2021 Toyota Camry

Is the Toyota Camry a Good Car?

The 2021 Toyota Camry is a great midsize car.  Among its strengths are a simple infotainment system, a roomy cabin, a high safety score, great fuel economy, an engaging ride, and a punchy V6 engine option. Its downsides are fairly minor: Some road and wind noise permeate the cabin, and some interior materials in lower trims are not impressive.

Why You Can Trust Us: 35 Reviews Analyzed

Our goal is to make shopping for your next car as easy as possible. You'll find everything you need to know about this vehicle in our comprehensive review. It combines concrete data like horsepower ratings, fuel economy estimates, and cargo space dimensions with 35 professional Toyota Camry reviews. This review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2018.

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Should I Buy the Toyota Camry?

The Toyota Camry merits a spot on the shortlist of any midsize-sedan shopper. However, it’s not the only well-rounded vehicle in the class. The Honda Accord exhibits lithe handling and features a larger trunk than the Camry, while the Mazda6 has an upscale cabin and rivals the Toyota’s agility. If you like the Toyota but want something more fuel-efficient, consider the Camry Hybrid, which we review separately.

Find a 2021 Toyota Camry for sale near you »

2020 vs. 2021 Toyota Camry: What's the Difference?

Toyota made a few minor tweaks to the Camry for the 2021 model year. These include dropping the base L trim, refining the car’s standard safety features, and adding an available 9-inch touch screen. There were minor exterior styling tweaks as well.

Compare the 2020 and 2021 Camry »

Here are the key changes for the Toyota Camry over the past few years:

• 2018: fully redesigned with more safety features, a revamped infotainment system, stronger engines, better gas mileage, and sharper handling
• 2019: Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa added to the standard features list
• 2020: added standard Android Auto and available all-wheel drive; TRD trim debuted
• 2021: gains an available 9-inch touch screen; L trim discontinued

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2018 Camry, 2019 Camry, and 2020 Camry reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

How Much Does the Toyota Camry Cost?

The Toyota Camry has a starting MSRP of $24,970, which is above average for the class. The top-of-the-line TRD trim starts at $32,185.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Toyota dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Toyota deals page.

Toyota Camry Versus the Competition

Toyota Camry vs. Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is another great vehicle in the midsize car class that comes standard with a host of safety features. The Honda also impresses with its sharp steering, confident cornering, large trunk, and premium cabin. On the other hand, the Toyota is available with a V6 engine and all-wheel drive, whereas the Honda is front-wheel drive only and offers a choice of turbocharged four-cylinder engines. You can’t go wrong choosing between these two vehicles.

Compare the Camry and Accord »

Toyota Camry vs. Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima is a good car, but the Camry is a better one. The Nissan has two capable engine options, a smooth ride, comfortable seats, and user-friendly tech controls. It also has a bit more trunk space than the Toyota. However, the Camry has nimbler handling and a V6 engine option that’s stronger than anything in the Altima.

Compare the Camry and Altima »

Compare the Camry, Accord, and Altima »

Camry Interior: Mostly Good and Loaded With Features

Camry Cargo Space

The Camry’s 15.1-cubic-foot trunk is slightly small for the class, though most critics note that it still provides plenty of room for cargo. The split-folding rear seats create more space for longer items, but loading them can be tricky because the trunk floor is lower than the folded seatbacks.

How Many People Does the Camry Seat?

This Toyota can seat five people, and both rows offer plenty of head- and legroom for most passengers.

Cloth upholstery and a driver’s seat with eight-way power adjustments are standard. Synthetic and genuine leather upholstery, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a heated steering wheel are available.

Camry and Child Car Seats

This car has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat. A lower anchor can be borrowed from each outboard seat. This LATCH system is among the easiest to use, earning the highest rating of Good+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Camry Interior Quality

Materials in the Camry are generally high-quality, although the lower trims appear a bit more low-rent. Higher trims add premium flairs, such as wood inlays or patterned metals. However, the cabin isn’t well-insulated from engine and road noise.

Camry Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The standard Entune 3.0 infotainment system has well-placed buttons and knobs for audio and climate settings, and they're easy to use while driving. The tabletlike touch screen is responsive.

• Standard infotainment features: a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, and two USB ports
• Available infotainment features: a 9-inch touch screen, navigation, qi-compatible wireless device charging, a nine-speaker JBL sound system, and HD Radio
• Other available features: a moonroof, a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and proximity keyless entry

For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?

Read more about interior »

Camry Performance: Class Leader

Camry Engine

Toyota offers two engine options for the Camry. Most models have a four-cylinder that is plenty capable of propelling this vehicle around town and on the freeway. For something with swifter acceleration and more muscle, look to the V6.

Regardless of engine, you’ll get a smooth-shifting automatic transmission.

Toyota Camry Powertrain/Performance Options:

• Base engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder with between 202 and 206 horsepower, depending on trim and drivetrain
• Available engine: 3.5-liter V6 with 301 horsepower
• Drivetrain: standard front-wheel drive; available all-wheel drive
• Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Toyota Camry Appearance Packages:

• SE Nightshade Edition: exterior styling enhancements

Toyota Camry Performance Options:

• TRD trim: V6 engine, sport seats, fixed rear seats, aluminum sport pedals, sporty interior and exterior styling enhancements, and a TRD-specific suspension system

Camry Gas Mileage

With the four-cylinder engine, the 2021 Toyota Camry gets an EPA-rated 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. These are great estimates for a midsize sedan. Models with the optional all-wheel-drive system see ratings dip to 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Camry models with the V6 engine get an estimated 22/33 mpg city/highway.

For an even more efficient sedan, you might consider the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Camry Ride and Handling

This Toyota delivers a ride that’s both comfortable and composed. The suspension is soft enough to absorb most bumps and dips in the pavement, and it’s firm enough to tackle turns with confidence. SE and XSE trims are sportier than their LE and XLE counterparts, and the TRD is especially enjoyable to drive, with performance upgrades like stiffer shocks, larger brakes, and a unique suspension.

How Fast Is the Toyota Camry?

The range-topping TRD Camry accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 5.7 seconds. V6-powered Camry models have a top speed of up to 136 mph.

Does the Toyota Camry Have All-Wheel Drive?

Yes, all-wheel drive is available throughout this Toyota’s lineup.

Read more about performance »

Camry Reliability

Is the Toyota Camry Reliable?

The 2021 Toyota Camry has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five.

Toyota Camry Warranty

Toyota backs the Camry with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Camry Safety

Camry Crash Test Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2021 Camry an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the frontal crash, side crash, and rollover tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Camry a Top Safety Pick+, giving it the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests and the second-highest rating of Acceptable for how well its headlights illuminate the road ahead. Models with adaptive headlights earned the highest rating of Good.

The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. It gave the 2021 Camry the highest rating of Superior for its standard front crash prevention systems.

Camry Safety Features

Standard advanced safety features:

• Lane trace assist
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Forward collision warning
• Forward automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Traffic sign recognition
• Rearview camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic high-beam headlights

Available advanced safety features:

• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Reverse automatic emergency braking
• Head-up display
• Surround-view parking camera system

Read more about safety »

Camry Dimensions and Weight

The Camry is about 16.1 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,310 to 3,595 pounds.

Where Is the 2021 Toyota Camry Built?

Toyota builds the 2021 Camry in Kentucky, alongside the Camry Hybrid.

When Did the Toyota Camry First Come Out?

Toyota introduced the Camry for the 1983 model year, when it replaced the rear-wheel-drive Corona. The first Camry had front-wheel drive and a four-cylinder gas engine, although a diesel engine was added later. This car's comfort and reliability proved popular with American buyers.

Toyota redesigned the Camry for 1987 and added a wagon body style. Production moved to Kentucky in 1988, and a V6 engine became available for the first time. Toyota redesigned the Camry again in 1992, refining its engine options and giving it a longer wheelbase. This generation was the first to offer significant differences between Camry vehicles sold for the United States and those sold in other markets. A coupe body style launched for 1994.

The Camry has undergone several changes and redesigns since then. Its most recent generation launched for 2018.

Which Toyota Camry Model Is Right for Me?

Toyota makes the 2021 Camry in five trim levels: LE, SE, XLE, XSE, and TRD. There’s also a Toyota Camry Hybrid model, which we review separately.

The base LE trim is generously equipped and available with a good number of options, making it a solid choice for most shoppers. If you want the V6 engine or leather upholstery, however, you’ll have to move up to at least an XLE. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard throughout the lineup, and you can add all-wheel drive to any trim with a four-cylinder engine.

Toyota Camry LE

The Toyota Camry LE has an MSRP of $24,970. It comes with a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hot spot, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, two USB ports, Bluetooth, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a rearview camera.

Also included is the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite of driver assistance features, which has a pre-collision warning and braking system, pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, lane trace assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The Convenience package outfits this vehicle with proximity keyless entry and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Audio Upgrade package ($4,105) adds that plus qi-compatible wireless device charging, a 9-inch touch screen, a moonroof, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Other options include blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert for $680.

Toyota Camry SE

The Toyota Camry SE starts at $26,485 and adds automatic climate control, SofTex synthetic leather upholstery, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. It also has a unique front and rear fascia, which it shares with the XSE and TRD trims to differentiate them from the more comfort-oriented LE and XLE. Otherwise, it has many of the same options as the LE model, as well as a heated steering wheel and a Nightshade edition with some unique styling elements.

Toyota Camry XLE

XLE models ($29,870) gain leather-trimmed seats, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, full-speed adaptive cruise control, an electronic parking brake, ambient interior lighting, wood interior inlays, and all of the LE’s optional features.

Navigation, a nine-speaker JBL stereo, and HD Radio are bundled into the $1,760 Navigation Upgrade package. A panoramic moonroof is available for $1,360. For $4,550, you can bundle both with the Driver Assist package, which adds ventilated front seats, a surround-view parking camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a 10-inch head-up display.

The XLE is the first trim level available with the V6 engine. Getting it also adds the head-up display. Pricing starts at $34,995.

Toyota Camry XSE

The XSE retails for $30,420. It has a sport-tuned suspension and shares its sportier front and rear fascia with the SE and TRD trims. Otherwise, the XSE has the same options as the XLE. With the V6 engine, the XSE has an MSRP of $35,545.

Toyota Camry TRD

The TRD starts at $32,185. It comes standard with the V6 engine, and it gains a unique track-tuned suspension that lowers the car’s height for a lower center of gravity and greater agility. The TRD also picks up larger brakes, aluminum sport pedals, a fixed rear seat, a rear spoiler, and distinctive styling elements. Note that it reverts to features like synthetic leather upholstery, automatic climate control, and a 7-inch touch screen.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Toyota dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Toyota deals page.

See 2021 Toyota Camry specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2021 Toyota Camry rates well for performance and crash safety, and it comes standard with an easy-to-use infotainment system and plenty of advanced driver aids. Lower trims feature some unimpressive cabin materials, the interior can be a little noisy, and trunk space is just OK for the midsize car class, but those are fairly minor flaws that don't detract from the Camry's broad appeal.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "No matter which Camry you choose, you’ll also get the latest safety systems. Then there’s the Camry’s nearly 40-year history of reliability and its high resale value. There’s a reason the Camry remains the best-selling sedan in its segment, and it’s hard to go wrong with any model." -- Autotrader
• "Those who simply prefer a stylish and comfy family sedan, with driver assists and popular features galore, will also adore the 2021 Camry." -- Car and Driver
• " For 2021, the Camry's updated driver safety aids and infotainment system will appeal to everybody. The lack of updates underneath the sheetmetal means the 2021 Camry will unlikely vault to the top of our midsize sedan rankings. But overall it's a solid sedan worth checking out alongside the well-rounded Honda Accord, the new Kia K5 and the sporty Mazda 6." -- Edmunds