Toyota Camry Generations – A Trip Down Memory Lane! What type of oil does my engine need?

Updated April 24, 2021 by searchforparts.com staff.

When the Toyota Camry first entered the market, most people thought to themselves, “This is not the car for me!”. However, after a few years of technological advancements on the specs and compatibility, it is a favorite and one of the best selling cars. Today, the Camry is known for its elegance, quality, and reliability.

The Camry has been on the market for over four decades  and considering its sales performance, it’s evident that the maker sure did an awesome job. Currently, the model is manufactured in 8 countries and offered for sale in over a hundred known countries. Which is you favorite Camry? What year? Let’s explore the various generations of the Toyota Camry so read on!

This article will discuss in detail the generations of the Toyota Camry, specs, and performance of each generation. Let’s take a cool trip down memory lane for you Camry fans out there!

Toyota Camry 1992- 1997

The most popular model of the Toyota was remodeled in the year1992. This is when the sedan and the Wagon models were regaining their popularity. The Camry’s body was now six inches longer and two inches wider. The wheelbase too had some improvements with less than an inch bigger. The models had four doors each and came in the following trims:

  • LE
  • SE
  • Deluxe 
  • New XLE

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The engine could produce up to 135-horsepower and could hold 2.2 liter 4 cylinder. The optional V6 on all models had 185-horsepower and 3.0 liter. The manual transmission in the Deluxe was 5 although it was absent in all other trims. The optional anti-lock brakes were present in all models.

The 4-cylinder engine happens to be very responsive therefore the acceleration rate and passing power is amazing even if you opt for the automatic transmission. Although the V6 happens to be quicker than the normal trims, it consumes more fuel. However, it delivers the best results since the performance is brilliant.

This model takes up corners with good stability and on wet roads it has good traction. The Camry has a 103.1 inch wheel base although the interior still has more space than most midsized cars. However, most people complain that the back seats are uncomfortable due to the way they are reclined and stiffened.

Toyota Camry 1997-2001

Toyota Camry 1997-2001 model being one to the most reliable vehicle ever built comes in a 4 door sedan or 2 door Camry Solara. The car offers a comfortable interior which is a show of elegance and sophistication. It is spacious enough for both people and cargo while the controls are easy to understand making the vehicle suitable for a family. The back seats can fold up for more cargo seat in the trunk which is already large enough to accommodate most luggage.

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The vehicle is built with a front wheel engine accompanied by 4-cylinder or V6 engine. It is also available in 4 or 5 speed automatic transmission. The maintenance cost of this machine is low and it is also cost effective. The Toyota Camry has a 2.2 liter 4-cylinder engine which is quiet and simple to maintain. The engine is also a Double Cam (DOHC) engine. The optional V6 engine is smooth and has a capacity of 3.0litres to give you maximum power and speed.

The steering wheel is quite light without a lot of feedback. While this model is not so sporty, it has a comfortable and secure handling. All in all, this model is still one of the best family cars with a good fuel economy for a four-cylinder model.

Toyota Camry 2002-2006

This model is a spacious mid-sized family car with a smooth ride to complement it. They also come in 2 door version which is sold as Camry Solara. The model has a front-wheel driving system with 4-cylinder fuel effective engine or V6 engine. The interior of this model is spacious with a comfortable look with extra space in the back seats. The dashboard has all the vitals of the car laid out having an instrumental panel that is easy to understand. The car has a large trunk. The maintenance cost is remarkably below average for this model.

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The engine is a 2.4 liter, Four-cylinder engine which is widely used in the Toyota cars. The 2004 model has a 3.3 liter V6 engine which is also available on the SE V6 car. Manual transmission is present only in four-cylinder engines. Road bumps and other imperfections are absorbed well by the outstanding performance of this machine. This in turn gives you a smooth and comfortable ride. The 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine is fast enough to provide you with enough power for daily use.

Camry is also one of the best models when it comes to cost effective fuel consumption and this model is no exception. It gets 21/31 mpg which means you can get up to 670km to a tank. Overall, the Toyota Camry 2002-2006 model is a family car with a good engine and a cost friendly consumption of fuel. The V6 version is powerful and smooth. The Toyota Camry goes beyond average when it comes to reliability.

Toyota Camry 2007-2011

Toyota Camry has been one of the best selling cars for a long period in America since it delivers as the buyers want. It’s an easy to drive family car that offers more than what the buyer expects. The 2011-2007 version of the Camry has a front wheel drive and is available only as a four-door sedan.

The Camry in this generation have a wider track and a longer wheel space as opposed to the previous versions. You can either find a 4-cylinder engine or a V6 engine with 4 trims; LE, SE, CE (not found in Canada), XLE and hybrid versions. The Camry hybrid in among the best-selling hybrids since they are cost effective when it comes to fuel. The sporty Camry SE has a firmer suspension and seventeen-inch wheels which give it a classy look.

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A manual transmission was available in the four-cylinder engine models while the 2007-2009 models had a five-speed automatic transmission. On the other hand, the 2011-2010 has a six-speed automatic transmission engine. The Toyota Camry V6 is furnished with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Toyota Camry is well-known for her smooth ride and this generation is no exception especially when it comes to comfort. It handles rides easily and softly which is very impressive. In this ride, the road’s imperfection is easily absorbed with the outstanding performance of the suspensions.

Toyota Camry 2012-2015

Most buyers owning this car brag of the comfort, ride quality, space and a confident driving machine that will enrich your driving experience.

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Owners of the premium version are in love with the sunroof, improved stereo system and leather seats. To most drivers, they were shocked ate the resale price of this brand which could either be a benefit or a loss depending on a variety of factors. In this year, Toyota Camry had all three of its power plants enhanced to provide high performance and cost efficient fuel consumption from the year 2012 and so on. The regular 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine delivered an impressive 178-hp and the 3.5 liter V6 maintained a boost of 268-hp while increasing on efficiency of the fuel consumption. The Camry’s Hybrid being the party trick of this model was improved in terms of mileage and output.

Toyota Camry 2016

A significant improvement of the 2015, this model employs a 6-speed automatic transmissions for the none hybrids. It is a sensible machine with lots of space for both people and cargo. The furnished finish and aggressive style of this model has brought more on-road character to the Toyota Camry brand. With a few more modifications, I’m positive you’ll enjoy your road trip in this beast. The model also comes with an optional hybrid that makes it a classy 4-wheel drive for the environmentally conscious drivers. The SE and XSE trims are sportier with a blackened mesh grille.

Features of the Toyota Camry 2016

  • 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine with 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft. of torque
  • Manual shift mode
  • 6-automatic speed transmission

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Most of these feature vary depending on the trim you pick. The Camry hybrid for example has 1.6 kWh nickel metal hydride battery that is enough for maintenance of the car but not enough for electronic driving. However, the hybrid is furnished with a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine which increases the horsepower to 200-hp therefore making it quicker than the standard model.

The hybrid can hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. As most hybrid lovers would expect, the hybrid is a more efficient car. The Camry XLE sports a 3.5 liters V6 engine that will pump out 268-hp and shoot up to 60 mph per 5.8 seconds. This engine is available in both the XLE and XSE versions. Toyota Camry’s V-6 goes for $32,205.

Compared to the 2015 edition, this Toyota Camry model includes a strengthen chassis, a revised stylish look as well as an up to date interior design which is a small deviation and improvement for the new version. All versions of the Toyota come with the latest technology of the Scout Navigation link with a standard version of the Entune audio system which allows the users to pair devices for navigation purposes.

All in all, this version of the Toyota Camry V6 engine will give a thrust of a lifetime. Moreover, the hybrid has one of the most accommodation rear seat in the class.

Toyota Camry 2017

In this model, you will see more standard features on every trim level of Camry for no additional cost. The Toyota Camry 2017 was priced at $23,070 in 2017. The Toyota Camry trim levels include

Gas-powered Camry 2017

  • SE
  • LE
  • XLE
  • XSE
  • XLE V6
  • XSE V6

Camry Hybrid 2017

  • HV XLE
  • HV SE
  • HV LE

Each model comes armed with 10 airbags including side airbags mounted on the back and front seats, front passenger and driver will have advanced airbag systems, front passenger also has knee airbags, as well as curtain side airbags. Toyota made a huge leap in standard safety precautions in 2017. These safety precautions include VSC (Vehicle Stability control), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), Brake Assist, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and TRAC (Traction Control).

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All trims also get an Automotive TFT 4.2 screen which displays the vehicles vitals and much more. All the V6 engines are furnished with LED headlights. The Toyota trims are fitted with 4-cylinder engines expect the V6. Qi Wireless Smartphone Charging system is fitted in the XSE, XLE and XLE hybrid which allows smartphones to charge using induction transfer therefore no need to carry around your cable to charge the phone. The XSE and XLE grades are fitted with Entune Audio system with a JBL audio and a navigation app.

Toyota Camry 2018

The Toyota Camry 2018 model comes in five trim levels namely; L, LE, XLE, SE and XSE. It is now in its eighth generation. All the models of the Camry come in an engine with four cylinders although the two top trims are fitted with the V6 engine. The five models happen to be four-wheel drive while the automatic speed transmission is at eight. The evolution of the Camry’s has grown into the Classy mid sized sedan with that flashy sporty look.

The engine has a 2.5 liter four-cylinder that fuels the car to 203 horsepower or 184 lb-ft. It has an exterior with the Galactic Aqua Mica color and the interior with ash color giving it that dashing modern look. The model comes with an audio package with options, a wireless smartphone charging system, climate control (dual zone), a monitoring system for blind spots, an alert for rear cross-traffic and Entune infotainment with navigation. It is priced at $26, 095

The V6 turns with 301 horsepower 3.5 liters engine happens to be the most powerful. The SE trim qualifies for the best handling The spacious comfortable seats makes it ideal for a family of four.

Toyota Camry L Features

  • It has a 203-hp engine with 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine
  • Sixteen inch wheels
  • 8 automatic speed transmission
  • It has a manual air conditioning
  • Cloth sitting
  • Tilt steering wheel
  • Bluetooth
  • It has an adaptive cruise control
  • The dashboard is fitted with a seven-inch touchscreen with google voice control, Siri (eyes free), GPS(scout) which is compatible to navigations from your phone and IPod connectivity
  • 6-way manual driver seat that is adjustable
  • Backup camera
  • One USB port

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Toyota LE features include;

  • 8-way adjustable driver’s seat
  • Seventeen-inch alloy wheels
  • Fitted with the best anti-burglary alarm
  • Equipped with an overhead console that has sunglasses storage and map lights
  • 60/40 split fold-down rear seat backs

Toyota SE features include

  • Eighteen-inch alloy wheels (black)
  • High-performance shock absorbers
  • High-performance springs
  • High-performance stabilizer bars
  • Fitted with Toyota SofTex front seat (sport)
  • The leather steering wheel is fitted with paddle shifters
  • Rear spoiler

Toyota XLE features include;

  • Has a standard suspension
  • Fitted with the normal steering wheel with no paddle shifters
  • Equipped with a blind spot monitoring system
  • 3 USB ports
  • Backup camera
  • 8-way passenger seat
  • Equipped with an adaptive cruise control
  • Sports, Eco and Normal modes
  • Home-link
  • It is equipped with a button start engine with proximity keyless entry
  • It has an automatic climate control with rear seat vents
  • Heated driver seat

Toyota XSE features include;

  • Nineteen-inch allow wheels (black)
  • High-performance springs’
  • High-performance shock absorbers
  • High-performance stabilizer bars
  • It is fitted with steering wheels and paddle shifters
  • Smoked taillights and headlights
  • Rear spoiler
  • Dual Exit Exhaust with quad tips

Well, that about covers the various models and generations of the Toyota Camry! Hope you enjoyed this article! Get the best synthetic oil for your Toyota Camry by searching your vehicle using the link at the top of the page. 

You can also order a free catalog. Thank you for visiting SearchForParts.com.

References

1. (2018). Retrieved 15 March 2018, from https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/toyota/camry

2. Expert Car Reviews | Consumer Guide Auto | consumerguide.com. (2018) from http://consumerguide.com

3. Illustrated Guide for Car Buyers and Owners | Samarins.com. (2018) from https://www.samarins.com/

4. New Cars, Used Cars – Find Cars for Sale and Reviews at Auto trader. (2018) from https://www.autotrader.com/

5. Toyota Camry – Consumer Reports. (2018). Consumerreports.org from https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/camry

6. Toyota Camry Model Details. (2018). NADA guides from http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/Toyota/Camry

7. Toyota Camry Overview & Generations – Cars Direct. (2018) from https://www.carsdirect.com/toyota/camry