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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  2016 toyota camry , bluetooth phone killer. - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By michael see - May 30 - 11:53 pm

  had a 2013 camry now have the 2016 camry se. the 2016 from the stand point of road noise is not acceptable. you cannot use the Bluetooth phone capability while moving and when stopped only if you turn off the air conditioning fan. this is my 6th Toyota product and the only 1 I wish I had not bought , only because of the road noise. I wonder if its the tires they put on them this year? or location of microphone or sensitivity of microphone ?

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  Great Car - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Mink - May 29 - 10:00 am

  No problems whatesoever with this car. It rides smooth, is fast, has all the bells and whistles, and gets good gas mileage. The best car me and my family have ever bought.

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  aspen green camry - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By eal - May 29 - 10:00 am

  Great car. I would recommend it to anyone. Love the color, love the comfort, yada yada yada.

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  Base Camry 2009 - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By tp - May 29 - 2:50 am

  After having several Accords I bought the 2009 Camry (base 4 cl automatic) on reliability and price - got a wonderful deal. I was going to buy an LE but found that the base model was identical except for remote unlocking (instead of electric central locking in the base and manual instead of electric seat adjustment - the two not worth $1,500 more to me). Ride is very quiet compared to the Accord and acceleration is OK and the car is quite big inside. Accord may be a little more fun to drive, but Camry is cheaper and quieter. In sum, after a bit over 1,000 miles - I am very happy so far. At the same price, I would have been tempted by the accord, but they are not the same price.

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  Love my Camry! - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By jPrindable - May 28 - 12:50 am

  There is plenty of room for my infant seat in the back, even in the rear facing position. The 4 cyl. engine has PLENTY of pick-up-and-go! The seats are very comfortable, the controls are easy to use, and I love the ability to add limited options that are most important to YOU.

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  First Toyota - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By Mike - May 27 - 9:43 pm

  This is my first Toyota, after always owning GM, Chevy, or Ford, along with being a truck and SUV guy. I needed a reliable car for a family of 4 that was comfortable and fuel efficient. I found it! Its just a base model Camry, but its definitely serving its purpose. I would have like to have gotten a few more bells and whistles by at least moving up to the LE model, but I was on a very tight budget. Overall, Im happy with the quality, peformance, and comfort of the car. The 4 cyl engine has more pep than I thought it would. I have less than 400 miles on it, but no complaints. Its going to serve its purpose well.

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  Camry Shines in the Limelight Once Again - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Cheema - May 26 - 9:03 am

  Though I had to go through the headaches of waiting nearly a month for my Camry since I wanted it fully loaded, Ill tell you, it was worth the wait. Plenty of power that rocks, and the stereo system is slamming. Its enjoyable to listen to music and best of all, you have Camry reliabilty to back it all up. The 16" alloy wheels are pretty nice and the smart key has some drawbacks, such as not opening all passenger doors. Other than that, technology is mind blowing on this sedan and performance is incredible, with a smooth and comfortable ride.

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  Thanks toyota - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By paul - May 25 - 12:30 am

  I really enjoy the car, dependable stylish, roomy, good ride. Could use more power. I find car quite hard on fuel about town, about 375/400 km to tank. Cant wait to see a 2007.

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  Worthy of the SE (Sports Edition) name - 2009 Toyota Camry
  By JimBob Seeker - May 24 - 11:40 pm

  My driving experience spans more than 35 years. I have always wanted a sports car but the pragmatist in me could never justify it. I have owned economy cars, mini-vans and family sedans but never a car with a performance flavor until now. I purchased a used 09 Camry SE with 20Km on the odometer several months ago and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could have my cake and eat it too. This vehicle carries 4 adults in comfort, provides very good fuel economy, handles superbly, has decent acceleration, feels right at home on the freeway, looks like a sports car and has a very likable personality. Overall, I am very pleased with the car. I would definitely buy another.

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  I love this car - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By dave_hudson71 - May 20 - 9:33 am

  I love my Camry. I chose a straight drive. It seems to give me more power, and better gas mileage. I cant say enough good things about my Camry. Everyone I know that has one seems to feel the same way.