A full-size vehicle masquerading as a midsize sedan, the 2006 Toyota Camry supplies everything you need and want in a reliable family car.
In what is likely its last year before a complete redesign, the roomy 2006 Toyota Camry sees no significant change. Due to the new Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) engine testing rules, the horsepower figures drop a bit. Also, the Camry SE V6 is now offered with a navigation system.
Buyers choose from CE, LE, SE, and XLE trim levels, and the 2006 Camry offers a 4-cylinder or a V6 engine. It is one of the largest vehicles in its segment and shares its platform and vehicle architecture with the Lexus ES.
Lacking in terms of visual excitement, the 2006 Camry boasts a clean, conservative, and cohesive design. The sporty SE trim is the looker of the bunch, featuring fog lights, darkened headlamp housings, attractive aluminum wheels, and a rear spoiler. Naturally, the luxury-oriented XLE emphasizes chrome detailing and shiny wheels.
Continuing the luxury theme, the Camry XLE’s interior features leather, gathered leatherette door panel trim, and fake wood on the dashboard. With SE trim, the cabin has metallic accents. The less expensive Camrys are, understandably, less interesting in terms of interior design.
Quality is a high point for the 2006 Camry, from the materials to how the switchgear feels when used. Full instrumentation, sensible climate controls, and comprehensive (if cluttered) stereo controls integrate into a design emphasizing symmetry, minimalism, and practicality.
Every 2006 Camry comes with a standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine making 154 horsepower. Toyota builds the car with a 5-speed manual gearbox, but most (if not all) that you’ll find on dealer lots will have a 5-speed automatic transmission.
As an option, a more powerful 3.0-liter V6 engine supplies 190 hp in the Camry LE and XLE and 210 hp in the Camry SE. The SE also has a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded brakes, and improved tires, and it does provide a bit of driving fun.
Exuding refinement, the Camry 4-cylinder is peppy enough for daily driving, though when you load it up for a family road trip, the engine can struggle when merging onto highways, passing slower traffic, or climbing mountain grades. You can solve that problem by choosing the V6 engine, which delivers far more satisfying acceleration with a slight penalty in terms of fuel economy.
Most Camrys are capable if forgettable drivers. To extract any semblance of enjoyment from the journey to the destination, you’ll want the firmer and more communicative Camry SE.
With plenty of seating for up to five passengers, the 2006 Toyota Camry is nothing if not roomy. Up front, the driver and passenger enjoy expansive space and the car’s backseat is positively huge. Storage is plentiful, too, and the trunk holds a whopping 16.7 cubic feet of cargo.
Though the base Camry CE looks that way, it includes everything you really need, such as air conditioning, power accessories, cruise control, and a CD player. The LE adds an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and remote keyless entry, while the SE installs the racier look, the sportier mechanicals, and a power sunroof.
At the top of the trim ladder, the XLE provides fancier trim, leather seats, automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, a premium sound system, and more.
For the 2006 Camry, Toyota’s JBL premium sound system offers more than improved audio quality. It adds both an MP3 player and a cassette player, and as an optional upgrade swaps out the single-disc CD player for a 6-disc CD changer. A DVD-based navigation system is available with XLE and SE V6 trim.
A universal programmable garage door opener is also offered for the 2006 Camry. It replaces the bulky hand-held remote with buttons integrated into the cabin design. An anti-theft system with an engine immobilizer is another upgrade for the Camry, which is a frequent target of car thieves.
Every 2006 Camry is equipped with antilock brakes and dual front airbags. Side curtain airbags for the front and rear passengers, and side-impact airbags for the front seat occupants, are an option. Get a Camry with a V6 engine, and it has stability control, which is helpful when drivers start to lose control of the car on a slippery surface.
Based on crash-test results published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), you’re going to want those side airbags. Without them, the 2006 Camry gets a Poor rating for side-impact collision protection. With them, the rating leaps to Good. In the moderate-overlap frontal-impact test, the 2006 Camry scores a Good rating for driver protection.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found similar results. Frontal-impact protection earns the highest 5-star rating for both front seats. Side-impact protection for the front seats rates 4 stars, but for the rear seats rates a mediocre 3 stars. The NHTSA’s test vehicles did not have side airbags.
With window stickers starting at more than $19,000, and with a loaded XLE rapidly approaching the $30,000 mark, the 2006 Toyota Camry isn’t cheap in terms of price. But when you get into one and fire up either of its silky smooth engines, and after you drive the car for a while, you also realize that the 2006 Toyota Camry isn’t cheap in terms of engineering, quality, and refinement.
You might pay a lot for a new Camry, but you get a lot of car in return.
My Camry 2006 wont start when I turn the key and there is also no noise at all coming from the motor at all have replace the alternator and also the serpentine belt have checked the Battery and it is fine
Radiator keeps going dry
I was changing the oil on my 06 Camry and after i let the oil settle i pulled the dipstick to check the level of the oil and when i pulled it out the plastic measure tip broke off inside the tube should i drain the oil, is there a mesh or filter that keeps object from falling in from the dip tube that will keep the plastic piece from coming out when draining ?
i have a 2006 Toyota Camry. it has 197,000 on it and when i start it its fine its when i go to drive it while its cold it makes a metal rattling noise from passenger side. is that normal or could it be a timing chain? there is no check engine light other then that car drives good..
I have a 2006 Toyota Camry V6 XLE with 210K miles. The front end vibrates only upon acceleration starting around 35 MPH through 50 MPH and is getting progressively worse. What's the best diagnostic guess ?
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: drum
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front and rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: drum
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front and rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front and rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front and rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: simulated wood · Dash trim: simulated wood · Door trim: simulated wood · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: cargo net · Sunshade: rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front and rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Tires
Type: performance
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching · Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front and rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: JBL · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: simulated wood · Dash trim: simulated wood · Door trim: simulated wood
Convenience Features
Adjustable pedals: power · Center console: front console with storage · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: rear window
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Power adjustments: 8
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: one-touch open/close
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside
Suspension
Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Spare tire size: full-size matching
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent