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:

• 

  Love at first sight - 2007 Toyota Camry
  By Romeo A - September 29 - 10:26 am

  I have almost 2,500 miles on this car now and thank goodness it doesnt have the tranny problem. Shifting is very smooth at all speeds. I love the new design especially the headlights, the rounded back (old Camrys are so straight) and bumpers. Im getting 28 mpg average in 75% highway (carpool) and I drive fast mostly. I love the power available when going uphill. The handling is great, too. I like the gradual slowdown when you take your foot off the gas.

• 

  Problem - 2004 Toyota Camry
  By Marcosr111 - September 29 - 6:13 am

  Steering column has begun to click when I turn. Not sure what the problem is. As the Toyota service mechanic told me, not to worry this happens to all Camrys. When AC is on idle problems occur when I start to slow down. It feels like the car is about to shut off. When I come home from work around 5pm. I do not use my car until the next day which is around 8:30am. Car feels like not turning on as if it was parked for a few months. It might be the battery.

• 

  First Camry - 2012 Toyota Camry
  By rbeasley - September 28 - 7:12 am

  I was searching for a reliable car and decided to test drive the 12 Camry and 13 Accord. I bought the Camry for these reasons: 1. The Camry seats are more comfortable. 2. On the interstate the Camry was much quieter. It could be the Goodyear tires on the Accord, but there was too much road noise for me. The ride over bumps were absorbed better by the Camry. Also got a 2-year maintenance plan and roadside assistance with Camry. Accord seemed cheaper on the inside. Both had adequate power and smooth transmissions.

• 

  Good car w/ problems than expected - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Gilles Deleuze - September 27 - 10:00 am

  A quiet & comfortable car, but with some unexpected problems. The automatic transmission internally self-destructed at 19K. Toyotas policy is to replace w/rebuilt, which seems to be a cost- cutting measure. Dealer initially missed this defect, smugly disregarding my requests to check transmission. This dangerous problem was caught by Oil Service people. Poor service at the dealership meant I had to contact zone distributorship CEO for appropriate oversight of dealer. At 27K, the drivers bottom seat bracket busted. The replacement job at the dealers was second class. How dealership handled problems/defects during warranty period left much to be desired.

• 

  Good value - 2000 Toyota Camry
  By Tom in Seattle - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought this 2000 LE to replace my 1988 LE. Its a great car, but I was surprised at how somethings were decontented. No maplights, seat has less adjustments and the bottom cushion isnt as comfy as the 1988. But for a 4-cyl with 136 HP, I was pleasantly surprised with the performance (the motor is torquey). Original tires (Generals) get loud after they wear. Very easy to drive, very good value.

• 

  Around town - 2003 Toyota Camry
  By Bill Synnott - September 27 - 10:00 am

  Ecellent transportation for most around town and highway needs. The quality of product was good.

• 

  Not what I expected from a Toyota... - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By rdia - September 27 - 10:00 am

  This was the first Toyota I have owned. In the past I had driven Honda, Chrysler, Dodge,Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, Mercedes, Volvo. This is the worst car I have ever owned. The car has a defect with the driveline that the dealer refuses to fix stating that it meets factory specs. The styling is bland. The handling is mushy at highway speeds. The power I expected from the V6 is less than smaller engines I have driven. Overall... I will never buy one again!!!!! Beware if youre looking to buy one it is the only car I know of that does not even offer roadside assistance unless you buy the extended warranty!

• 

  just a car with noise... - 2016 Toyota Camry
  By Amin - September 27 - 4:47 am

  this car is the worst car I had ever. weak engine, very noisy dashboard, very slow transmission. when you want to reach for example to 50 mile this car goes to 30 and after put the transmission on the higher level. sometimes more than one!!. and after that you feel that you have nothing under you feat. Toyota just wants to show fuel consumption. the dashboard on two side has noise the same sound. when I toke the car to deal for 3 times they just said no we didnt hear any sound!!!.

• 

  Comparing to other similar cars, good - 2006 Toyota Camry
  By Maria - September 26 - 4:13 pm

  The MPG disappointed me. It is not the value manufacturer says.

• 

  2002 Toyota Camry - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By Dissatisfied - September 26 - 10:23 am

  The car has been good until last year (2007) when I had to rebuild the transmission. Dont like the fact you can see the muffler hanging down - looks like its falling. Now springs and then struts went. Dont think I will be buying another Toyota. Should be able to get more than 6 years out of a transmission!