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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2008 Toyota Camry

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Toyota Camry

Overview

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2008 Toyota Camry Review

By KBB.com Editors

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

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

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Toyota Camry vehicles for sale near you.

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2008 Toyota Camry Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.5

Out of 10

Based on 1372 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

Dissapointed

By Lightnng 5 (MA) on Thursday, August 01, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 29,610

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 5/10
Styling: 5/10
Comfort: 5/10

Pros: "Good Price. Low interest rate"

Cons: "Poor Headlights. Wide turning radius, road noise"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 3

"I have had some issues with this car I did not expect. First and most annoying are the headlights. I was told they are meeting factory specs and can not be adjusted, but to me they cut off in an abrubt horizontal line too low and too short a distance in front of the car- I find I am using my highbeams often in normal night driving situations. Handling is soft and slow.... wide turning radius. Dont expect to take tight corners. More road noise than I expected... not sure if this is the car or a tire issue. Wide windshield side frames can block view to drivers right. On the plus side, seats are comfortble and car is roomy."

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best car i ever had

By smokie (WA) on Wednesday, July 31, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 90,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

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

"have been on trips it my camry very comfortable lots of room for all our bags in the trunk good gas mileage"

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Wonderful reliable car requiring minimum maintenan

By Mike G (TX) on Monday, July 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 47,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 6/10
Styling: 6/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "reliable...spacious....quiet....low maintenance"

Cons: "not exciting"

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

"This is my 7th Camry...They have all had the same characteristics and this one is no different. I buy these because they have been unfailingly reliable with very little maintenance other than the normal oil/tires etc. The car is totally squeak free, has adequate power, decent gas mileage and has more than average space for passengers, both front and rear. The trunk is a joy as it is both spacious and easy to load. The controls are intuitive, easy to use and easy to reach. This car is not a head turner and will not incent you to drive fast but it is a reliable, quiet, easy to maintain and long lasting.....finally it is not very expensive to buy in the first place"

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Best Car I have owned Period!

By RW (OR) on Thursday, July 25, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 106,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Everything you can think of."

Cons: "I tend to drive too far to the right"

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

"This is our second Camry. Our last one was a 1999 LE 4 cyl. We purchased this 2007 Camry XLE V6 used. It is totally loaded. It has amazing power which I couldn't get over at first, like being a teen again. I have impressed many friends. I get better gas mileage with the V6 than I did with my 1999 4 cyl. The best mpg I have gotten so far is 32 and the lowest is 22. I have found the digital display mileage is approx 1 mpg off so it is very accurate. We have owned Toyota's for years and have never been disappointed with their quality."

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My Camry, henry

By h (WA) on Saturday, July 20, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 70,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

Pros: "Value, Good power for small engine, reputation"

Cons: "Psngr mats slip fwd leaving floorboard unprotected"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I purchased Henry as an investment. Camrys have a longevity reputation. This was the primary reason I chose the Camry. I chose the smaller engine, I will opt for the larger engine in my next Camry. While, the smaller engine has guts, I would prefer enough power to handle my bikes, skiis, and the such in a trailer form. I felt like I was stealing b/c of the value. The polished masculine appearance was the deal sealer. The gas mileage consistantcy was a pleasant surprise 29-30. And the maintance package, oh my goodness no maintaince expense for the first few years! What an awesome perk! When I go to purchase again in 2020 or 2021, I will seek out the Camry."

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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Camry or sports car?

By JD (SC) on Monday, July 08, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 39,999

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

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

Pros: "ALL of them"

Cons: "Not a BMW or Me be"

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

"271hp 4dr pwr seat fully functional sports car in sheeps clothing!!! For the money!! a cheaper alternative. Rocket ship fast,capable of smoking the Tires, with 22/29 MPG for me 35K + buy a used one AND you have a happy wife, & a fun ride!!"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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See all 1372 reviews