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.

Initially available only with a four-cylinder engine, the Camry soon saw the option of a V6 and, as the years went by, upgrades in size, luxury and feature content. The Camry's immense popularity in the U.S. inspired Toyota to set up a manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, in the late 1980s. In addition to the base DX and well-equipped LE versions, more trim levels became available, including the sporty SE and posh XLE. Even an all-wheel-drive Camry, dubbed the "All-Trac," was available for several years.

Still upholding its strong reputation despite a few recent blips on the radar screen with regards to reliability, the Toyota Camry continues to be a top choice for those seeking a roomy, comfortable and dependable family car.

Current Toyota Camry

The latest Toyota Camry is offered solely as a front-wheel-drive, midsize four-door sedan. Four traditional Camry trim levels are offered: base, popularly equipped LE, sporty SE and luxurious XLE. Even the base model includes stability control, air-conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a six-speaker CD audio system, satellite radio and Bluetooth.

A 169-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-4 is the base engine, and the SE receives a 179-hp version of the same engine. A powerful 3.5-liter V6 (268 hp, 248 pound-feet of torque) is available on all trims except the base model. Transmission choices for the four are a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic (standard on XLE), while the V6 sends its power through a standard six-speed automatic. A gas-electric hybrid Camry is also available and, along with 192 hp, it offers EPA estimates of 33 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

In reviews, we've commented favorably about the Camry's spacious cabin, powerful and fuel-efficient optional V6, plush ride quality and top crash test scores.
 

Current Toyota Camry Hybrid

As its name implies, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is a regular Camry sedan with a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. The hybrid system is comprised of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (producing 147 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque) and a 45-hp electric motor. The Camry Hybrid can run on any combination of the two power sources.

Power is transferred to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT was chosen for its ability to keep the gas engine in its most efficient power band. We found that the Camry Hybrid's combination of the gas and electric motors felt surprisingly robust. Acceleration betters most four-cylinder sedans and is not far behind many six-cylinder ones.

Since the gas engine of the Toyota Camry Hybrid will shut down at a stop and under some driving conditions, the air-conditioning and power-steering systems are driven electrically and powered off of the vehicle's batteries. This maximizes fuel economy and guarantees that the air-conditioning will continue to operate.

As with most hybrid vehicles, fuel economy is especially sensitive to driving style, but a combined city/highway average in the mid-30s shouldn't be too difficult to achieve for most drivers.

Very little is sacrificed for these fuel economy gains. Most of the expected safety features, such as front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag and antilock brakes are included, and stability control is optional. Most modern-day convenience features are also standard. Major options include a navigation system, leather seating and a premium audio system.