12
0
Midsize car; Built in USA, Japan
  • 2-door coupe
  • 4-door sedan
  • 4-door wagon
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,200 – $2,900*


1992 Toyota Camry SE 4-door sedan


1992 Toyota Camry LE 4-door wagon


1995 Toyota Camry XLE 4-door sedan


1994 Toyota Camry LE interior


1994 Toyota Camry SE engine

Pros:
  • Acceleration (V6)
  • Antilock brakes (optional)
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Quietness
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Fuel economy (V6)
  • Rear-seat comfort

There’s a lot of the Lexus ES 300 in the Camry, which we believe set the standard for refinement among midsize and compact family cars. It’s smoother, quieter, and built with higher levels of quality than some luxury sedans costing thousands more. New Camrys generally sold for more than its compact rivals, so expect preowned models to also be priced a bit more, given Toyota’s generally high resale value and strong reputation for reliability.

Overview

Toyota’s most popular model was redesigned for 1992, with new sedan and wagon models gaining a standard driver-side airbag. The Camry’s wheelbase grew by less than an inch, but the body was now six inches longer and two inches wider. The 4-door models were offered in base Deluxe, LE, SE, and new XLE trim levels. Standard engine was a 135-horsepower, 2.2-liter 4-cylinder. Optional on all models was a 185-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6. A 5-speed manual transmission was standard on the Deluxe model and unavailable elsewhere. Antilock brakes were optional on all models. Like the previous Camry, the new one shared most of its front-drive chassis components with the ES 300.

Yearly Updates

1993 Camry
Entry-level DX (Deluxe) Camrys get standard color-keyed bodyside moldings and an oak-color interior. Bronze-tint glass is newly optional for all models.
1994 Camry
Toyota makes big news for ’94 by adding a new 2-door coupe body style, a standard passenger-side airbag, and a more muscular V6 engine. Except for a slightly lower height and different roof, the coupe’s notchback styling is the same as the sedan’s. Model choices for the coupe include DX, midlevel LE, and sporty SE. It also features the same 130-horsepower 2.2-liter standard on the entire Camry line. New 1994 Camrys equipped with a V6 now come with a new aluminum block 3.0-liter V6 that delivers 188 horsepower.
1995 Camry
The 2-door and 4-door sedans have minor appearance changes, and all Camrys now meet the government’s more stringent 1997 side-impact requirements. Antilock brakes are now standard on the top-line XLE sedan. Also, the DX 4-door wagon has been dropped, but the rest of last year’s lineup returns. The mainstay 2.2-liter engine, which drops 5 horsepower (to 125) from new tuning implemented to meet stricter emissions limits in all states.
1996 Camry
The popular front-drive Camry sees few changes after getting a mild facelift last year. Toyota unveiled an all-new Camry for ’97.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

The standard engine is a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder, which Camry shares with the Toyota Celica sports coupe. It provides 130 horsepower at 5400 rpm and 145 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. Optional on all models is a 3.0-liter V6, the same engine Toyota uses in the Lexus ES 300. It delivers 185 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 195 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on the Deluxe model and unavailable elsewhere. New ’94 Camrys exchange their old V6 for a new aluminum-block, 3.0-liter V6 that delivers three extra horsepower–188 at 5200 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm. As did the previous V6, this one also powers Camry’s more expensive brother, the Lexus ES 300. Starting in ’95, the 4-speed automatic provides standard electronic controls that adjust shift patterns to match how the car is driven. Finally, the mainstay 2.2-liter engine drops 5 horsepower in ’96 due to new tuning implemented to meet stricter emissions limits in all states. The reconfigured engine produces 125 horsepower at 5400 rpm and 145 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm.

dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.2/132
Engine HP 125
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 145
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		23/31
21/27
dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.2/132
Engine HP 130
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 145
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		22/30
21/28 		22.9
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/180
Engine HP 185
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 195
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		18/24
18/24 		18.5
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/180
Engine HP 188
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 203
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 20/29

 17.5

Road Test

The 4-cylinder engine is smooth and responsive, giving the Camry sedan adequate acceleration and passing power, even with the automatic transmission. We averaged 10.9 seconds to 60 mph in our test and nearly 23 mpg. The V6 is much quicker, but uses more fuel (we averaged about 18 mpg in our test). However, the V6 is perhaps the most polished engine in this class and works in concert with a highly refined automatic to deliver virtually vibration-free performance.

Camrys feature a soft, absorbent ride that soaks up most bumps and ruts quite easily. It also corners with good stability and has good traction on wet roads. While the Camry’s 103.1-inch wheelbase put it in the compact class, it has more interior room than many midsize models. Note, however, that the rear seatbacks tend to be stiff and too reclined, making them uncomfortable for some people. The trunklid opens at bumper level to a wide, flat floor that reaches well-forward. Split rear seatbacks fold down to add cargo space.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1995 Toyota Camry XLE 3.0-liter

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 5
50%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Rear - 4
40%
Cargo Room - 3
30%

Other

Value - 6
60%

Total: 49

Specifications

2-door coupe
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
103.1 187.8 69.7 54.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
14.9 18.5 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.4 37.4 43.5 33.0
4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
103.1 187.8 69.7 55.1
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
14.9 18.5 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.4 37.1 43.5 35.0
4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
103.1 189.4 69.7 56.3
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
74.8 18.5 7
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.2 38.8 43.5 35.2
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1996 Camry 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 3
60%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 88
Injury 93
Theft 81

Trouble Spots

Air conditioner
Description: A problem with the expansion valve causes the air conditioner to gradually lose efficiency. (1992-93)
Automatic transmission
Description: A-40 series automatic transmissions may shift harshly because rubber check balls become smaller, blow through the plate, and get dislodged. (1992-96)
Coolant leak
Description: Head-gasket failures on 3.0-liter engines allows coolant to get into the cylinders. (All)
Hard starting
Description: Hard starting after cold soak is due to ignition-coil voltage leaking to an inappropriate ground. (All)
Suspension noise
Description: Front and rear sway-bar bushings were redesigned using a self-lubricating material. (1992-95)
Trunk latch
Description: If the trunk won’t stay open on sedans with a spoiler, the support torsion rod must be adjusted. (1992-96)
Water leak
Description: Water leaks on the passenger side come from two sources: the SRS wiring-harness grommet and the fresh-air intake plenum. (1992-93)

Recall History

1994-96
Description: Insufficiently tightened steering-wheel nut may cause steering vibration and looseness; nut could eventually come off, leading to separation from shaft.
1996
Description: On some cars, when taillight bulb is lit, its holder can deform.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 30, 2014.
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