Toyota’s Camry has landed on many ‘best’ lists since its ’80s debut. We look under the hood at what’s been driving the mid-size sedan’s winning streak.
The name Camry comes from the Japanese word Kanmuri, meaning “crown.” It’s an apt description for the Toyota Camry, which has been a perennial best-seller in the mid-size sedan category since its inception in 1982.
Originally designed as a compact car, the Toyota Camry experienced a growth spurt in the ’90s to compete with the likes of the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. Camry generations are noted with a “V” or “XV” ever since the car broke away from its Japanese-based size restrictions.
Lexus, Toyota’s luxury division, has sold a version of the Camry called the Lexus ES dating back to 1989. While early generations have been mechanically identical, newer ones have started to stray from their Camry brethren. They are typically more luxurious — and due to the Lexus badge, more expensive than a comparative Camry model.
Typically available in sedan, coupe, or wagon body styles, with a four- or six-cylinder engine powering either the front wheels or all four, the Camry defines the segment. Over 400,000 are sold in the United States each year.
With eight generations of the Camry to explore, which offers the best options for performance and power? We review its engine options over the years.
V10: 1982-1986 (First Generation)
Like many of its contemporaries, the Toyota Camry started out as a compact car designed for the Japanese market. The first Toyota with a transverse-mounted engine, the design of the car was dictated by the fuel crisis of the 1970s.
Available with a 1.8 or 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine or turbo diesel, the V10 could be had with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Sold as a sedan or hatchback, this Camry can now be considered a classic.
V20: 1986-1992 (Second Generation)
This generation brought many changes, introducing the V6 engine which replaced the diesel option. Also new was a wagon version as opposed to the hatchback body style, and All-Trac, which was Toyota’s all-wheel-drive system (not to be confused with their current all-wheel-drive system).
The V20 was the last Camry to share everything with its Japanese market counterpart. Moving forward, the U.S. received the larger “wide-body” Camry.
XV10: 1991-1996 (Third Generation)
If you’re a child of the ’90s, then this is the Camry you might call a “family sedan.” The third-generation turned into a true mid-size car and was developed closely with its Lexus counterpart.
Car & Driver was so impressed with the Toyota Camry that it named it to its prestigious “10 Best” list in 1992 and 1993, calling it “a benchmark in the building of a mainstream sedan.”
Available for the first time was a Camry Coupe, sharing almost everything with the sedan, but featuring a stiffer suspension for improved handling.
XV20: 1996-2002 (Fourth Generation)
The fourth generation of Camry saw the wagon discontinued, with the sedan and coupe (now called the Camry Solara) carrying on. The Solara was also available as a convertible with a soft top, and all two-door versions had slightly more powerful engines compared to the sedan.
XV30: 2001-2006 (Fifth Generation)
Released in September of 2001, the fifth-generation Toyota Camry saw the introduction of an all-new platform, the first since the 1991 model was introduced. Available with three engine options (two-four cylinders and a V6 option), this generation also introduced a new five-speed automatic transmission in 2005.
The Solara coupe and convertible were carried over from the previous generation and sold alongside the XV30 until a redesign in 2003 to bring the car up to date. The Solara would end production in 2009 due to lagging sales.
XV40: 2006-2013 (Sixth Generation)
Introduced in 2006, the XV40 was the first Camry to bring a hybrid powertrain to market and proved to be a popular choice, helping Toyota achieve over 2 million total hybrid sales worldwide by 2009.
Conventionally-powered Camrys again came with a four-cylinder or V6 option matched to a five-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic.
XV50: 2013-2017 (Seventh Generation)
The XV50 Camry said good-bye to the manual transmission, now only available with a six-speed automatic, or CVT if you choose the hybrid route. Continuing with multiple engine options, the seventh-generation of Camry remained the best-selling car in America throughout its production run.
V6: 2018-Present (Eighth Generation)
Three powertrains continued to be available on the 2019 Toyota Camry: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder D-4S gas engine and a 3.5-liter V6 with D-4S fuel injection. Both are paired to an eight-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission (8AT); and a next-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS II).
The current 2020 Toyota Camry model brings back the option of AWD and pairs it with an eight-speed automatic. Also new is a TRD model (Toyota Racing Development) that introduces some sporty flair to the Camry line with a more firmly-tuned suspension and V6 engine. The hybrid model of the Toyota Camry returns and can achieve up to 53 mpg.
The 2020 Camry’s engine choices include three powertrains: 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder, 3.5-liter V6, and next-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS II).
The Dynamic Force 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is a strong but smooth operator, yielding an impressive 203 hp at 6,600 rpm and 184 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 5,000 rpm (206 hp and 186 lb.-ft. for XSE grade). The four-cylinder L grade achieves an EPA-estimated 29 mpg city/41 highway/34 combined.
The Camry’s four-cylinder engine uses a high compression ratio (13:1) and Toyota’s D-4S fuel injection, which employs both direct injection and additional port injectors.
Genuine V6 Performance
The 2020 Toyota Camry is one of the few midsize sedans to still offer a V6 engine. The 24-valve DOHC 3.5-liter engine is equipped with the D-4S direct injection system, along with a specially-developed VVT-iW (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide) variable valve timing system for the intake, with VVT-i on the exhaust. The VVT-iW system can switch the engine to the Atkinson cycle, which reduces pumping losses by delayed closing of the intake valves.
The power output includes 301 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 267 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,700 rpm. Yet, the 3.5-liter V6 engine comes with exemplary fuel efficiency with a manufacturer-estimated rating of 22 city/33 highway/26 mpg combined (XLE grade).
Both the 2.5-liter four-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine and the 3.5-liter V6 are equipped with the Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission.
The transmission’s torque converter offers a wider range of lock-up compared to the previous six-speed automatic transmission for a more direct driving feel while contributing to enhanced fuel efficiency. Control logic optimizes precise matching of engine torque on downshifts for smoother transitions.
2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid Engine
The 2020 Camry Hybrid gets an mpg of 51 city/53 highway/52 combined on the LE grade. (XLE and SE Hybrid are rated at 44 mpg city/47 highway/46 combined.) The big jump in fuel economy over the previous-generation Camry Hybrid owes to the more efficient Toyota Hybrid System (THS II).
The THS II system combines the output of the 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine and an electric motor (MG1), while using that motor and a second motor (MG2) for hybrid battery charging.
In the Hybrid, the gas engine has an even higher 14:1 compression ratio and is tuned to produce 176 hp and 163 lb.-ft. of torque. The hybrid system, however, gives the Camry Hybrid performance similar to the four-cylinder gas version.
Sequential Shiftmatic technology allows the driver to “shift” the electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT). It mimics a quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission via paddle shifters (on SE grade) or with the console-mounted shift lever.
The TNGA-K platform’s packaging allows the hybrid battery pack to be installed beneath the rear seat, rather than in the trunk area, as it was in the previous-generation Camry Hybrid. That enables a larger trunk while the battery’s position contributes to a lower center of gravity.
As on the Toyota Prius, the power control unit (PCU) is lighter and more compact than in the previous Camry Hybrid, as a result of integrating microcontrollers and using a power stack structure. This construction allows the unit to be packaged directly above the transaxle, thereby lowering the vehicle’s overall center of mass and allowing a lower hood height.
Which Camry Engine is the Best?
The basic formula for the Toyota Camry has remained largely the same over the years, but every generation offers class-leading reliability, resale value, and low cost of ownership. Though sometimes considered an appliance for the road, newer Toyota Camry models feature much more style and performance, especially the latest version. While every other family sedan–like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima–has ditched its V6 option, the Camry continues to offer it.
Our choice out of the lot? The 3.5L V6 is the best Toyota Camry engine you can get, period. It has been widely available in nearly every car, truck, and SUV made by the Toyota and Lexus since 2002, and still holds the “premium” title across the current Camry lineup, offered in just a handful of trims. Sure, you’ll spend about $300 more each year on fuel if you drive an average of 15,000 miles, but the extra 98 horsepower seals the deal for us.
Photos: Toyota
