Are Toyota Camrys Good Cars/Reliable?

If you have ever asked anyone which car or car brand is the most reliable you are likely to have heard someone raving about the Toyota Camry. Everyone seems to have a story about how they lasted for decades or never seemed to break down… but is it true? 

Are Toyota Camrys really that good and reliable? 

Toyota Camrys are absolutely a great car that is extremely reliable. Multiple safety features, fuel efficiency, and a strong rating virtually every year has made this car a good choice for buyers. 

In the last 20 years, the Toyota Camry has been praised for its reliability and durability and with good reason. Many of the Camrys from the 90s or early 2000s are still going strong today!

This year’s model has a predicted reliability rating of five out of five. A majority of the Camry’s model years have received a reliability rating of four or five out of five stars.

Their reliability is virtually unmatched. 

If you’re looking for a new sedan, the Toyota Camry is hard to beat. Although it’s a moderately priced vehicle, it’s jam-packed with goodies, and it’s received high awards for safety. But, can you trust the newest Toyota Camrys to be just as reliable as those made in the last few decades? 

 Let’s take a closer look.

Camry’s Multiple Safety Features & Fuel Efficiency

When trying to decide if a car is “good” or not it’s important to look at the features it offers. The Camry is no slouch when it comes to safety features and even when looking at gas mileage. 

Toyota Camry models come with a sleek style, improved fuel efficiency, and upgraded safety systems every year. Along with being extremely reliable, they also have excellent crash test scores.

You can choose from three powertrains: 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines, standard or 3.5-liter V6 engines. It’s also available with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, which means you’ll be passing gas stations regularly in the latest Camry models.

As for normal features, the Toyota Camry doesn’t lack them either! 

In this year’s model, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth hands-free technology are standard. It also comes with features like wireless smartphone charging, WiFi Connect, and Amazon Alexa. 

What about safety? 

Toyota Camry does not take any chances here either as they don’t want to put you or your family at risk The Camry comes with several driver-assist systems and is named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Toyota Camry Reliability Rating

The Camry’s reliability has been lauded by several organizations, including Consumer Reports and Repair Pal.  Consumer Reports gave it a score of 5.0 out of 5.0, and Repair Pal rated its reliability at 4.0 out of 5.0. 

According to the company’s spokesperson, Repair Pal stated that repairs tend to be less severe and less frequent than the average car. So what’s the verdict? 

To date, the Toyota Camry has been rated as one of the most reliable cars on the market and likely will continue that streak well into the future. 

Consumer Reports provides ratings for the Toyota Camry dating back to 2000. A reliability verdict, as well as owner satisfaction ratings, were taken into account in the study. 

All-in-all, Camry’s ratings have been excellent during the past few decades.

The Camry has received a perfect five-star rating fourteen times between 2000 – 2017. It also received a reliability rating of four out of five in 2001, 2003, 2007, 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

There are also strong owner satisfaction ratings for the Camry, with four or five out of five being awarded every year since 2000.

For this reason, it has a predicted reliability verdict value of 4.5 out of 5. New model year ratings are based on prior years’ ratings and represent a prediction. 

In-car electronics is the only area where the Toyota Camry falls short. Already, the 2020 Camry has had one recall due to engine problems. Coolant leaks can cause engine overheating and stalling. In addition, an engine oil leak raises the chance of a fire.

Despite those few issues with some newer Camrys it’s still a great pick for a reliable car! 

How Long Can A Toyota Camry Last?

One of the best ways to know if a car is reliable is to check how long it can last? High-mileage cars are those that can be driven more than 200,000 and the Toyota Camrys have prices they can exceed that mark again and again if maintained properly. 

Most Toyota Camrys will last 200-300,000 miles but many people have gotten 400-500,000 miles out of their Camrys! Although most people get rid of their cars (because of rust or wanting new tech) long before the 200,000 mile mark the Camry should have no issue lasting that long… or even longer. 

iSee Cars determined which car models are most likely to achieve 200,000 miles after studying more than 15.8 million vehicles sold in 2019, and among them was one of the most well known cars in the world; the Toyota Camry!

So here’s the thing about the Toyota’s Camry: it’s not just safe, reliable, and jam-packed with features, it’s also affordable. If you choose the base model, you can expect to pay $24,970. You can upgrade to a fully-loaded model for $35,545, which isn’t too bad. 

It’s estimated that 1.5% of Toyota Camry cars sold in 2019 will reach 200,000 miles. Now that might seem low but when you compare it to the industry average of 0.7 percent, it’s pretty hard to beat. 

But what if you choose a hybrid vehicle? It was reported by iSee Cars that 1.5% of Toyota Camry Hybrids made it to the 200,000-mile mark. That means, if you drive 15,000 miles a year on average, your Camry Hybrid should last you for at least 13 years (if not more). 

Camry Maintenance Perks

However, a Toyota Camry’s lifespan is also determined by how well it is maintained. There is a risk of premature engine wear if you miss even one oil change. As a result, your Camry’s odds of making it to 200,000 miles (or beyond) are reduced.

If you want to maintain your car correctly, it’s best if you follow the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual. Toyota has made the maintenance process easy and has caught the attention of many buyers through this scheme.

For the first two years or 25,000 miles, every new Toyota Camry comes standard with ToyotaCare, a complimentary servicing plan covering routine factory scheduled maintenance.

Value For Money

Camry has been noted to have a long and strong history of reliability and has had a great ability to keep a high resale value. According to reports, the Toyota Camry will depreciate by 49 percent after five years of ownership. It will have a five-year resale value of $14,236 if you spend around $28,090 on it, which is pretty good!

Toyota Camry has aged exceptionally, much like a good old wine.  In no way can you deny that the Toyota Camry is a superb vehicle. 

There’s no doubt that this car has a lot to offer in terms of resale value and fuel efficiency due to its hybrid drivetrain.

As a result, it’s a car that gets better over time. 

Thirty-seven years after its debut, the Toyota Camry is still one of the most popular vehicles in its class. Because of this, I recommend the Toyota Camry over any other vehicle in its size. 

Before making a final decision, I would recommend taking it for a spin though.