Toyota Camry

Over the past 25 years, the Toyota Camry has consistently been one of the best selling and most highly reviewed vehicles in the United States. With new generations being unveiled about every 5 years, the Toyota sedan has greatly evolved since its induction 25 years ago. Here’s a look at some of the Camry’s changes over the years:

The Camry Timeline

• 1982-1986: This time period marks the first generation of Camrys made available in the United States. Referred to as the V10 generation, the Camry originally came in two varieties, a compact 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback. Unlike past versions which made only in Japan, the North American Camry was a front-wheel drive vehicle.
• 1986-1990: The second generation of Camrys, or V20, included the 4-door sedan mainstay, but dropped hatchback models in favor of a station wagon body type. In 1988, Toyota began offering second generation Camrys in three different trims – base, DX, and LE. A V6 engine and 4-wheel drive options were also introduced in 1988. Known for their reliability, Camrys from this time period are still going steady today.
• 1990-1994: For the next several years, the Camry underwent few changes until 1992, when a larger grill and updated air conditioning unit were implemented. It remained a 4-door sedan throughout the V30 generation. Although a 2 door coupe was added during this time, underwhelming sales led to a quick demise in 1997. In 1994, the Camry’s engine V6 engine got an upgrade, giving it 188 horsepower and a smoother ride.
• 1995-2000: The Camry was revamped in 1997 with a new body style and upgraded engine. Anti-lock brake also became standard across all trims and the Camry became the best selling car in the US for 1997. Toyota also brought back the 2-door coupe in 1999, this time calling it the Camry Solara, available in SE and SLE trims.
• 2001-2006: With crossover SUVs and min-vans taking a larger piece of the market, Toyota dropped the station-wagon model from the Camry line in 2001. Starting in 2002, Toyota again reinvented the Camry with a more aerodynamic and upscale look. The vehicle was offered in three different types – LE, SE, and XLE.

Current Generation

With a radical redesign, the current Toyota Camry is a far cry from generations pasts. Its new distinctive body and luxurious features have made new models more popular than ever, while still retaining a low price. Toyota offers the vehicle in several different trims, including base, LE, SE, and XLE models, each with their own advantages. However, even the base model makes many luxuries standard, such as tire pressure monitoring, a six speaker audio system, and four-wheel disc brakes. The LE, SE, and XLE trims can also be upgraded to a 3.5L V6 engine with a powerful 268 horsepower. Depending on the trim, the Camry is available in colors such as black, white, silver, red, blue, sand, and metallic. Certain 2007 models have been recalled due to improper inflation issues with the side air bags.

Hybrids

Priced in the same range as most gasoline vehicles, the Toyota Camry Hybrid provides fantastic value. It achieve approximately 33mpg, while sacrificing very little in its engine with 192 horsepower. The Toyota Camry Hybrid was originally introduced in 2006 and recently received the same face-lift as current Camry models.