Buying a Used Toyota Camry (2007-2017)

The sixth-generation (XV40) Toyota Camry was introduced to the global market in 2006 and entered Australian production later that year, preceding a July 25 launch.

The four-cylinder Camry sold alongside the V6 Toyota Aurion, but Camry was generally the bigger seller, locally and in export markets.

Mid-2011 brought a revised but minimally different XV50 version of the Camry, which for the next six years would continue to enchant fleet buyers, Middle Eastern export markets and, yes, private owners too.

Local sales typically exceeded 20,000 annually, but three times that number of Melbourne-made Camrys and Aurion cars were exported.

Sales of the seventh-generation (XV50) Toyota Camry in Australia began in November 2011, the local cars – which were officially launched in the first week of 2012 – varying slightly in appearance from US-built versions and with packaging differences as well.

In Australia, the 2.5-litre range encompassed four versions: a basic Altise supplemented by Atara S, SX and SL versions. Prices began at $30,490 plus on-road costs and all versions used the same 2AR-FE engine with 135kW of power and 235Nm of torque.

A six-speed automatic transmission was standard – until a few months into the XV50’s Australian reign, when the car-maker introduced its revamped Toyota Camry Hybrid , an updated design with combined outputs of 151kW and 350Nm.

These were also the only Camry models to come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and were available in H or HL model grades.

April 2015 brought another key Camry update – a car that would be the last uniquely Australian Toyota produced at the company’s Altona factory in Melbourne.

It was available with conventional and hybrid power, with pricing slashed to help maintain volume before the shutters came down on the Japanese auto giant’s Australian car manufacturing operations on October 3, 2017.

Buying Used: Toyota Camry 2011-17 – Quick Checklist

Local versions of the XV50 Toyota Camry came in a variety of models, all of which displayed different characteristics and gained equipment as prices climbed.

By 2011, the Australian Camry was built only as a sedan and with four-cylinder engines; V6 power was available in the similar-looking Toyota Aurion, but most buyers were happy with a Camry.

Even the entry-level Altise came with plenty of features which during 2012 included alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a six-speaker CD system and automatic headlight activation.

Atara S versions with a petrol engine were $3000 more than the Altise and stepped equipment level up significantly. Improvements included larger wheels and uprated tyres with an alloy spare, an upgraded sound system with Bluetooth, stainless-steel exhaust, a sports steering wheel with remote controls and a larger touch-screen.

Climb to $40,000 and the list of Atara SL offerings expanded further to include dual-zone air-con, a reversing camera, electric driver’s seat adjustment, leather seat inserts plus a host of chromed and colour-keyed embellishments.

Hybrid versions of the Toyota Camry came in H and HL trim levels, costing around $3500 more than their petrol-only equivalents. However, the fuel savings available to fleet buyers and especially taxi operators easily negated the higher price.

As Toyota was quick to mention when launching the XV50, the cost of a basic Camry H in 2012 was still $2000 below the previous version, while HLs gained so much equipment that its $41,490 (plus ORCs) price was negated by extra value.

Under the Camry Hybrid bonnet was a 2.5-litre engine similar to, but different from, petrol versions.

The hybrid engine ran a higher compression cylinder head with variable valve timing on the inlet side and exhaust system cooling. Electric motors replaced engine-driven belts to power the water pump, air-con compressor and power steering.

Slotted alongside the engine were two electric motors operating via a system that Toyota termed ‘Synergy Drive.’ This saw the primary motor work as a generator to replenish the boot-mounted battery pack, with the second unit serving as an additional drive motor and powering the car’s various systems.

Most expensive amongst the Camry Hybrid models was the HL. Like an Atara SL it included a driver’s seat memory function, blind spot and collision alerts, automatic high beam dimming, a 10-speaker sound system and electric sun shade for the rear window.

During 2015, the world greeted a different-looking Camry that would see out the XV50 before the eighth-generation XV70 turned up overseas in January 2017.

For ‘our’ Camry though, production was already on death row and slated to end later in 2017.

Toyota Camry models sold here from 2015-17 did not get all the changes introduced overseas, but did benefit from revised spring rates and shock absorbers, heavier stabiliser mountings and a faster steering rack.

The cars looked different too and sales during 2015 reached record levels, before heading south.

The Toyota Camry is, of course, a terribly boring car, just ask anyone. But then, have all of the opinionated critics even driven one and, if so, did they drive far enough to make an educated assessment?

Or did they just read somewhere that the suspension went a bit soggy when flung around a race circuit and that the steering didn’t feel the same as in a Mazda6?

Being objective, the Toyota Camry most of us know is the one you pluck out of Bay 80 in the airport rental car compound with 20-something on the clock, half-worn tyres and needing an alignment. Yet it still got us to where we needed to be and back again.

The Camrys reviewed here were never intended to be flash cars or fast cars. They were built with specific tasks in mind and did pretty well at their job.

With extra weight aboard, the Camry Hybrid’s additional output doesn’t hugely help acceleration times, however 80-120km/h in 5.0 seconds against 5.9sec in the base-model Ateva feels faster due to the seamless way the CVT transmission builds pace.

Fuel consumption is, of course, the deciding difference between the cars, however when buying used there also comes the issue of battery life. Just how far your chosen Camry Hybrid will go and how much fuel you might save before the battery cashes its chips is very much a matter of chance.

However, en route to that point in time, the savings can be significant, with Camry Hybrids averaging 5.2L/100km against the ULP-only cars at 7.8L/100km.

Inside, the Camry feels and looks roomy, even though the specs sheet puts it a few millimetres of cabin width behind the Ford Mondeo and Honda Accord Euro.

Cloth seats in lower-spec cars are okay for comfort with sufficient adjustment, however if you’re picky about where you sit while driving, get a version with the seat that adjusts infinitely and will remember who you are.

The in-dash screen is easy to see and use, and the electronics reportedly suffer very few connectivity issues. Built-for-Australia interior plastics are tough too, and XV50 cars should not yet be suffering cabin deterioration.

Safety was essential to generating fleet sales and every model in the XV50 range came loaded with primary and secondary features, assuring all of them solid five-star ANCAP scores.

Even basic Altise and Hybrid H versions include front, side, head and knee airbag protection, with seat belt pretensioners, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC) plus ABS and seat belt reminders.

Those with extra money can enjoy enhanced safety in an up-spec version built from 2015-17. These have forward collision warning and mitigation, park distance monitoring, a reversing camera, lane departure sensors and rain-sensing wipers.

The Toyota Camry is excellent for families, unless boot space is important and you want a hybrid.

The Camry Hybrid allocates significant gobs of boot space to batteries, so the baby carriage that fits easily below the lid of a stock Camry won’t in a hybrid version.

Boot space aside, the interiors are spacious and comfortable and even basic models have plenty of features.

Used vehicle grading for Toyota Camry 2011-17
Design & Function: 17/20
Safety: 15/20
Practicality: 16/20
Value for Money: 14/20
Wow Factor: 10/20
Score: 72/100

Also consider: Ford Mondeo, Mazda6, Skoda Octavia, Subaru Liberty