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2008 Toyota Camry

Overview
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2008 Toyota Camry Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

Largely due to its solid reputation for quality and reliability, Toyota's midsize Camry has been the best-selling car in America for eight of the past nine years. A thorough makeover last year enhances the Camry's ability to keep its throne, although the new Honda Accord looks to be a keen competitor. The 2008 Toyota Camry is the most curvaceous model to date, with an abundance of interior room and marked improvements in the areas of steering, braking, handling and ride comfort (although in the sportier SE the tuning is biased more toward crisper handling response). Engine choices include a 158-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder or a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you want a safe choice of a much-improved but still conservative mainstream midsize Japanese family sedan, the 2008 Toyota Camry is for you.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you want something less conservative and more distinctive or an equivalent domestic sedan, you may prefer the new Ford Fusion or Chevrolet Malibu.

What's New for 2008

No major changes for 2008.

Driving the Camry

Driving Impressions The 2008 Toyota Camry drives much like most family sedans, not too sporty and not too soft. The base car tends toward the soft side, but the LE and XLE...

are crisper and more athletic. Most fun to drive, at least on smooth roads, is the lower and stiffer SE sport model, which has added structural bracing, firmer springs, shock absorbers, bushings and anti-roll bars, better steering feel and even an underbody aerodynamic treatment for enhanced high-speed stability. The latest Toyota four-cylinder engine provides adequate power with good fuel economy, while the muscular V6 is a powerhouse, good for a zero to 60-miles-per-hour burst in less than seven seconds.
Favorite Features

Plasmacluster Ionizer HVAC
According to Toyota the dual-zone automatic climate system standard on the XLE and Hybrid reduces airborne odors, mold spores, microbes, fungi, germs and bacteria inside the cabin by creating positive and negative ions that seek out and surround them.

Star Safety System
The standard integrated braking system includes ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Seven airbags are also standard, but Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with traction control is optional.

2008 Toyota Camry Details
2008 Toyota Camry photo Interior

Like the exterior, the Camry's interior is more modern and stylish than in past versions. The windshield base is far forward, allowing for a low two-tier instrument panel. The seatbacks feature a slimmed-down design and front-seat adjustment travel is generous. Larger footwells and a half-inch increase in legroom over the 2006 model better accommodate rear-seat occupants; rear seatbacks recline in XLE models. Instruments are large and legible, with differing illumination depending on the trim level. The controls are easy to read and operate, storage cubbies are plentiful and there are two 12-volt outlets in the console.

Exterior

The 2008 Toyota Camry's appearance is a departure from the upright styles of previous generations. Sharing Toyota's swoopier new sedan look with its larger stablemate Avalon and upscale cousin Lexus ES, the Camry's length is unchanged, but its stance is more stable with its wheels pushed farther toward the corners—the wheelbase is 2.2-inches longer and front and rear tracks are 1.2-inches wider. Its hood, flanks and decklid surfaces have a complexity and character not seen in previous Camrys, and its headlights are the high-tech projector-beam style. Toyota calls the Camry "athletic and modern," and we don't disagree, although the sporty SE, with its lower ride height on bigger wheels and tires, black honeycomb grille, smoked headlamps and aero appendages, looks much more athletic than the other models.

Notable Equipment
Standard Equipment

The base CE offers power mirrors/locks/windows, air conditioning with a pollen filter, cruise control, tilt/telescopic wheel, auto on/off halogen headlamps, daytime running lights, 60/40-split fold-down rear seat, 16-inch wheels and six-speaker 160-watt digital audio with CD-MP3 and auxiliary input jack. Standard safety features include Toyota's Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seats, four-wheel disc brakes with Antilock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist and seven air bags. The uplevel LE adds an eight-way power driver's seat, remote keyless entry and the option of a V6 engine. The top-level XLE adds alloy wheels, 440-watt eight-speaker premium audio with six-disc CD and Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather interior (V6 only), wood-grain trim, a power moonroof, four-way power passenger's seat and a 40/20/40 reclining rear seat (with fixed center pass-through). The very well-equipped Hybrid gets most of this plus push-button start.

Optional Equipment

Probably to encourage buyers to move up to other models, the only substantial option available on the base Camry is the highly recommended Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with traction control, which is also available on LE, SE and XLE. Additional major options for most of these models include a JBL premium audio system with Bluetooth, power moonroof, leather interior, heated seats, navigation system and the "Smart Key System" with push-button start (on the XLE with V6).

Under the Hood

The 2008 Toyota Camry features a standard DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter Variable Valve Timing "with intelligence" (VVT-i) four-cylinder engine and an optional new DOHC 24-valve VVT-i V6. The Hybrid model marries a 147-horsepower Atkinson-cycle version of the four-cylinder to a 40-horsepower electric motor.

2.4-liter in-line 4
158 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
161 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/31 (manual), 21/31 (automatic)

3.5-liter V6
268 horsepower @ 6200 rpm
248 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28

2.4-liter in-line 4 with Permanent Magnetic Synchronous Electric Motor
147 horsepower @ 6000 rpm / 40 horsepower @ 4500 rpm (187 combined horsepower)
138 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm / 199 lb.-ft. of torque @ 0-1500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 33/34

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Buying this car?

2008 Toyota Camry Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating
8.5
Out of 10

Based on 1339 Ratings for the 2007 - 2011 models.

Review this car
  • Value
    8.7/10
    Quality
    8.7/10
  • Reliability
    9.0/10
    Performance
    8.6/10
  • Comfort
    8.8/10
    Styling
    8.8/10

I'm a believer!

By kentjax (FL) on Sunday, February 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 80,000

10 9.0
overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating
9/10
Value
9/10
Reliability
10/10
Quality
10/10
Performance
8/10
Styling
8/10
Comfort
8/10

Pros: "Reliable and Dependable. Low maintenance and costs"

Cons: "Sound system and seats need redesigned."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This is my second Camry. My first had over 200K when I sold it, so I can get a newer model (new toys). I drive over 500miles per week. At this point, I have only changed one set of tires and had my oil changed 8 times (once every 10,000 miles) and NO PROBLEMS! I was so impressed, my wife bought the new Corolla and I bought my son a used Tacoma that had 175K miles and he has driven it over 2 years without a dime of problems! I am now looking at another Tacoma for my son who will get his operators license next month! I love the Quality and Reliability of these vehicles (Toyota). The sound system is good, not the best. Seats are good, could be a bit more ergonomically designed for long trips. The engine maintenance light should allow operator when to alert (every 5K, 10K or ...), to avoid resetting when the oil change isn't due yet. overall I give this car a 9.0 out of 10.0."

Broken parts, multiple recalls, 1st & last Toyota

By Mamio (NY) on Saturday, February 16, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 60,000

10 4.0
overall rating 4 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating
4/10
Value
5/10
Reliability
7/10
Quality
3/10
Performance
4/10
Styling
4/10
Comfort
1/10

Pros: "It's red."

Cons: "Not good for short people, the driver seat too low"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"Multiple recalls: 2 for the brake system due to reports that the car accelerates while braking causing accidents. Recall for power window buttons not working. Recall for broken visors. My problens not recalled: Power button on sun roof broke at 30K, beyond warranty. Remote key no longer works, stopped working at 55K & 3 1/2 yrs old. Odd dash board, side view mirror adjustment control, and cruise control lever positioning. HATE HATE HATE THIS CAR."

3 people out of 6 found this review helpful

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