2003 Toyota Camry Review: An All-Time Champ for Sheer Value, the 2003 Camry is Going Strong 20 Years Later

The 2003 Toyota Camry is one of the best used cars in its price range. It’s remarkable how many of these cars are still on the road twenty years after their debut thanks to a durable powertrain and a pair of reliable engines. If you can find one in good shape, you’ll have a hard time believing it debuted in the early ’00s.

Is the 2003 Toyota Camry a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – In this price range, and in this size class, the 2003 Camry is simply one of the best, most reliable, and most comfortable used cars on the market today.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – The trunk is plenty spacious, there’s plenty of pockets and cupholders and nooks and crannies to be found inside, and the suspension still rides smooth after two decades of loyal service.
• Reliability 7/10 – It’s a 2003 model, so it’s going to be more high-maintenance than a new car. But you’ll be surprised at just how easy it is to keep it running.
• Safety 7/10 – The 2003 Camry scored decent crash test numbers with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but the now-outdated onboard safety tech was basic even for 2003.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – Expect to get about 23/33 miles to the gallon, city/highway. There are new vehicles that struggle to achieve that.Value 8/10 – There are cheaper used cars out there, but few that give you this much bang for your buck.

What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Toyota Camry?

• Edmunds found the 2003 Toyota Camry to be comfortable and roomy with plenty of high-end safety and comfort features, but they felt the V6 engine was underwhelming.
• Kelley Blue Book users find the 2003 Camry to be reliable and comfortable, and they love how it gets-up-and-goes when you hit the accelerator. The dated styling and “ugly hubcaps” earned a few knocks.
• Consumer Reports note that the car runs nice and quiet and the overall feel of driving it is pleasant and easy-going.

What Common Problems Does the 2003 Toyota Camry Have?

There are 265 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for vehicle speed control, with the most recent having been registered in June of 2022. One of the most common issues being reported: the car may just shut off for no reason.

There are more than a hundred complaints on file for engine cooling, with coolant leaks, overheating, and rattling being reported. This often comes down to a loose head bolt and has been addressed by a service bulletin, but not by recall.

Airbag complaints number close to one hundred, with drivers reporting airbags failing to deploy in the event of an accident. But, the last reported incident was in late 2021, and there have only been four reports in the last four years.

In total, the 2003 Toyota Camry has only racked up a single recall, for the side curtain airbags, three investigations (all closed), and 811 owner complaints. Those are excellent numbers for a twenty year old mid-size.

How Long Will the 2003 Toyota Camry Last?

Data from RepairPal tells us that you can expect to spend around $388 a year in maintenance costs on the 2003 Camry. Not bad given the car’s age. The most expensive common repair would be exhaust pipe replacement, starting at $509, but this is a once-every-ten-years kind of repair.

A Consumer Reports survey reports that a Toyota Camry should get you to 200,000 miles no problem. Now and then you’ll see one hit the market with twice that number on the odometer, but since you can’t always be sure how well the previous owner maintained the vehicle, 250,000 miles would be a more realistic expectation.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is dated but decent. Lower trims are pretty basic with your usual radio, tape-player, CD-player setup,  but the XLE gets you get a six-disc CD changer and a couple extra speakers, bringing the total up to eight.

Safety technology is likewise good, but dated. Anti-lock brakes, multi-stage airbags, emergency locking retractors and pretensioners for the seatbelts. Just don’t expect to find lane-keep assist or rearview cameras in a 2003 mid-size.

Is the 2003 Toyota Camry a Good Value?

The 2003 Toyota Camry is absolutely a good value. Typical listing prices for models in the 150,000 mile range rarely top $6,000, and you can go way cheaper than that if you’re willing to take your chances with a private buyer.

• LE – $5,035
• SE – $5,016
• XLE – $5,609

What are the Different Models of the 2003 Toyota Camry?

The 2003 Toyota Camry trim list is short and sweet with just three models to choose from.

The LE is the entry-level, featuring:

• Cruise control
• Automatic power door locks
• Remote keyless entry
• Power windows with auto-down for the driver
• Pile carpeting
• Cloth seat trim

The SE is the next step up, adding:

• Unique sport cloth seat trim
• Two 12v auxiliary power outlets
• Leather wrapped shifter and steering wheel
• Power driver seat

The XLE is the top-of-the-line, which adds:

• Six-disc CD changer
• Auto up/down driver windows
• Wood grain interior trim with chrome accents

What Engines Come In the 2003 Toyota Camry?

• The starter engine is a four-cylinder 2.4L delivering 157 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque.
• If you want a little more oomph in the accelerator, you can look for a Camry with a 3.0L V6 cranking out 192 horsepower and 209 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines are aluminum, and available in all three trim levels.

What Colors Does the 2003 Toyota Camry Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2003 Toyota Camry?

The MacPherson strut suspension and adjustable cloth-trim seats make for a ride that still feels smooth around two decades since the car first hit the street. Unless the previous owner has been taking the car mudding, you’ll likely have no issues with the occasional bump on the road.

Whatever your trim, whatever your options, the 2003 Camry has seating for five, and you get a few inches more hip room than you would in a 2003 Accord, so most adults should have no issue fitting three to the backseat.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Toyota Camry Have?

The advertised cargo capacity for the 2003 Camry is 16.7 cubic feet. That number alone doesn’t mean much, so put it this way: With the back seats up, you could fit four or five medium-sized plastic storage crates back there, so this is a mid-size that can help you move into a new apartment if need be.

Put the backseats down and you could lay a full-size adult bicycle down flat.

Three cupholders up front, back pockets for the front seats, and a bunch of little nooks and crannies all around the car mean you and your passengers will have no issue storing your phones, wallets, coffees, notebooks and tablets for the trip.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2003 Toyota Camry was part of the XV30 generation, the 3rd Generation in the Wide-Body lineage. The XV30 launched with the 2001 model and was retired with the 2006 iteration.

2001: 2001 saw the launch of the new larger sedan style Camry, usurping the compact designs of earlier generations and dropping the station wagon model.

2002: Toyota gave the Camry a restyling for 2002, making the car a little taller and a little longer, with a slightly sleeker appearance.

2003: 2003 saw the introduction of the larger 2.4L inline-four engine.

2004: Toyota added a 5-speed automatic transmission to the 2004 edition of the Camry.

2005: The 2005 Camry has been subtly modernized in its design with a sleeker, narrower grille, and tighter edges for the headlights and taillights.

2006: Not much changed in the 2006 at a glance, but step inside and you’ll notice the interior has been subtly redesigned in favor of greater legroom and more storage space.

How Does the 2003 Toyota Camry Compare to the Competition?

Comparing the 2003 Camry to that year’s Accord, the Camry wins by a landslide on reliability alone. The 2003 Accord saw a whopping 24 recalls and nearly 2,000 complaints on file with the NHTSA with the powertrain generation roughly half of those reports. Few 2003 Accords still have the original transmission in working order.

It’s a closer call with that year’s Elantra. A 2003 GLS Elantra Sedan can be had for as low as $1,775, with the most affordable Camry in comparable condition being nearly twice that. The Camry earns higher marks for comfort and smooth driving, but Hyundai might be the winner for overall value here.

Still, you can’t go wrong either way. Test drive them both and see what you think.

Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Toyota Camry?