2006-2011 Toyota Camry Used Car Review
Vehicle Overview
The 2007 model year saw the introduction of the sixth generation Toyota Camry. Styling was a departure from previous Camrys, but Toyota continued to sell this car in large numbers.
From 2007 until 2009, the base engine was a 2.4-liter 158 hp four cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. V6 equipped cars came with a 3.5 V6 engine producing 268 hp paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. For the 2010 the Camry received a mid-cycle refresh consisting of a new front fascia, revised rear taillights and a new base engine. The 2.4 liter was replaced by an all-new 2.5 liter four cylinder producing 169 hp, paired to a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.
Shop Used Car Classifieds: Used Toyota Camry for Sale
Trims Packages
Throughout the years the Camry has been available in the same basic set of packages; CE (or Base), LE, SE, XLE, LE V6, SE V6, XLE V6.
Top 3 Reasons to Buy
- Reliability – The Camry has built a reputation on reliability for a reason. Will it be perfect? No, but it will perform better than most mid-size sedan used car purchases on the market
- Fuel efficiency – Earlier 2.4 liter Camrys were officially rated at 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway while the 2010-2011 editions with the 2.5 liter engine bumped those figures up to 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
- Comfort – Owners appreciate the Camrys smooth ride and comfortable seats all around.
Top 3 Problem Areas
- Owners of 2007-2009 Camrys equipped with the 2.4-liter engine have found oil consumption to be unusually high.
- Owners of various 2007-2011 Camrys have had issues with suspension struts leaking oil excessively until the point of replacement.
- Premature brake wear is another issue experienced by some owners of 2007-2011 Toyota Camrys.
Before You Buy
This generation Camry was mired in the Toyota unintended acceleration fiasco so potential owners should ensure this recall and any others have been taken care of. As well, depending on mileage, check to see when the struts and brakes were last changed.
Best Bang for Your Buck
It really depends on what you want. The 2007 model year has received the most recalls and complaints out of any year in this generation of Camry and should be avoided. If looking for an efficient, low cost Camry, the 2010 or 2011 LE is a great choice as it has the more efficient engine and appears to lack the oil consumption issues plaguing 2.4 liter equipped Camrys.
Finally, if in the market for a V6-powered loaded up Camry, any LE V6 or XLE V6 from 2008 to 2011 should do depending on what options and mileage you are looking for.
Recall and Crash Test Database
2010 Toyota Camry NHTSA Crash Rating
2011 Toyota Camry Early Release NHTSA Crash Rating
2011 Toyota Camry Later Release NHTSA Crash Rating
2007-2011 Toyota Camry IIHS Safety ratings
2007 Toyota Camry NHTSA Recalls
2008 Toyota Camry NHTSA Recalls
2009 Toyota Camry NHTSA Recalls
2010 Toyota Camry NHTSA Recalls
2011 Toyota Camry NHTSA Recalls
Gallery: 2007-2011 Toyota Camry
Looking for more information? Visit our Toyota Forum
A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
More by Mike Schlee
Comments
Join the conversation
I like the new idea guys. I'm always shopping for a new car... or at least one that's new to me. This info is really helpful.
The SE model is not mentioned (other than when al trim levels are named) yet most of the pictures are of the Camry SE. To me the body trim added to the SE makes a world if a difference in how good the Camry looks. I wouldn't by any other model.