2005 Toyota Camry Reviews

The Camry has long struggled to gain any real traction with Australian families, most of whom dismissed it as bland and boring.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2015 Toyota Camry & Aurion as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 1999-2014 Toyota Camry and Aurion.

The Toyota’s Camry and Aurion are built in Melbourne and have many changes from the original Japanese design to suit them to our local driving conditions and Australian drivers’ tastes.

Toyota is generally regarded as setting the industry benchmark for build quality, reliability and durability, and it's the Camry that is often held up as the car that best illustrates Toyota's high standards.  Beyond those admirable qualities, though, there isn't a lot to write home about with the Camry.Like all Toyotas it gets the job of providing reliable and efficient transport done with little or no fuss, but it falls well short of the benchmark when it comes to excitement.  But most buyers who stump up the cash for a Camry couldn't care less about the thrill of motoring; they're perfectly happy with a car that doesn't cost the earth to own and rarely if ever lets them down.  Above all else the Camry is a safe and sound motoring choice.MODEL WATCHThe Camry is a much-maligned name. Over the years it has come to be the very definition of boring, at least in motoring terms.  No passionate car person would be seen dead driving a Camry, but to heaps of people the Camry is the best car in the world.  They're the people who value reliability, durability and low cost of ownership above all else. They couldn't care less that petrolheads sneer at their motoring choice.Toyota has worked hard to inject some character into the Camry of late, to make it more appealing to those who value their motoring experience, but its efforts have really come to naught. The Camry has been regarded as boring for too long, and nothing will change the perception.The Series 30 Camry that was launched in 2002 was a much more attractive car. Its lines were much tauter, its shape more aggressive, it was a far more appealing car than any of its predecessors.  Buyers could choose between a 2.4-litre four and a 3.0-litre V6.The double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine was packed with up-to-the-minute technology like Toyota's VVTi variable valve-timing system that gave it decent flexibility from low speeds right through to high revs.  At its peak it would deliver 112 kW at 5800 revs and 218 Nm at 4000 revs.The V6 was also a double overhead camshaft engine and produced 141 kW at 5200 revs along with 279 Nm at 4000 revs.  Most Camrys were sold with a four-speed auto, but it was also available with a five-speed manual gearbox.Underneath, the Camry was conventional. It had struts at the front and rear, but work by Toyota's local engineering team ensured it was well tuned to our roads. As a result its ride and handling were widely praised.Its power steering was well weighted and precise, and the combination of ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes, backed up by ABS, was solid.  One thing the Camry has always been noted for is its roominess, and the Series 30 was no exception. It was designed as a family car and fits a family of five nicely.There is a plethora of models in the Camry range, starting from the Altise and working up through the Ateva, sporty Sportivo, Azura and finally to the luxury Grande with all the bells and whistles.IN THE SHOPThe Camry does it tough so be careful when choosing a car.  If they've been a family car they've been put to the test in the supermarket parking lot and the school run.Alternatively they've been a company car and driven by people who couldn't care less about their cars.  Check for a service record and make sure the engine oil has been regularly changed. Nothing kills an engine like a lack of fresh oil.The four-cylinder engine has a cam timing chain so there are no worries about replacing it, until it rattles. The V6 does have a belt that requires changing at around 150,000 km.IN A CRASHA capable chassis, powerful brakes with ABS make for a strong level of active crash protection.  A solid structure, dual front airbags, plus side airbags add a solid layer of secondary protection.  ANCAP gave the Camry four stars in its crash testing.AT THE PUMPWith a full-sized body the four-cylinder engine has to work hard, hence the fuel economy suffers. Expect 10-11 L/100 km round town, and single figures out on the highway.  The V6 will consume a little more; expect 10.5-11.5 L/100 km around town, and seven to nine L/100 km on the open road.OWNERS' SAYEric Deakin bought his 2005 Camry Ateva V6 seven months ago having done 97,000 km, and reckons it's the best car he has owned in more than 60 years of motoring. He says it is a well built, well appointed and very roomy car, which has excellent performance. So far he has found no faults at all with it and would happily recommend it to anyone.Rex Manuel bought his 2003 Camry Ateva four-cylinder second hand in 2005. He is happy with the Camry's roominess and its generous boot, but misses the performance of the Ford Fairmont he owned previously.LOOK FORReliabilityHigh build qualityRoomy interiorSmooth drivabilityGood resaleTHE BOTTOM LINEWell engineered and well built, with renowned reliability and good resale, the dull-as-dishwater Camry is a good choice for family transport.RATING72/100COMING UPDo you own a Ford Focus? If so tell us what you think of it by sending your comments to Graham Smith at Cars Guide or e-mail to: grah.smith@bigpond.com.

The Camry has often been the subject of derision and scorn, rarely has it been an object of desire. It has come to be the car we know deep down we should own, but could never bring ourselves to buy.Toyota has built an enviable reputation, and market leadership, on the back of the reliability and durability of its cars, but those things alone are not enough to entice buyers into dealerships. For anyone with petrol running through his or her veins it also takes a healthy measure of emotion, something Toyota generally lacks.The Camry has reliability and durability in bucket loads, but there’s not a lot about it that gets the juices flowing. It’s the safe bet, one you probably won’t regret, but it’s not the car you want to talk about when standing around the barbie.The wide-bodied Camry was a popular car in the 1990s, but did little to endear the badge to buyers looking for a car they could brag about. It was a frumpy four-door, one you parked out of sight rather than in your driveway. It seems that Toyota got the message as the 20th century steamed to an end and began to take more interest in styling.Perhaps there was a realization that they had to appeal to a broader range of buyers if they were to conquer the world as they hoped to do. Whatever the reason, today’s Camrys are much more attractive, with bold flowing lines and nicely balanced proportions.The Series 30 Camry was launched in 2002 and brought with it a tighter look with well-defined lines and an aggressive front end that included wildly sweeping headlights. It was a bold statement from the company that tended to lurk out of sight in the shadows when it came to automotive styling.The Camry’s power choices were a new locally-produced 2.4-litre double overhead camshaft four that was packed with plenty of technology, like Toyota’s VVTi variable valve timing system that gave it smooth pulling power right through the rev range. When stretched to the limit it would produce 112 kW at 5600 revs and 218 Nm at 4000 revs. The alternative was a 3.0-litre double overhead camshaft V6 that produced 141 kW at 5200 revs and 279 Nm at 4000 revs.While most Camrys would have left showrooms with the four-speed auto in the tunnel, it was also possible to have a five-speed manual gearbox.Underneath, the suspension wasn’t earth shatteringly new, with struts front and rear, but worked very well. Local tuning by Toyota’s engineers ensured it handled our roads well; with admirable ride comfort and reassuring handling even over rough surfaces.Likewise, the power steering was well weighted and accurate, and the brakes, a combination of ventilated front discs and solid rears, with ABS oversighting the action, were positive and powerful.There’s plenty of room inside the Camry for a family of five, it’s well equipped and comfortable.The Camry does duty in the toughest arenas, the non-caring world of the fleet car and the school and supermarket runs of mum and the kids, so look for collateral damage from the bump and run of daily life. Bumps and scrapes on body extremities are commonplace, it’s part of the Camry’s natural environment. Nothing looks worse than body scaring and it’s costly to repair. They also tell a tale of how well the car has been treated. If it’s scarred on the outside there’s a good chance it’s scarred on the inside.Check for a service record and make sure the engine oil has been regularly changed. There’s nothing nicer for an engine than fresh oil, sludge build-up is the engine’s natural enemy. The four-cylinder Camry engine has a timing chain so there’s no servicing required until it starts to rattle, but that won’t happen until way into the upper reaches of the odometer. The V6 does have a belt that requires changing at around 150,000 km.Build quality is high, all parts fit together well and stay together over the life of the car, so you don’t tend to find things fall apart or off the Camry in service.The capable chassis with precise steering and powerful brakes presented a convincing primary safety argument for the Camry, and with dual front airbags, plus side airbags there was plenty of protection when the metal started crumpling.Size hampers the Camry when it comes to pump performance. The four-cylinder cars will do 10-11 L/100 km around town and a little better on the highway, while the V6 models will consume on average 1.5 litres more.Ron Flint bought his 2005 Camry in 2007. He had hired a Camry while on holiday and was so impressed with its performance, economy, easy handling and features that he bought one when he got back home. The Camry had done 5000 km when he bought it to replace his 200,000 km Falcon, which had blown a head gasket.Eric Deakin bought his 2005 Camry Ateva V6 seven months ago having done 97,000 km, and reckons it’s the best car he has owned in more than 60 years of motoring. He says it is a well-built, well-appointed and very roomy car, which has excellent performance. So far he has found no faults at all with it and would happily recommend it to anyone.Rex Manuel bought his 2003 Camry Ateva four-cylinder second hand in 2005. He is happy with the Camry’s roominess and its generous boot, but misses the performance of the Ford Fairmont he owned previously.• Sharp looks.• Reliable mechanical package• Good performance• Smooth drivability• Good resale valueWell-engineered, well-built, the Camry is robust and reliable, great transport for families.

Some come standard in upper specification offerings, others are steeply priced options. There also are off-the-shelf brands available at auto stores which can be fitted to most cars.Driving a range-topping Toyota Camry Azura, given a cosmetic spruce up last September, re-ignited interest in SatNavs. They've been around for a while now and come to the fore in unfamiliar areas. Although, programming them is still a bit of a cumbersome exercise.There are inherent short-comings such as do they, in fact, take the most direct route if instructed and is the mapping up-to-date?Running around in the Azura begged the question as to whether SatNavs are being used to their best potential.With traffic in the southeast corner becoming busier by the day there is a piece of software which should become standard on all SatNavs.It is a system which instantly informs the driver of traffic problems and then suggests routes to avoid the congestion.In Europe it is linked to the local traffic management branch and pinpoints problems and comes up with caution icons at the locations they occur on the screen.Mercedes-Benz taxis in Germany have had this system for quite a few years now.What jogged the memory on this was that the directional map in the Azura automatically identifies where occupants can satisfy their hunger. It comes up with knife and fork icons, like the ones on road signs, outlining where the nearest food outlets are.Approaching the Brisbane CBD on the expressway the city grid map was a maze of knives and forks.A more useful function, particularly in peak hour would be to identify a road blockage and suggest alternate routes.Radio traffic reports tend to be irregular and can be inaccurate, often misreading situations at critical times in peak hour.Toyota says it will arrive with the next step in SatNav operations within the next few years. A system called G-book, similar to the program in the German taxi, is being refined and developed.As well as incorporating the traffic monitoring mode, occupants will be able to access data such as the stock market.In the meantime the Azura is a comfortable jigger cushioned with leather, comfort, smooth ride, great handling and a punchy V6. It is a slice of Lexus-like luxury but it's not for one minute remotely cheap.Try $49,100, which is a $110 rise after the Camry range was freshened in September last year. For the slight price rise the Azura gained extra equipment including a $1500 Toyota Link system that can pinpoint the car's location or put the occupants in contact with a call centre. It is dependent on mobile phone operating coverage and the availability of GPS location information.With the Camry there is a willing engine that pushes out a healthy 145kW in the luxury sport model. The same 3-litre V6 is in the Sportivo which has less plushness in the cabin but offers equal dynamics.Fuel consumption in the heavier Azura with the sweet four-speed automatic transmission finished up about 13.2litres/100km following this 500km test.The Sportivo was around 12litres/100km on a similar test on the same roads.These fuel figures are a little on the steep side over the claimed factory figures which are 9.9litres/100km for the Sportivo and 11.2/100 for the Azura.Brakes on both models are sound with a more progressive pedal, installing greater confidence in the all disc system. Refined, sporty and sound.Looks are subjective but if you have no qualms with slab sides, the Camry is anything but a non-emotive badge in the ilk of white goods.

At times, they overlook that fact that most buyers value reliability and usability more than cutting-edge styling and extreme driving dynamics.Take Toyota's V6 Azura, for example. The Camry flagship is modest in styling but big on space, interior quietness and ease of operation.Last September, the one millionth Camry rolled off Toyota's Australian production line. The first was built in 1987.Toyota continued as a sales juggernaut in 2004 in Australia, despite not producing an entirely new model. This ability to tap in to the everyday needs of Australian motorists and sell strongly between new-model introductions shows the power of Toyota.Late last year, the Azura received a facelift intended to take it to the end of its model life in 2006. The styling changes are minor, involving mainly the front grille-light area and rear lights.Of greater interest is the Toyota Link hardware that connects the car via Telstra's GSM network to a base station. Toyota is the first company to bring this technology to a car costing less than $50,000.It has all manner of uses. The system can be activated to gain entry to the car if the keys are locked inside. If you lose the car in a shopping centre car park, the horn can be activated to guide you to it.On a more serious note, if the base station doesn't get a response from the driver after any airbag deployment, it will summon emergency services. The system can also track the car if it is stolen or locate the vehicle if it needs roadside assistance.Developed over two years, Toyota is committed to the technology and it will be filtered down through other models in years to come. Toyota Link and other new standard features add just $110 to the recommended price of the upgraded Azura.The system is easy to use, with three buttons and a microphone in the interior rear-view mirror. One button activates the emergency link, another connects the driver directly with the call centre and there is a "hang-up" button to cancel calls from the base station.Toyota Link has a low-key presence in the Azura. Not so the standard satellite navigation system.It takes pride of place in the middle of the console, with a large colour touch screen.I've struggled with sat-nav in the past, but found the Toyota system fairly intuitive. The only time I disappeared off the map was when I drove into a far corner of the airport car park.Unfortunately, my partner resorted to frequent hand slapping as I tinkered with the system. She reckoned I was becoming obsessed with it, even to the extent of working out which point of the compass I was facing as I drove the Azura into the garage.In fact, she reckoned there were too many gadgets to play with on the car altogether.But that is the way of modern motoring, and the Azura is crammed with features, from six-disc CD stacker, through cruise control, programmable overspeed alert, to an electric sunroof.Possibly one of the most underrated features on a car, a sunroof can transform the driving experience. On a starry night, a sunny, windless day or even a cool morning, a large, well-designed sunroof links you to the passing environment. Once you've experienced it, you will agree it should be a standard feature on all cars.The Azura could be driven down the freeway with the windows lowered and sunroof retracted without wind turbulence.It is just another example of the build quality of this model.While not setting the styling world alight, the pleasure of the Azura is in its everyday use. The overriding impression is the quietness of the car inside the cabin.The roomy interior can comfortably seat five and the boot is one of the biggest around. A set of golf clubs is not a storage challenge.The V6 engine gives reasonable acceleration for such a large car. Tuned for Australian conditions, the handling is excellent.To sum up, the Azura is a quiet achiever.