast though, which is all that matters. The stereo sounds great too; I got a cassette adapter for my ipod, and it works perfectly.

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  2007 Toyota Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Mario - June 10 - 2:46 pm

  Since new it was just pain to go through proper break-in period. After that it is fun to exploit this marvel of engineering. I had to learn new "space" technology. Previous car was 84 Chevy Impala. No comparison. Excellent city fuel economy. In general this car exceeded my expectation.

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  First Toyota - 2010 Toyota Camry
  By Jessica - June 10 - 12:40 am

  I was able to lease my 2010 Camry at an amazing deal. I traded in my 2007 Ford Explorer because of how bad my mpg were and wanted a car. We looked at the Corolla but it was to small for my family. My deal was so amazing they even put in leather seats. The inside is beautiful. I can see everyones complaint about the cheap look to it but its still very nice and more classy then my Explorer. I miss having more room but the Camry is still a good size, even my hubby who is a big and tall guy fits well in it. I love the dash board at night and the extra storage areas in the car. I have had the car for about a month and am glad I choose this over an Accord, which I did not like the interior of.

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  380k and Still going - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By M.k. - June 9 - 10:03 pm

  I purchased this Camry new in 12/02. I commute to work about 120 miles everyday, and this car has served me well for 380,000 miles. I change the oil every 3,000 miles. Ive changed with suspension 3 times, brakes have been done 3 times. Apart from routine maintenance, the only problem this car has given me, was the A/C compressor went out at 210k. Not a big deal considering when it was replaced. I treat this car well, and it returns the favor. You cant get any better than that.

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  Very happy with my choice - 2011 Toyota Camry
  By ThatBrownGirl - June 9 - 6:03 pm

  As a long time Toyota devotee (1991 Corolla still going strong), I was hesitant to buy another one, considering the problems of late. However, Im glad I kept the faith. This is a great car. I settled on the Camry after the option packages I wanted priced me out of a Lexus and Acura. I got a fully loaded XLE V6 and it has exceeded my expectations. Roomy and luxurious! It isnt "sporty" or big on performance (maneuvering tight corners, etc.), but it is responsive and powerful; it easily gets the job done on freeways and hills. Design- wise, you cant tell the 2011 from other model years, but who cares? So far, oh so good.

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  Good solid car - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Daniel - June 9 - 3:40 am

  So i bought my 2005 Camry SE v6 I see complaints about handling but noticed all complaints are on the cheapest model camrys LEs base 4cyl Mine handles like a champ (sway bars bigger rims/wider tires on the SE) 120,000 miles not a single issue other than my sunroof is touchy. Gas milage is unbelievable for a good size sedan 34 hwy I live in mohave county Az average temp in summer near 120, paint is still nearly perfect no fade. Trunk space would make al capone blush, I could hide 10 bodies in there. 225hp is just right, my altima SER was overboard and caused wheel spin 285hp, Plus tires were a yearly issue on the altima. Build quality... It aint no BMW but its better than average. Great car overall, not fancy but still classy.