2011 Toyota Camry has three engine options, including a hybrid model. While two of the engines are not very exciting, you can depend on all of them for years.
Key Points
- The 2011 Toyota Camry has three available engine options in a naturally-aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder, a 3.5L V6, and a 2.4L four-cylinder hybrid.
- There are few complaints about Toyota’s 2.5L, but some customers struggle with excessive oil consumption that can lead to expensive repairs.
- Overall, the 3.5L V6 is a good choice for the 2011 Camry because of its great ratio of performance and fuel economy.
- The 2011 Toyota Camrys equipped with the 2.4L hybrid offer an impressive 35 mpg on the highway.
2.5L Offers Decent Performance and Average Fuel Mileage for its Class
The standard engine for the 2011 Toyota Camry is a 2.5L DOHC four-cylinder. In the LE and XLE trim levels, the 2.5L offers 169 horsepower and 167 lb.-ft. of torque. In the LE configuration, the 2011 Camry does zero to 60 miles per hour in 8.1 seconds. If the Camry was an SUV, that would be considered quite brisk, but in a sedan, it’s pretty slow. The story gets worse in the XLE, slowing the zero to 60 mph time to nine seconds because of the extra 100 pounds of equipment.
In the SE trim, the 2.5L gets a slight power boost, offering 179 hp and 171 lb.-ft. of torque. The extra 10 horsepower might not sound like much, but it does help the performance. The 2011 Camry SE has a more respectable zero to 60 mph time of 7.8 seconds.
Toyota’s Camry has always been known for exceptional fuel economy, and the 2011 model does not disappoint. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Camry’s equipped with the 2.5L four-cylinder get an estimated 22 miles per gallon in the city and a whopping 32 mpg on the highway. SE models only lose roughly one mile per gallon on the highway. If you don’t mind fewer interior bells and whistles, the SE might be the better option for you over the XLE.
3.5L Camry’s Bring 100 More Horsepower to the Table with Few Drawbacks
The second engine option for the 2011 Toyota Camry is a 3.5L V6. The 3.5L is available as an upgrade on the LE, SE, and XLE trim levels and develops 268 hp and 248 lb.-ft. of torque. An extra 100 horsepower improves the performance of the Camry, shaving the zero to 60 mph time down to 6.5 seconds.
Despite the extra power, the fuel mileage does not take as big of a hit as you might think. The EPA estimates the 2011 Toyota Camry equipped with the V6 gets 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg highway.
Toyota’s 3.5L V6 is well known for its reliability but there are a few maintenance issues you should be aware of. First, valve cover oil leaks are very common on the 3.5L. Misfires are another common issue for Toyota’s 3.5L engine. Normally, this isn’t a big issue, but due to the position of the engine in the vehicle, the intake manifold has to be removed to access the rear cylinder bank. This design oversight adds more time and parts needed to complete the repair because things like intake manifold gaskets are not reusable.
2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid Offers Only 147 hp, but it Has Exceptional Fuel Economy, Reaching 33 mpg Combined
The final engine option is only available in the 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid and is a 2.4L four-cylinder. The 2.4L engine is essentially a lower displacement version of the regular four-cylinder but with the addition of an electric motor, battery pack, and different transmission.
In terms of performance, the 2.4L doesn’t provide much power with just 147 hp and 138 lb.-ft. of torque, which makes it about half a second slower to 60 mph than the standard engine. Of course, what the 2.4L lacks in performance, it makes up for with better gas mileage. According to the EPA, the 2011 Toyota Camry hybrid gets an estimated 31 mpg in the city and 35 mpg highway.
Unfortunately, since the engine used for the Camry Hybrid is virtually the same as the normal four-cylinder, many consumers report the 2.4L suffers from the same oil consumption issues. Besides the problems stated before, excessive oil consumption can cause a number of other problems such as premature wear of the oxygen sensors and catalytic converters.
You Can Still Rely on a Camry Regardless of Engine Choice
Despite its minor faults, you can’t really go wrong with any of the 2011 Toyota Camry engine options. A massive 58% of people who reviewed the 2011 Camry on Vehicle History gave it five out of five stars for its great fuel economy and rugged dependability.
If we had to choose one, we would go with the 3.5L V6 because it offers much better performance at the cost of just a few miles per gallon. If gas mileage is your top priority, the hybrid may be a better option for you but it won’t be easy passing in traffic.
Photos: Toyota
