2009 Toyota Camry [ 2008 , 2007 ]
Toyota Camry - What the Auto Press Says
The Camry is a refined cruiser with a comfortable interior and a reputation for practicality and value.
According to our analysis, the 2009 Toyota Camry has competent performance, a bold design and accommodating passenger cabin. All serve to recommend the Camry in such a large and competitive class. Add to that its standing as one of the best-selling cars of the last 20 years, and it's easy to understand Car and Driver's assessment that the Camry is "the crown prince of mainstream." Awards back up that statement -- in 2007, the year the Camry was redesigned, it was selected as the Motor Trend Car of the Year, and also won Autobytel's Consumer Choice Award as the Most Requested Vehicle of 2007.
Since dropping its base CE trim in 2008, the Camry has offered four trims with either a four cylinder or V6 engine. The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid, a close variant of the gas-engine Camry, is reviewed separately here.
If you're in the market for an affordable midsize car, but aren't sold on the 2009 Toyota Camry, also consider the Honda Accord. If you like the Camry but want better gas mileage, consider the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
- "Since its debut in the United States nearly 25 years ago, the Camry has earned a reputation for smart design, pleasing function, build quality and durability. It's not all hype." -- New Car Test Drive
- "This is a perfectly functional, perfectly capable, perfectly reasonable, perfectly boring automobile. … Again, all pleasant enough and functional enough, but it's duller than an empty office cubicle." -- AutoWeek
- "Camry has set the bar even higher in regards to features, performance, reputation and price." -- Carz Unlimited
- "The latest edition of America's best-selling car has more of everything, which has to be scary for the competition. This Camry has a better interior, less bland styling, and superior powertrains than before." -- Car and Driver
- In 2007 review of the then-brand new Camry, Road and Track reports, "The new Camry comes across as substantial rather than adequate, purposeful as opposed to practical." -- Road and Track
Camry Performance - 7.3 (Good)
The 2009 Toyota Camry isn't the best performer in its class, but its calling card remains its polished ride quality. According to New Car Test Drive, "The Camry is thrilling in no respect, and no particular aspect of its performance is outstanding. Yet it's good in nearly every respect, bad in almost none, and it has a steady, set-and-forget quality that many drivers appreciate. It's pleasant to drive in all circumstances." Continue with our full Performance Review to see how the Camry's pleasant driving characteristics compare to the sportier characteristics of the Honda Accord or the Nissan Altima. continue
Camry Exterior - 7.9 (Good)
Following its redesign in 2007, some reviewers have said the Camry is no longer plain vanilla. But others write report the Camry still has one of the most unexciting designs available in this class. Left Lane News bridges the distance between the two opinions. "Compared to other cars in this segment, the Camry's styling appears the most conservative and doesn't really take any risks," they write. "On the other side of the coin, the Camry's styling won't offend any potential buyers and gives the car some added mass appeal. Not to say the Camry is a bad looking car, it just doesn't seem to have the character that most other cars have and could easily be lost in the crowd." Continue with the full Exterior Review to read about reviewers' mixed opinions of the Camry's design. continue
Camry Interior - 8.2 (Very Good)
Reviewers like the 2009 Camry's reworked interior because it's modern, spacious and comfortable. New Car Test Drive says the Camry's cabin "offers a welcome counterpart to its exterior styling. While the outside has been touched with a splash of pizzazz, the inside has been brushed with shades of elegance." Many agree the Camry's cabin is one of the nicest of its class. Our full Interior Review explains how the Camry's dimensions and features compare to others in the class. continue
Camry Safety - 9.3 (Excellent)
The 2009 Toyota Camry does well in both government and insurance industry crash tests. The Camry offers seven standard air bags with available vehicle dynamics control and traction control. Continue with our full Safety Review to read how reviewers feel about Camry's ability to prevent and protect during accidents. continue
Camry Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)
The 2009 Toyota Camry reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2009 Toyota Camry is covered by a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Continue with our full Reliability Review to learn more about the Camry's reputation. continue
