Toyota Camry 6th Generation 2007-2011 (XV40) Review

The facelifted 2010 Toyota Camry XV40 introduces some cosmetic changes all round, but they are fairly subtle. With this revision, the manufacturer also made some changes to the powertrains. Some alterations are also made to the list of standard features on some of the trims.

Revisions to the front of the facelifted sixth-generation Toyota Camry include a new grille¹ and front bumper with a larger lower air dam². The projector headlights have also been increased in size³. The Hybrid model incorporates a distinctive new grille and bumper with a wider and lower air intake. The foglights have also been restyled.

The updated Camry only has a new set of taillights to show off at the rear. This new design repositions the backup lights and turn signals to the lower part of the cluster¹.

From the sides, you'll notice elements of the new front grille¹ and bumper² and new taillights³. The LE trims also have new wheel covers⁴, while the Hybrid, XLE, and SE incorporate new alloy-wheel designs.

New to the cabin of the updated Toyota Camry is a four-spoke multifunction steering wheel and a black-and-blue color scheme for the instrument cluster and radio face. You'll also notice a new pattern for the seat upholstery on more premium models and a new lid for the center console's storage compartment. The HVAC dial lights have also been changed from orange to green, while the numbers beneath the radio face have been exchanged for dots. The button functions at the side of the radio have also been rearranged.

The sixth-generation Toyota Corolla is available with four engine and five transmission options. Base models employ the 2AZ-FE 2.4-liter inline four, which is available with the five-speed manual or optional five-speed automatic transmission. The 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V6 is fitted to the more premium trims and drives the front wheels via the six-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid model uses an Atkinson Cycle derivative of the 2.4-liter called the 2AZ-FXE with a CVT. In the final year of this generation, Toyota replaced the 2.4-liter with a 2AR-FE 2.5-liter inline four unit, which could be attached to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

There are six drivetrain variations for the sixth-generation Toyota Camry. As you can expect, the Hybrid is the most frugal model based on the EPA's estimates of 33/31/35 mpg city/highway/combined. Of the models that don't employ a battery pack, the more modern 2.5-liter inline four with the manual transmission appears to be the most fuel-efficient with its 22/33/26 mpg estimates. The older 2.4-liter model doesn't fall too far behind, with a 21/31/25 mpg estimate for both transmissions. Toyota's V6 option for the Camry is the least efficient of the lot with a 20/29/23 mpg result.

Compared to its rivals, the sixth-generation Toyota Camry is quite competitive in the fuel-consumption discipline. The Hybrid's main competition is the Nissan Altima 2.5-liter which boasts a fairly similar 33/33/33 mpg claim. The automatic 2.5-liter model has its fair share of rivals in the segment. It is outdone by both the 2.5-liter Nissan Altima and 2.4-liter Honda Accord, with EPA-estimated claims of 23/32/26 mpg and 22/33/26 mpg, respectively. The Mazda6 2.5-liter falls behind by just a small fraction with 22/30/25 mpg estimates.

In the popular V6 class, the Camry only bows down to the Accord, but only just with its main competitor receiving 20/30/23 mpg estimates from the EPA. The 3.7-liter Mazda6 and 3.5-liter Nissan Altima have slightly poorer results of 18/27/21 and 20/27/22 mpg, respectively.

Looking at real-world figures sourced from independent drivers who are not monitored by the EPA, it appears that the Hybrid can return very impressive results with a 37.5 mpg overall figure. The base 2.4-liter five-speed also proves to be efficient, with a 35.9 mpg obtained average that beats the EPA's estimate by a long stretch.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

The sixth-generation Toyota Camry range achieved an acceptable result from the NHTSA, but with a four-star overall rating, it cannot be considered class-leading. The weakest areas tested were the front passenger side and overall side pole test with two-star ratings, while everything else scored in the four- or five-star categories.

The 6th-gen Camry has side-impact door beams, and all trims come standard with ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, front driver and passenger, side, curtain, and knee airbags, child-restraint systems, daytime running lights, automatic headlights, an engine immobilizer, and tire-pressure monitoring. Available safety options include traction and stability control, but this is standard on the Hybrid. An alarm system is standard on the XLE trim. Traction and stability control and the security system are added as standard to all trims of the facelifted 2010 model.

There are five trims available for the Camry XV40. The base of the range is the CE which is followed by the LE, SE, and XLE. The CE is only available with the four-cylinder engine, while the LE, SE, and XLE can be had with the inline-four or V6. Automatic and manual options are available for all trims except the Hybrid, which is only available with the CVT.

As you can expect, the 6th-generation Camry approaches its segment with a generous amount of interior space. The front compartment offers 38.8 inches of headroom and 41.7-inches of legroom which is enough to accommodate those standing taller than 6'2". At the rear, things are a bit more compact, with 37.8 inches of headroom and 38.3 inches of legroom. If the sunroof is fitted, headroom at the front decreases to 37.9 inches and 37.4 inches at the rear. XLE and SE models boast a trunk space of 14.5 cubic feet, while the CE and LE models offer a slightly more generous 15 cubic feet. Either way, this is a considerable amount of space that could very easily carry four to five pieces of medium suitcases for a weekend away. The hybrid's lower figure of 10.6 cubic feet is due to the battery pack and will require some careful packing.

Interior storage facilities consist of two cup holders at the front and another two at the rear on the fold-down center rear armrest. At the front, you'll find a bi-level covered center console with storage compartments, a lockable illuminated glovebox, an overhead console with map lights and a sunglasses holder, and map pockets on the front and rear doors. All trims get a 60/40-split and folding rear seat, except for the XLE, whose seat splits 20/40/20. XLE and Hybrid models also get a center sliding armrest with a storage compartment.

Interior upholstery options for the Camry include Ash, Bisque, and Dark Charcoal in cloth or leather. Experts in the field and owners have described this generation of the Camry's cabin to be highly resilient and, if well looked after, should not suffer from premature wear.

A minor oil and filter change for the four-cylinder and V6 sixth-generation Camry occurs every 10,000 miles, but if you frequent dusty roads or freezing driving conditions, it is recommended that you conduct this every 5,000 miles. A new cabin air filter ($42) and crankcase oil and filter are needed at 15,000-mile intervals, while the engine's air filter ($26) must be replaced every 30,000 miles. The cooling system should be drained, flushed, and refilled at 50,000-mile intervals. New spark plugs ($60 to $100) are required at 120,000-mile intervals. Toyota does not prescribe service intervals for its automatic transmissions, but ideally, you should change the fluid's on the Hybrid's CVT every 30,000 miles, while the automatic transmissions should be done at 60,000-mile intervals. The Toyota Camry Hybrid's battery pack ($4,500) has an average lifespan of 100,000 miles or ten years. A major service for the inline-four, V6, or Hybrid options should cost around $340 at a private workshop and $530 at a dealership.

An engine oil service for all drivetrain options of the Toyota Camry will cost around $190 at a private workshop and $360 at a dealership. If you wish to do it yourself, you can expect to pay $67 for five quarts of 0W-20 engine oil (the engine has a 4.6-quart oil capacity) as well as a filter for the inline fours. The V6 model requires 6.4 quarts of the 5W-30 oil type, which will cost $87 with the filter.

2007-2011 Toyota Camry recalls consists of the following:

• A handful of Toyota Camry models built from 2007 to 2010 had to be recalled for a seat-heating problem related to a bad electric copper wire that could short circuit and result in a fire.
• All 2007 and 2009 Toyota Camry models were recalled for a power-window master-switch problem. The sliding electrical contacts left the factory without sufficient protection from debris and moisture, which could result in the component short-circuiting.
• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry models were recalled for a problem with a sticking accelerator pedal that may hinder the car's ability to come to a stop.
• There were two airbag-related recalls:
• A small sample of Toyota Camry models assembled in 2007 were recalled for a side-, curtain-, and knee-airbag inflator problem that could prevent the airbags from deploying in the event of a collision.
• Some 2009-2012 Toyota Camry models were recalled for an incorrect airbag occupant-sensing system calibration that may hinder the deployment of the airbag.
• All 2009 Toyota Camry models were recalled for an inoperative brake light switch problem that was caused by a bad electrical contact.
• Some four-cylinder 2010 Toyota Camry models had to be recalled for a problem with a leaking vacuum brake tube due to a perforation caused by an excessive gap between the crimp on the power steering's pressure hose and brake tube.
• The 2011 Toyota Camry range was recalled for premature front ball-joint wear that could cause the part to loosen from the knuckle.

No recalls were issued for the 2007-2011 Toyota Camry's ABS module, for the engines' known oil-burning, -consumption, or -leaking problems, or for any dashboard, transmission, water pump, or sun visor issues.

OBDII codes that you may encounter with the sixth-generation Toyota Camry include:

• P0010, P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0368, and P0393 are fault codes relating to the camshaft-position sensor.
• If you are having a problem with the mass airflow (MAF) sensor, you'll see the P0101 or P0102 codes.
• Air fuel-ratio faults will bring up the P0170, P0171, or P0172 fault codes.
• Knock sensor-related problems will highlight the P0328, P0333, and P0335 fault codes.
• Codes P0420 and P0430 signify a problem with the catalytic converter.
• If there is a problem with your engine control unit, you'll be greeted by the P0606 or P0607 fault codes.
• A fault from the intake-air temperature (IAT) sensor will display the P0113 code.
• P2017 is the code you'll see when the intake manifold's runner-position sensor is getting a bad reading.
• P0500 means that there is a bad reading from the vehicle's speed sensor.
• You'll see the P0560 fault code when there is an abnormal voltage reading being sent to the ECU.
• P0793 is a shaft-speed sensor fault.
• An injector-circuit problem is highlighted by the P1201 fault code.

Issues that you may encounter on the sixth-generation Toyota Camry include quick-wearing passenger-side motor mounts, a weak taillight wiring harness, and a blocked EGR system. EVAP-related problems are also uncommon, but if they occur, they'll bring up the P043e, P043f, P0441, P0455, P0456, P1423, P2401, P2402, or P2419 fault codes. ABS brake wheel-sensor problems bringing up the P1318 fault code, O2 sensor problems resulting in the P0031, P0037, P0051, P0057, P0136, P0137, P0138, or P0139 fault codes, starter/starting problems, and power-steering pump leak problems - triggering the P1241 fault code - are also less common on the 2007-2011 Toyota Camry.

Issues that you are unlikely to encounter in the sixth-generation Toyota Camry include the following:

• Other than the usual wear and tear, the 2007, 2009, 2010 or 2011 Toyota Camry 2.4 LE or CE does not have known cold-start, fuel-pump, catalytic-converter, radiator, timing-chain tensioner, camshaft, serpentine belt, head-gasket, or throttle-body problems.
• There are few electrical problems relating to the 2007-2011 Toyota Camry's climate control/HVAC, the air-conditioner's compressor or control valve, the defroster or heater, or with charging the air-conditioning; if the AC button flashes, there is a problem, but it's the exception and not the rule.
• The sixth-generation Toyota Camry is not known to struggle with problems with its cruise control, battery, broken instrument cluster and speedometer lights, headlights, navigation system, satellite radio, or wire harness.
• Problems relating to the Toyota Camry's front bumper cover's fit, front/rear power door locks, and a leaking moonroof/sunroof or trunk are not likely to occur.
• The Toyota Camry's speed sensor, alignment, front/rear strut, differential, and manual transmission are not known to cause problems.

If we had to mention a model to avoid, we would say the 2.4-liter inline four simply because it has an oil-consumption problem that is irreversible once it starts. The only reason we'd say that the 2.5-liter model should be skipped is because of the automatic transmission's somewhat patchy reputation, but again this is not a widespread issue. There aren't any trims to avoid, as the range is catered towards the needs of varying consumers. As is the case with any used car, ensure that the interior and exterior are cosmetically in good shape. If the example you are looking at has not been maintained according to schedule, we recommend you avoid it altogether. Considering that the range suffers from a serious dash problem, we'd also strongly suggest avoiding ones that have been parked in the sun.

A V6 Toyota Camry has the best reputation regarding mechanical reliability, together with a six-speed automatic transmission that is dependable if well-maintained - but check for leaks and case wear as described earlier. There is no particular specification that we'd rule out as this is based more on your personal preferences. Only consider cars that have been maintained well and well-looked after mechanically and cosmetically.

The XV40-generation Toyota Camry is renowned for its resilient nature, reliability, high resale value, interior space, and comfort. This iteration of the famous and respected nameplate holds true to the reputation of its ancestors with its dependability, making it a suitable car for a nuclear family. There are several trims and drivetrains to choose from that can cater to whatever lifestyle you follow.