The Toyota Camry XV40 generation, produced from 2006 to 2011, has long earned a reputation as one of the most reliable business-class cars. Simple, durable, unpretentious — it would seem, an ideal car for every day. But, as it turns out, not everything is so cloudless: despite its undeniable longevity, the Camry can drive its owner to irritation. Auto.ru has collected many reviews in which drivers share not only the advantages, but also the annoying little things of the Japanese sedan.
Almost everyone notes the phenomenal reliability of the car. According to Anton, who bought a Camry in 2013, the car is comfortable at any distance, confidently holds the road, has a spacious interior and a roomy trunk. The engine is peppy, the plastic in the cabin, although simple, does not creak, and the suspension is tight and durable. The only thing that spoiled the impression was that in severe frosts the starter began to "stick" and continued to spin after the engine started. But, according to the owner, this is a trifle against the general background.
A more experienced car enthusiast with the nickname "Vehicle Manager" recalls that his Camry had no serious breakdowns, with the exception of repairing the automatic transmission after 226 thousand kilometers. The reason was overheating due to the too powerful 3.5 engine, which, according to the owner, was installed with the same automatic transmission as on the 2.4 version. After installing an additional radiator, the gearbox no longer acted up. He changed all fluids and filters strictly according to the regulations, and the car continued to serve without any particular problems.
Some owners, however, note that even the perfect Camry has irritating aspects. It is difficult to drive long distances — the back gets tired, and the handling leaves much to be desired. According to him, during a sharp overtaking, the car can literally "break out of your hands", and there are catastrophically not enough brakes. After active driving, the discs overheat, vibration appears, and he calls the sensation when braking Japanese massage without pleasure.
Sergey was also not delighted. His Camry really did not break down, but caused inconvenience to others: The suspension is terrible, especially on long distances. After a hundred kilometers behind the wheel, you just want to get out and walk away. The steering wheel is uninformative, the suspension bucks, the interior creaks like an old "nine". At the same time, the 2.4 engine is weak, but it eats fuel with appetite. According to the owner, the paintwork quickly loses its appearance, and in winter the car warms up for a long time and remains cool.
There are also complaints about electronics. The rain sensor, according to Sergey, "works when it pleases" and only interferes. He also complains about the cramped interior with impressive body dimensions and unsuccessful ergonomics. As a result, the owner admits that reliability is, of course, good, but he does not get any pleasure from driving at all.
Another user, Alexander, has been using the Camry for more than ten years and is generally satisfied. The car does not break down, there are plenty of spare parts, and the maintenance prices are adequate. But even he notes a dangerous feature: the car does not like ruts. At a speed of 120 km/h and in the rain, the car can unexpectedly "lead", and the stabilization system does not always save. At the same time, after installing 18 radius wheels, the handling has noticeably improved, although it was necessary to change the stabilizer struts more often.
But Andrey criticizes the Camry for the build quality. According to him, the interior is made well in appearance, but creaks in every seam, especially in winter. Plastic panels are poorly fitted, there is practically no sound insulation, although after additional gluing it became a little better.
However, not everything is bad: there are no complaints about the space in the Camry. There is enough space for everyone in the cabin, three adults can easily fit in the back, although it is more comfortable for two. The engine and gearbox work smoothly, the gears shift smoothly, and the dynamics are enough even on the highway. Fuel consumption, according to reviews, stays at the level of 10–11 liters in the city and about 8 liters on the highway. And yet, many believe that the best option is a hybrid version, which drives faster and consumes noticeably less, but costs significantly more and is rare.
The Toyota Camry XV40 is a car that evokes contradictory feelings. It is reliable, durable, liquid in the secondary market, but at the same time it can be annoying with a stiff suspension, mediocre handling and a boring character. Owners agree: the Camry does not let you down, but it does not inspire either. This is a typical example of Japanese pragmatism — when everything works like clockwork, but there are almost no emotions from driving.