2005 Toyota Camry Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Design updates for 2005 are subtle, including a new grille, new lower front bumper area, and new taillight design. Inside, the 2005 Camry is nearly indistinguishable from its predecessor, save for more conservative use of the faux wood interior paneling.

Trims in Canada are the Toyota Camry LE, SE, and XLE. Standard features include an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, and power windows, with a one-touch driver’s power window. It also comes standard with heated, power-adjustable exterior side mirrors and 15-inch steel wheels.

The range-topping Toyota Camry XLE comes with a JBL premium stereo with a six-disc CD player, climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, side and curtain airbags, a power sunroof, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

While the Camry is no sports car, the SE has some unique touches, such as a spoiler and blacked-out headlight surrounds. Together, they imbue the SE with some visual cues hinting at mild performance enhancements within.

The 2005 Camry is available with either a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, which in Canada is standard on the LE and SE trims, or one of two V6 engines, which are available on all grades. The four-cylinder engine makes 160 horsepower, sent to a front-wheel drive (FWD) drivetrain through either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.

The available 3.0-litre V6 engine puts out power specs of 210 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. The SE V6 comes with a larger 3.3-litre engine, making 225 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Both V6 engines route power to the front wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission.

The driver’s choice will be the SE V6. In addition to the most powerful engine, this trim boasts larger sway bars, a more responsive suspension setup, and yields a more engaging driving experience. The four-cylinder and smaller V6 engines also provide adequate power for getting around town.

The Toyota Camry competes with the Honda Accord, and while the two are often evenly matched, the Camry excels in the form and function department, namely because it is more conventional in many respects. The Accord has a more unorthodox controls layout and is worse off for it. The Camry, meanwhile, has simple and straightforward controls.

The Camry also has 473 litres of trunk space, besting the Accord’s 396-litre trunk. In the passenger compartment, the Camry has plenty of trays, cubbies, and compartments for storing items. The larger centre stack tray ahead of the shifter is particularly helpful, and, for 2005, the Camry receives new in-door storage pockets.

A subtle change for the 2005 Camry is the upgrade to Optitron electroluminescent gauges, which had been found on the Camry’s corporate cousin, the Lexus ES300, since the late 1990s. They provide a crisp, upscale visual display.

The base stereo features six speakers, AM/FM radio with steering wheel mounted controls, and a CD player. It is perfectly adequate, but you should also consider checking out the XLE trim and its JBL premium stereo. It provides fantastic sound, as well as a six-disc CD changer.

The ’05 Camry comes with safety features such as multiple airbags, front passenger seat airbag sensor, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, auto-off daytime running lights, and an emergency trunk release. Side airbags and stability control are optional.

The standard brake setup is front discs and rear drums, while select trims come with four-wheel disc brakes. The range-topping XLE trim also comes with a remote anti-theft system with an engine immobilizer.

In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash testing, the ’05 Camry earns five out of five stars for front crash testing. It earns four out of five stars for rollover testing and side-impact testing.

The most efficient versions of the Camry come with the base four-cylinder engine. With the SE trim and the manual transmission, the Camry consumes 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.5 on the highway. Opt for the automatic transmission and you’ll use 10.0 L/100 km city and 6.4 highway.

The 3.3-litre Toyota Camry SE V6 returns 11.4 L/100 km city and 7.5 highway. Interestingly, the least efficient version of the Camry is the less powerful 3.0-litre V6 in the LE V6 and XLE V6 trims, which posts fuel economy numbers of 11.5 city and 7.5 highway.

The Toyota Camry is so closely matched to the Honda Accord, it’s often hard to pick a winner for which would be a great car for you. Sometimes it comes down to subjectivity, and the Camry’s more conventional styling may be preferable to the more forward-thinking Accord’s design. Both will deliver solid value and reliable motoring as used cars for years.

Note: Images show a US model.