2007 Toyota Camry Overview Change Vehicle

This 2007 Toyota Camry overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2007 Camry, and includes Toyota Camry safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

One of America’s automotive staples, the Toyota Camry, gets the full redesign treatment for 2007. Behind the all-new sheet metal is a longer and wider family sedan with more power and greater fuel efficiency. A new Camry Hybrid model also debuts for 2007, capable of delivering fuel economy in the high 30-mpg range.

Car shoppers interested in purchasing a 2007 Toyota Camry can choose from a variety of models. This review covers the Camry Sedan. Coupe and convertible variants wearing the Camry Solara nameplate are discussed separately..

The sedan lineup starts off with the Camry CE. Despite its entry-level status, this version of America’s beloved four-door is well-equipped with cruise control, power mirrors and windows, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio controls, and the safety of four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, front-side and side-curtain airbags, and a knee airbag for the driver. Standard mechanical bits include a four-cylinder engine mated to a manual transmission along with rather basic 16-inch steel wheels. Options are limited to an automatic transmission and electronic stability control.

Moving up to the 2007 Camry LE includes a few added touches, such as a more generous sampling of body-color exterior accents, a power driver’s seat and keyless entry. More impressive is a longer list of options that features a JBL audio system, a power moonroof, and stylish alloy wheels. And unlike the CE, the LE can be equipped with an optional V6 engine.

That V6 powerplant can also be fitted under the hood of the relatively spirited Camry SE model, though the standard engine is the four-cylinder. Bits and pieces unique to this version of Toyota’s hot-selling sedan include a suspension setup tuned for more responsive handling, a body kit that gives this plain Jane four-door a bit of visual attitude, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a power-adjustable front passenger’s seat. For shoppers who feel they could take or leave those upgrades, the Camry SE’s available add-ons just might persuade them to give the car a second look. Highlights include a navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity, leather upholstery, and the V6 engine option.

If luxury is more your style, the top-dog Camry XLE is the variant you’ll want to strongly consider. Here you’ll find a standard automatic transmission along with a power moonroof, a dual-zone climate control system, a rear sunshade that offers privacy and ultraviolet protection for the kids, JBL audio with a six-disc CD changer, and faux woodgrain interior trim. Buyers can opt for many of the same amenities offered on the lesser Camrys, though heated front seats are specific to the XLE.

Finally, the Camry Hybrid is new for 2007. Toyota’s second gas/electric hybrid offering is available in one well-equipped trim, and the most efficient Camry of them all features body-color and chrome exterior accents in addition to the majority of the XLE’s fixings. Stability control comes standard on the Camry Hybrid.

Peer under the hood of a 2007 Toyota Camry and, depending on which model you’re viewing, you’ll find one of three engines mated to one of four transmissions. The sedan’s standard powerplant is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that’s good for 158 horsepower. A five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission delivers output to the front wheels. City fuel economy tops out at 25 mpg, while the highway rating reaches as high as 34 mpg.

Folks who want a bit more muscle to work with will likely opt for the 2007 Camry sedan’s available 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6. Specific to this engine is a new six-speed automatic transmission. The 3.5-liter six-shooter is surprisingly fuel efficient with EPA ratings of 22-mpg city/31-mpg highway.

That leaves the Camry Hybrid, which uses the 2.4-liter four-cylinder for the basis of its advanced powertrain. That engine works with an electric motor, a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and a continuously variable transmission to earn EPA estimates of 40 mpg in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway.

Reliability is one of the primary reasons millions of buyers opt to take home a Toyota Camry. That reputation is more than mere perception, as data from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates suggest owners will enjoy better than average dependability.

Likewise, shoppers who opt for a new Camry will benefit from engineers’ strong focus on safety. Related standard equipment includes everything from four-wheel-disc antilock brakes to a driver’s knee airbag. When subjected to tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2007 Camry sedan earned top scores in all categories except resistance to rollover, for which the car was awarded four out of five stars by the NHTSA.

The Toyota Camry has never been a leading example of cutting-edge automotive styling, but the outgoing model was about as dull as they come. An overhaul of that design was necessary and is welcome this year. Camry buyers are also sure to appreciate the new hybrid option, though they’ll find fuel economy to be noticeably less impressive than what’s offered by the more versatile and eco-obvious Prius.

Changes and improvements aside, the Toyota Camry remains a comfortable family hauler and daily commuter for those who view driving as a task. If you want at least a bit of responsiveness mixed in, take a look at the Camry SE model, or better yet, test drive an Accord at your local Honda dealer.

By Thom Blackett