Toyota Camry 2007-2011 review

2011 Toyota Camry. Click for larger photo See more photos below Toyota Camry went on sale in 1983 in the U.S and the 2007-2011 model is its sixth generation. The Camry may be not the best looking car on the road, neither is the most exciting to drive, but Toyota sure knows some secret because as of 2011, Toyota Camry has been the best selling car in America for 13 of the past 14 years. Was it because of the right name? The name "Camry", from the Japanese Kan-Muri, means "Crown". Or may be this is what most buyers want, a roomy reliable sedan with simple controls and easy comfortable handling?

Overview

Toyota Camry interior. Click for larger photo See more photos below

Toyota Camry interior. Click for larger photo

The trunk is spacious with large opening. Click for larger photo

The 2007-2011 Camry has front wheel drive and is only available as a 4-door sedan; the Camry Solara coupe was discontinued after the 2008 model year. The 2007-2011 Camry features a longer wheelbase and wider track compared to the previous model. In the US, the Camry was available in four grades, CE, LE, SE and XLE as well as a Hybrid model. In Canada, it was LE, SE, LE V6, SE V6, the top of the line XLE V6 and the Hybrid. The sporty SE featured bigger 17-inch wheels and firmer suspension.

The 2007-2011 Camry was available with either a 2.4L or later 2.5L 4-cylinder engine or 3.5L V6. A manual transmission was available only on 4-cylinder models. Early 4-cylinder models offered a 5-speed automatic transmission, while the 2010, 2011 4-cylinder Camry came with a 6-speed automatic. The V6 Camry was only available with a 6-speed automatic.
Toyota Camry Hybrid has a 4-cylinder 2.4L engine combined with a 105kW 199 lb-ft electric motor and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The 2007-2011 Camry has McPherson struts in the front and rear suspension; disk brakes all around.
All non-hybrid models still offer a time-proven conventional hydraulically assisted power steering. The Camry hybrid has an Electric Power Steering.

If you drove the Camry before, you would not see too much difference in the way the 2007-2011 Camry drives. May be this generation has a little more responsive steering, but otherwise, it's the same easy handling and smooth quiet ride.

Inside the Camry is very roomy. The front seats are comfortable and the seat backs have more side support than in the previous generation. The Optitron gauges look sharp. The Camry has one of the most easy to use controls among its competitors - see the photos below. Both the center console storage and the glove box are large and there are plenty of other storages and small pockets here and there. The rear seat area is very spacious with good headroom and almost flat floor. The split rear seat folds in all but Camry SE and Hybrid, although the opening behind the seat is not very large. The Camry XLE offers manually reclining rear seat with a pass through. The Camry's trunk is large with a good-size opening, notably wider than, for instance, that of Chevrolet Malibu.

The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), front, side and side curtain airbags as well as driver's knee airbags were standard, the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRAC) were optional, standard from 2010.
The 2007-2010 Toyota Camry received 5 stars out of 5 in the NHTSA frontal and side-impact crash tests. Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA has introduced tougher tests. In these new tests, the 2011 Camry early release received 3 stars in both the front and side crash tests. The 2011 Camry later release received 4 stars in the frontal and 4 stars in the side crash tests. For more details, visit Safercar.gov.

The engine

Toyota Camry 2.5L 4-cylinder engine (2AR-FE) Click for larger photo The 2007-2011 Camry comes with either 4-cylinder or V6 engine. The early models had the 158-hp 2.4L DOHC VVT-i 4-cylinder engine (2AZ-FE) that has been used on the previous generation Camry. It's a simple and reliable low-maintenance workhorse. Later it was replaced by the more powerful and more fuel-efficient 2.5L 4-cylinder DOHC engine with dual VVT-i (2AR-FE). The 268-hp 3.5L V6 (2GR-FE) also uses dual VVT-i. The VVT-i stands for Variable Valve Timing with intelligence. The VVT-i system adjusts intake and exhaust valve overlap under various engine operating conditions. The use of double VVT-i eliminates the need for the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system used on many older cars. Either of these three engines uses a timing chain; there is no timing belt.

Pros

- Above-average reliability
- Crash test ratings
- High level of standard safety features
- Fuel economy for 4-cylinder engine
- Smooth and quiet ride
- Spacious interior
- Rear seat space
- Large trunk
- Audio auxiliary jack

Cons

- Conservative styling
- The opening behind the rear seat could be bigger
- Issues with a automatic transmission in early models
- Some interior materials could be better

Overall

Toyota's success in my opinion is based on keeping things simple and advancing in small steady steps, building on what was working well in previous cars. The 2007-2011 Camry is not too much different from the previous generation, but it has all it takes to be one of the best in its class: a spacious interior, smooth and quiet ride and good crash test scores. As usually, you can choose between the fuel efficiency of the 4-cylinder engine and the power of the V6. There is also the Camry Hybrid rated at 31/35 MPG (7.6/6.7 L/100km) city/hwy. The reliability is still above average, although to me it looks like there is more complaints than on the previous generation Camry. I recommend to look for the 2008 and newer Camry; as with any car, the first model year or two always has more glitches. Also it's worth to check with a Toyota dealer if all the recalls have been performed.

What to look for when buying a used Toyota Camry

As a first step, check used car history records. Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available - it's good to know if the car was properly maintained.
- During the test drive, watch how the automatic transmission shifts, there is a fair amount of complaints about it.
- Look for low coolant level and coolant leaks, there are some complaints about a bad water pump in early 4-cylinder models.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed before buying a car; in worst cases the repair might be very expensive.
- Check all the electrical features.
- Check the sun visors, there are plenty of complaints about the sun visors not staying in place.
- Watch for leaking struts.
Read more what to look for when buying a used car
- Before buying a car, have it properly inspected by a mechanic.
Check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Check the insurance quotes before buying a car.
Consider an extended warranty to protect from unexpected repair costs.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in good shape.
- Make sure to use only recommended oil type. The 2011 Camry owner's manual recommends using the 0W-20 oil for the 2.5L engine. The only 0W-20 oil I was able to find is synthetic. Read more about the use of synthetic oil here: Toyota Owner's FAQ
- Stick with original parts.
- The 2011 Camry owner's manual calls for using a high-strength type of a drive belt in the 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. I don't have the data for earlier years, so if you want to replace a drive belt, check the owner's manual.
- Keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- At least once a year have your car inspected in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe.
Check more Car maintenance tips. There is also the Toyota Owners website where you can download owner's manual (registration required) or check car care tips, do-it-yourself guides, recommended oil type chart (follow Parts and Service) and more.

2011 Toyota Camry Specifications (non-hybrid)

Toyota Camry Photos

2011 Toyota Camry LE 2011 Toyota Camry LE The steering wheel tils and has telescopic adjustment Optitron gauges Center stack Center console storage Glove box Overhead storage Fit and finish is good Split rear seat folds down. Rear seats down Rear view.

2011 Toyota Camry LE