2006 Toyota Camry Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Expert review
A full-size vehicle masquerading as a midsize car, the 2006 Toyota Camry supplies everything you need and want in a reliable family car.
In what is likely its last year before a complete redesign, the roomy 2006 Toyota Camry sees no significant change. Due to the new Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) engine testing rules, the horsepower figures drop a bit.
Buyers choose from Toyota Camry LE, SE, and XLE trim levels, and the 2006 Camry offers a four-cylinder or a V6 engine. It is one of the largest vehicles in its segment and shares its platform and vehicle architecture with the Lexus ES.
out of 10 expert review
Look & feel
Lacking in terms of visual excitement, the 2006 Camry boasts a clean, conservative, and cohesive design. The sporty SE trim is the looker of the bunch, featuring darkened headlamp housings, attractive aluminum alloy wheels, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. With the V6 engine, it also comes with leather seats. Naturally, the luxury-oriented XLE emphasizes chrome detailing and shiny wheels along with fog lights.
Continuing the luxury theme, the Camry XLE’s interior features a power sunroof and fake wood on the dashboard. With SE trim, the cabin has metallic accents. The less expensive Camrys are, understandably, less interesting in terms of interior design.
Quality is a high point for the 2006 Camry, from the materials to how the switchgear feels when used. Full instrumentation, sensible climate controls, and comprehensive (if cluttered) stereo controls integrate into a design emphasizing symmetry, minimalism, and practicality.
Performance
Every 2006 Camry comes with a standard 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine making power specs of 154 horsepower. Toyota builds the car with a five-speed manual gearbox as part of the powertrain, but most (if not all) that you’ll find on dealer lots will have a five-speed automatic transmission. Power is delivered to a front-wheel-drive (FWD) drivetrain.
As an option, a more powerful 3.0-litre V6 engine supplies 190 hp in the Camry LE V6 and XLE V6 and 210 hp in the Camry SE V6. In Canada, the XLE grade is only offered with the V6 engine. The SE also has a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded brakes, and improved tires, and it does provide a bit of driving fun.
Exuding refinement, the Camry four-cyl is peppy enough for daily driving, though when you load it up for a family road trip, the engine can struggle when merging onto highways, passing slower traffic, or climbing mountain grades. You can solve that problem by choosing the V6 engine, which delivers far more satisfying acceleration with a slight penalty in terms of fuel economy.
Most Camrys are capable if forgettable drivers. To extract any semblance of enjoyment from the journey to the destination, you’ll want the firmer and more communicative Camry SE.
Form & function
With plenty of seating for up to five passengers, the 2006 Toyota Camry is nothing if not roomy. Up front, the driver and passenger enjoy expansive space and the car’s backseat is positively huge with plenty of headroom and legroom. Storage is plentiful, too, and the trunk holds a whopping 473 litres of cargo.
Though the base Camry looks that way, it includes everything you really need, such as air conditioning, power accessories, cruise control, keyless entry, heated side mirrors, and a CD player. The XLE adds an eight-way power driver’s seat and power moonroof, while the SE installs the racier look, the sportier mechanicals, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Heated seats for the front row are included in the on the SE and XLE grades.
At the top of the trim ladder, the XLE provides fancier trim, automatic climate control, a premium sound system, and more.
Technology
Safety
Every 2006 Toytoa Camry is equipped with antilock brakes and dual front airbags. Side curtain airbags for the front and rear passengers, and side-impact airbags for the front seat occupants, are optional. Get a Camry with a V6 engine, and it has traction control and stability control, which is helpful when drivers start to lose control of the car on a slippery surface.
Based on crash-test results published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), you’re going to want those side airbags. Without them, the 2006 Camry gets a Poor rating for side-impact collision protection. With them, the rating leaps to Good. In the moderate-overlap frontal-impact test, the 2006 Camry scores a Good rating for driver protection.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found similar results. Frontal-impact protection earns the highest five-star rating for both front seats. Side-impact protection for the front seats rates four stars, but for the rear seats rates a mediocre three stars. The NHTSA’s test vehicles did not have side airbags.
Cost-effectiveness
With window stickers starting at nearly $25,000 in Canada, and with a loaded XLE cresting well over the $30,000 mark, the 2006 Toyota Camry isn’t cheap in terms of price. But when you get into one and fire up either of its silky smooth engines, and after you drive the car for a while, you realize that the 2006 Toyota Camry also isn't cheap in terms of engineering, quality, and refinement.
You might pay a lot for a new Camry, but you get a lot of new car in return. And the Camry will return value as a used car for many years, too.
Note: Images show a US model.
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 2006 Toyota Camry generally appreciate its reliability, fuel economy, and smooth ride. Many have found it to be a well-built and comfortable car that's good for daily commutes and family use. However, some drivers noted that the performance can be underwhelming, especially with the older engine and transmission, and the interior quality could be better with more premium materials. Overall, the Camry seems to offer solid value, but some feel that the age should be reflected in the price."
Performance - acceleration, braking, handling -5 star Build Quality - has it needed repairs? squeaks/rattles - 5 Star Appearance - both interior and exterior styling - 5 Star Cost of Ownership - gas mileage, maintenance - 5 Star Fun Factor - is this car fun to drive? hell yeah
October 23, 2010It is my Belief, that this is an Outstanding Vehicle to Buy! Thank you!
September 7, 2021My cousin in Los Angeles let me test drive his new stickshift Camry a few years back, and it was one of the best cars I have driven in my life. It really ticks all the boxes: Roomy, comfortable, reliable, fun to drive, cheap to buy, cheap to run. Here is a quick rundown: Roomy: There is copious legroom front and rear, and the trunk is big enough for three or four medium-sized suitcases. Comfortable: The seats are supportive, and the ride is more cushioned than I would expect from anything less than a luxury car. Toyota have done what was once thought impossible: Great ride comfort with no accompanying compromise in handling. The interior is well-insulated from road and wind noise, which is still audible, but muffled. Reliable: Nothing has gone wrong with this car yet, and probably never will. It's a Toyota. Enough said. Fun to drive: Steering is precise and direct. The power assist provides just the right weight. This, combined with the poised handling, gives me the confidence to push the car a bit closer to the limit than I would normally be comfortable doing in a large family car. The Camry I drove was equipped with the standard 5-speed manual transmission. With an automatic, this car would actually be as boring as it looks. The gas, brake, and clutch pedals all feel linear. The clutch has a particularly long travel, which is great for smooth shifting. Cheap to buy: My cousin bought the car in 2007 for 17 grand. It was an incredibly good deal, partly because he haggled the price down, knowing the dealer was desperate to get last year's models off the lot. Even under normal circumstances though, the Camry is a great value, with better standard features than almost anything else in its class. Cheap to run: EPA mileage figures are 21 city, 30 highway, but my cousin claims he gets significantly more than that. Wow. Now for the downsides: The best way I can describe the 4-cylinder engine is "adequate". It's not going to knock your socks off, but it gets the job done. That's fine by me--I get more of a thrill from saving money at the pump than racing between the lights. Seen on its own, the Camry is pleasant to look at, but it doesn't stand out from the crowd. It is so common that you can't drive a mile in most towns without seeing at least twenty of them. It has become the quintessential boring car, in the eyes of the public. And yet, I find myself drawn to its unassuming image. Maybe I just like the idea that no one will ever suspect how much fun I'm having!
February 15, 2012What owners say
Performance - acceleration, braking, handling -5 star Build Quality - has it needed repairs? squeaks/rattles - 5 Star Appearance - both interior and exterior styling - 5 Star Cost of Ownership - gas mileage, maintenance - 5 Star Fun Factor - is this car fun to drive? hell yeah
October 23, 2010It is my Belief, that this is an Outstanding Vehicle to Buy! Thank you!
September 7, 2021My cousin in Los Angeles let me test drive his new stickshift Camry a few years back, and it was one of the best cars I have driven in my life. It really ticks all the boxes: Roomy, comfortable, reliable, fun to drive, cheap to buy, cheap to run. Here is a quick rundown: Roomy: There is copious legroom front and rear, and the trunk is big enough for three or four medium-sized suitcases. Comfortable: The seats are supportive, and the ride is more cushioned than I would expect from anything less than a luxury car. Toyota have done what was once thought impossible: Great ride comfort with no accompanying compromise in handling. The interior is well-insulated from road and wind noise, which is still audible, but muffled. Reliable: Nothing has gone wrong with this car yet, and probably never will. It's a Toyota. Enough said. Fun to drive: Steering is precise and direct. The power assist provides just the right weight. This, combined with the poised handling, gives me the confidence to push the car a bit closer to the limit than I would normally be comfortable doing in a large family car. The Camry I drove was equipped with the standard 5-speed manual transmission. With an automatic, this car would actually be as boring as it looks. The gas, brake, and clutch pedals all feel linear. The clutch has a particularly long travel, which is great for smooth shifting. Cheap to buy: My cousin bought the car in 2007 for 17 grand. It was an incredibly good deal, partly because he haggled the price down, knowing the dealer was desperate to get last year's models off the lot. Even under normal circumstances though, the Camry is a great value, with better standard features than almost anything else in its class. Cheap to run: EPA mileage figures are 21 city, 30 highway, but my cousin claims he gets significantly more than that. Wow. Now for the downsides: The best way I can describe the 4-cylinder engine is "adequate". It's not going to knock your socks off, but it gets the job done. That's fine by me--I get more of a thrill from saving money at the pump than racing between the lights. Seen on its own, the Camry is pleasant to look at, but it doesn't stand out from the crowd. It is so common that you can't drive a mile in most towns without seeing at least twenty of them. It has become the quintessential boring car, in the eyes of the public. And yet, I find myself drawn to its unassuming image. Maybe I just like the idea that no one will ever suspect how much fun I'm having!
February 15, 2012Blown away by this car! It's very fast, faster than any other V6 in its class that I drove. It's comfortable, fully loaded, excellent handling, plus a whole lot of fun to take for a spin. My brother is a lucky guy to get such a good deal on this car
July 28, 2011I love this car! It is very comfortable to drive in long rides, I used to drive 80 miles a day and it basically drove himself with the cruise control. It has a great gas mileage ratio. Never had to take it for repairs in three years except for rutine maintenance. It is a great car to go to work every day and it looks very elegant. I do not have any complaints about its performance.
October 25, 2008This car looks almost new inside and out. Smooth ride, easy handling, great visibility. Extremely reliable. Roomy interior. Amazing mileage. Virtually maintenance-free. I feel safe and solid on the road. Fantastic handling in all seasons. Great choice for students, families, commuters or anyone else!
July 18, 2013I like toyota camry because it is the best car I ever seen for my family. Performance-really goodBuilt quality-It doesnt need any repairAppearence-really awesomeThis car is fun to drive. I really like this car. Its cool. I believe it is better than Benz.
February 6, 2011No problems since new until last month at about 25000 miles. Had to replace the computer which I have never had happen in any car before even post 100,000 miles which I usually exceed before replacing cars. Fortunately was still under warranty or would have run $800.00+ per the dealer.
November 22, 2007Appearance wise, I have a phantom grey pearl. It's a really nice color and goes really well with the color of the rims. People think the Toyota design is too plain. But if you're looking for a simple and refined car, this hits the spot. It's actually appealing to look at in it's simple way. The Camry is really a reliable car. I haven't had any trouble with it. The trunk space is huge. I can fit large stroller + luggage.
August 31, 2011All I had to do was change the oil regularly. No repairs to this car needed over the 9 years we owned it. Changed the battery and tires, oh and the brakes once I believe. Nothing negative to say about this car.
January 29, 2015Trims & specs
Base MSRP $24,645 | Seating 5 |
Engine 3.3L 210 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 22 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $23,400 | Seating 5 |
Engine 3.0L 190 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 22 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $20,995 | Seating 5 |
Engine 2.4L 154 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 26 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $20,165 | Seating 5 |
Engine 2.4L 154 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 26 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $26,425 | Seating 5 |
Engine 3.0L 190 hp V6 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 22 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $19,065 | Seating 5 |
Engine 2.4L 154 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 26 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $23,415 | Seating 5 |
Engine 2.4L 154 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 26 | Drivetrain FWD |
