Toyota Camry (2002 - 2006) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

This is my first car that I got for my sweet 16 & I'm now 22 and this car still works like a charm. This car has truly been my partner in crime [figuratively speaking, of course ;)] I go thousands of miles without oil changes and it still runs smoothly. Although its not the sexiest categorized sports car, my Solara SLE packs some pep! Being an over zealous new driver my friend who drives a 2008(?) VW Jetta put her car into Sport Mode and we raced to see which car was faster, and my car was faster. This car has lasted through a high school graduation and a college graduation with no major breakdowns. In between those two graduations its lasted through running over curbs, backing into paved walls (yes, multiple times), commuting twice weekly to downtown LA, avoiding mysterious objects in the middle of the 5 and 405 freeways-- all while being a smooth comfortable ride. All in all, this makes an EXCELLENT first car if you're looking for reliability, pep and comfortable. It could be a little more stylish, but I've definitely seen uglier with higher price tags.Mar 15, 2013

Owned it exactly 10 years new years day - bought it new. Everything I expected from a Toyota. Good value, reliable, trustworthy. Has never failed me in extreme heat, frigid cold, snow storms, you name it, it got me thru it. Family bought a 1969 Toyota Corona, my first was a 1973 Corolla 5 speed. Owned many other brands, but Toyota has always delivered on good value for the dollar.....Dec 30, 2012

I've owned many cars but this was my first brand new car and it has not disappointed. I bought it with only 20 miles on the dash. I like the older style Camry body with the square backs. The new rounder ones don't appeal to me as much. The ride is comfortable and I didn't notice any change in ride when I upgraded the tire size from 15" to 18" Although I did notice an increase in road noise. Never had any major issues with this car other than routine wear and tear (oil/tire changes) which is awesome. The interior is very spacious but not cavernous. I don't have any fancy bells and whistles like the other trims this car comes in but I do have power windows and locks and steering wheel audio controls which is nice. Driving is a blast with the manual transmission. I get a little more pickup when I let the RPM's go up a little and I save a bunch on brake pads through downshifting. Car handles really well with a wide base, even on tight corners although I feel like the back end is going to go, it stays put to the ground. I get really good gas mileage for the age of the car, nothing compared to what the newer cars are pushing out now with the hybrids and flex fuel cars but good enough. I like that its a manual transmission, which is rare to find in the US for this model vehicle. This particular car was manufactured in Japan and shipped over. The quality of the construction from the parts used to the paint is outstanding. I have 135K on it and hope that it lasts me a whole lot more!! I upgraded the lights with an aftermarket HID kit and new headlights that have the BMW style HALO'S. Will upload picture of that soon.Aug 14, 2012

My cousin in Los Angeles let me test drive his new stickshift Camry a few years back, and it was one of the best cars I have driven in my life. It really ticks all the boxes: Roomy, comfortable, reliable, fun to drive, cheap to buy, cheap to run. Here is a quick rundown: Roomy: There is copious legroom front and rear, and the trunk is big enough for three or four medium-sized suitcases. Comfortable: The seats are supportive, and the ride is more cushioned than I would expect from anything less than a luxury car. Toyota have done what was once thought impossible: Great ride comfort with no accompanying compromise in handling. The interior is well-insulated from road and wind noise, which is still audible, but muffled. Reliable: Nothing has gone wrong with this car yet, and probably never will. It's a Toyota. Enough said. Fun to drive: Steering is precise and direct. The power assist provides just the right weight. This, combined with the poised handling, gives me the confidence to push the car a bit closer to the limit than I would normally be comfortable doing in a large family car. The Camry I drove was equipped with the standard 5-speed manual transmission. With an automatic, this car would actually be as boring as it looks. The gas, brake, and clutch pedals all feel linear. The clutch has a particularly long travel, which is great for smooth shifting. Cheap to buy: My cousin bought the car in 2007 for 17 grand. It was an incredibly good deal, partly because he haggled the price down, knowing the dealer was desperate to get last year's models off the lot. Even under normal circumstances though, the Camry is a great value, with better standard features than almost anything else in its class. Cheap to run: EPA mileage figures are 21 city, 30 highway, but my cousin claims he gets significantly more than that. Wow. Now for the downsides: The best way I can describe the 4-cylinder engine is "adequate". It's not going to knock your socks off, but it gets the job done. That's fine by me--I get more of a thrill from saving money at the pump than racing between the lights. Seen on its own, the Camry is pleasant to look at, but it doesn't stand out from the crowd. It is so common that you can't drive a mile in most towns without seeing at least twenty of them. It has become the quintessential boring car, in the eyes of the public. And yet, I find myself drawn to its unassuming image. Maybe I just like the idea that no one will ever suspect how much fun I'm having!Feb 15, 2012

Odd as it may seem, our 2004 Camry LXE is our luxury car. After years of driving gently-used hand-me-downs (our other car is a 1995 Camry LE), we bought this one new, and have loved it ever since. With regular maintenance, it still feels and looks like new, except for a small dent in the rear fender. Apropos, does anyone make touch-up paint that actually matches a car’s original paint? The front seats are comfortable and adjustable to support the back; the back seat has plenty of room for two [grand] children’s booster seats and their mom sitting between them, and they can adjust the temperature back there. The trunk is terrific – room for just about anything, especially with the fold-down back seats, which accommodate extra-long items. The optional net that stretches side to side in the trunk to hold packages upright seemed like an indulgence when we bought the car, but it’s been very useful, and we miss it when we’re using the older car. Improvements over the 1995 Camry include electronic seat and side-view mirror controls, electronic entry, a better set-up for between-seat storage of miscellaneous items, and cup holders that can still be used when the shift lever is forward, in park. [What were they thinking when they designed the earlier model??] Luck-of-the-draw: Neither one of our Camrys has been included in the recent recalls for floor pads or runaway acceleration. The 2004 Camry is our road-trip car, for comfort, dependability, and mileage. Otherwise, it’s used in-city, for errands. The only drawback that we’ve found (and have had to adjust our driving to) is that despite good tires, traction when there’s rain, snow, or ice is not always reliable. In slippery conditions, we have to leave plenty of room to stop, and we’ve learned not to accelerate quickly from a full stop. Jun 09, 2010

I love this car! It is very comfortable to drive in long rides, I used to drive 80 miles a day and it basically drove himself with the cruise control. It has a great gas mileage ratio. Never had to take it for repairs in three years except for rutine maintenance. It is a great car to go to work every day and it looks very elegant. I do not have any complaints about its performance. Oct 25, 2008

Quality you can count on. definitely one for the Hall of fame. Acceleration is decent. Handling superb. The build quality is in my opinion second to none. I beat up the cars I drive a lot. I drive almost 24000 a year in the car and it still runs quiet smooth and very reliably. I love the fact that it reminds me to change the oil. I think that is the one most important maintenance issue on any car. Aug 24, 2008

The car was one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned. I brought this car used with 23,000 miles. After 5 years of road trips I put about 130K miles on the car. The car runs just as smooth when I brought it. I have had no problems with the car. All I did was change the fluids and tires (the factory tires wear quickly. I suggest replace them with Yokahamas). The 2002 Camry is as smooth operator on the highway and quiet to boot. The car engine is so quiet at idle that I've cranked the starter only to find that it was already on. The the ride is as luxurious as any luxury car out there. The 4 cylinder is adequate for most driving situation thought not a power house. My Brothers Altima (4 cylinder) is much faster. The interior is top notch with good materials (much better than Altima). Fuel Efficiency is great with the 4 cylinder. I averaged around 31 on the highways and around 23 mph in the city. The thing about the 2002 Camry is that it is definitely not tunned for sport. Comfort is it's strong suit. The steering gives no feedback and the brakes are a little on the mushy side but have good stopping power when you need it. The handling while secure feels a little square on turns. If you are looking for sport feel this is not the car for you. However if you are looking for a honestly Good Car that is comfortable, fuel efficient, and will keep going for miles then this is your car. You will not be disappointed. Trust me on that. Jun 21, 2008

I bought my 2002 Toyota Camry LE 4 cyl. Used w/ 74,000 miles on it. I knew I was buying a grocery-getter that had mediocre performance and a non- existent "fun-factor", but the up-sides are still plentiful. The interior has very comfortable seats that border on luxurious and plenty of room for 4 full-grown adults and 1 young adult. Also, the trunk has a seemingly bottomless 16.7 cu. Ft. Of room, which I have only been able to fill once and that was with a drum set that was packed up. At about 82K miles, I flushed the engine, transmission and power steering unit and replaced all these fluids with Amsoil 100% synthetic, and the car drove much smoother and I obtained an all-time high of 34.5 mpg, and I now average 33 mpg with 125,000 miles on the Camry 4 cyl. The paint job sparkles when clean, and the build quality is still pretty good (my Camry was assembled in Georgetown, Kentucky). This car has been rock-solid for me in terms of reliabilty, functionality and low cost of ownership. Mar 16, 2008