Hundreds of years from today, when archeologists dig up the ground to find treasures from the past, there is a strong chance that a Japanese car will be unearthed. And it is very likely that if a key is found with it, and there’s some fuel left in the tank, the car will still rumble to life. To some, this may seem like an exaggeration, but the millions who swear by the reliability of Japanese automotive manufacturing know that it is absolutely possible.
In a tech-driven world where cars are becoming obsolete in a matter of a few years, most Japanese models continue to swear by two core principles — reliability and affordability. Reliable for decades and affordable to maintain through and through. And Toyota has always led the way, becoming the best-selling car-maker of all time. Ever wondered why? Toyotas aren’t the fanciest, aren’t the most luxurious (unless a Lexus), aren’t filled to the brim with features, and aren’t the most expensive piece of machinery man can own. And yet, from Corolla to Supra and from Tacoma to Tundra, a Toyota is primarily popular because of factors like reliability and (relative) affordability. Of all relentless Toyota workhorses, though, one sedan has stood the test of time best, offering a premium appeal while continuing to be dependable and easy on the pocket.
The Royal Family Of Japanese Sedans
1995 Toyota Corolla front 3/4 shotBring a Trailer
Even though SUVs are finding more takers than ever before, sedans continue to power their way ahead on American roads. And in this Game of Thrones, sedans from Japanese companies have reigned supreme in the past. Still do. While the now-forgotten Ford Taurus was a hot favorite in the mid 1990s, selling over 350,000 units each year between 1992 and 1996, two Japanese sedans have traded places with each other at the top of the best-selling passenger vehicles’ list since.
Front 3/4 shot of Honda Accord Wagon parkedBring A Trailer
The Honda Accord took the crown in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 2001. But this Toyota ruled with an iron fist between 1997 and 2000, and has done so every year since 2002. It has been the true and unchallenged emperor of passenger vehicles for 23 years, even outselling its more affordable and much-liked sibling, the Corolla, in the US. If sedans ever decide to declare war on other vehicle body types, it is surely the Camry that will lead the charge.
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Toyota Camry: Prince Of Premium, Lord Of Longevity
Front action shot of 2026 Toyota Camry in silver being drivenToyota
The Toyota Camry has long served the role of being a bridge between the mass-market and luxury segments. So while the more-affordable Corolla is the global bestseller in the company’s sedan portfolio, and the more-expensive Crown is a statement of intent, it is the Camry that has always struck the perfect balance between reliability and premium appeal that’s still affordable for many.
Rear 3/4 shot of 2025 Toyota Camry XLE AWDCraig Cole | TopSpeed
Driving down the middle path of the price spectrum has worked wonders for Camry. The year 2025 was one of the best-ever in recent times, in terms of sales, for the Camry in the United States, with 316,185 units finding takers. This is up two percent over 309,876 units sold in 2024. For a car model that was first launched in the US in 1983, despite the recent trend favoring SUV sales, the Camry has not just remained relevant but is still enormously popular.
Camry’s Premium Positioning Helps
Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid lineup parkedToyota
The Camry has made it a habit to appeal to the aspirational mass-market buyer who wants a sedan that’s fairly premium and yet does not make him or her blitzkrieg through their bank balance. The model has bravely attempted to stay ahead of the curve on the premium quotient while still being a value proposition in more ways than one.
2025 Toyota Camry XLE AWD Interior showing front cabinCraig Cole | TopSpeed
The XV30 model of the Camry, for instance, offered features like power-adjustable seats, 10-CD changer, and automatic climate control — uncommon in the mid-size sedan segment in the early 2000s. Over the years, it also managed to set a segment benchmark in terms of safety features with dual front airbags, side airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, and curtain airbags incorporated before any of its rivals.
Shot of 2026 Toyota Camry interior showing dashboardToyota
The 2026 Camry continues with this and comes equipped with a 12.3-inch main display (optional on SE, standard on XLE and XSE), 12.3-inch digital driver’s display (XLE and XSE), leather upholstery and heated seats/steering (XLE and XSE), nine-speaker JBL audio (optional on XLE and XSE), ambient lighting, acoustic-laminated glass, and a standard suite of driver-assistance features. Coupled with a very comfortable cabin and a spacious trunk, the value proposition that the premium Camry has always offered remains intact.
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The Ageless Wonder, Powered By Kaizen
A ninth-generation 2026 Toyota Camry at the Kentucky manufacturing plant in Georgetown.Toyota
It is hardly uncommon to see a Toyota from two decades ago still going strong on American roads. Many Camry models have rumbled past the six-digit mark on the odometer, and even the hybrid versions — first launched in 2007 — have touched figures as high as over 530,000 miles. That the Camry sedan manages to deliver thousands upon thousands of miles with only periodic maintenance and the occasional tuning needs is testament to the fact that Toyota maintains its enviable production standards.
Base Trim Engine
2.5L Dynamic Force I4 Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
184 HP @6000 RPM
Base Trim Torque
163 lb.-ft. @ 5200 RPM
Fuel Economy
53/50/51 mpg (best: LE FWD)
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
53/50/51 MPG
Make
Toyota
Model
Camry
Rigorous control over manufacturing and sourcing parts from dedicated suppliers to ensure consistent build quality is the hallmark of Toyota models. And then there’s ‘Kaizen‘, a core philosophy in the Toyota Production System or TPS, which puts the focus on continuous and incremental changes. The word itself literally translates to ‘change for good’, which means Toyota models may not bring in radically new updates fast, but in a more consistent manner to ensure reliability. The Camry is no different and is right up there in the list of most reliable vehicles from the Toyota stable, with the Corolla and Crown.
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Camry’s Double-Edged Assault Weapon
2026 Toyota Camry front 3/4 angle in red while parked.Toyota
For all the premium offerings and capable drive dynamics of the Camry, its impressive armory is highlighted primarily by both how reliable it is and how gradual its price depreciation patterns are. As per iSeeCars, the model has an overall score of 8.2/10 and manages to secure 8.0/10 for reliability, 9.0/10 for safety, and 8.8/10 for retained value. Even J.D. Power rates the model highly, giving it a score of 80 out of 100 for quality and reliability.
Close-up shot of 2026 Toyota Camry engine bayToyota
While repairs are rare, recalls are rarer, with just six recalls for the Camry in the past six years. More impressive is that there have only been just three investigations into the model, one each in 2020, 2021, and 2022 for the hybrid models, in the same time period.
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Running Cost That Is Easy On The Pocket
2025 Toyota Camry XLE AWD Front Three-QuarterCraig Cole | TopSpeed
Since 2024, the Camry has been offered exclusively with hybrid technology. This has obviously improved fuel efficiency with an EPA figure of 48 miles per gallon for the 2025 model, which saw power figures go up slightly. In fact, the EPA-certified fuel efficiency figures for the previous-gen hybrids were even better at around 52 miles per gallon. At a time when gas prices have reached record levels owing to the USA-Israel-Iran war in the Middle East, this alone makes the Camry a winner for saving previous dollars at the fuel station.
POV shot of 2026 Toyota Camry interior showing cockpitToyota
But beyond just the price paid for fuel, the Camry is also very economical to maintain. As per RepairPal, the average yearly maintenance cost of the 2025 model is $388. And according to CarEdge, the average maintenance and repair cost over a period of 10 years is $4,580. For perspective, the annual maintenance costs of a Honda Accord and a Hyundai Sonata are $400 and $458, respectively. Over the course of a decade, the maintenance costs of the Honda and Hyundai models are at $5,807 and $6,444, respectively.
2025 Toyota Camry XLE AWD Sill PlacardCraig Cole | TopSpeed
These contribute to the fact that owners tend to retain the Camry for longer periods vis-à-vis rival models, and as such, the model depreciates much slower. According to Edmunds‘ True Cost To Own calculator, the 2025 Camry model is expected to lose around $10,795 in value over half a decade, or around 38 percent of its initial value. While iSeeCars also expects a similar depreciating factor and figure, CarEdge predicts a value fall by around $14,270 over five years — still mighty impressive.
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Timesless Design That’s Functional
2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid Nightshade Edition rear third quarter accelerating view.Toyota
A good-looking sedan is usually a fast-selling sedan. And while Camry’s premium cabin, reliable drive, and low cost of ownership are raved about, its styling has received both cosmetic and functional design updates to help it appeal to modern sensibilities.
While the 2025 Camry brought in a far more aggressive front fascia, made LED headlights standard across all trims, and equipped air ducts and rear spoilers on the sportier trims, the 2026 model upped the design stakes higher still. The latest Camry now comes in an all-new Nightshade Edition, which combines sport-inspired black exterior accents with aluminum sport pedals and even more exterior colors, including ocean-inspired hues like Ocean Gem and Reservoir Blue.
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Time (Doesn’t) Take A Toll
A look at the fourth-gen Toyota Camry sold between 1997 and 2001.Toyota
The Camry has seen a wide array of battlefields. From a time when compact cars were popular to when hatchbacks were proving to be practical options, from the current rise in preference for SUV body type to the promise of EVs taking over global roads, the model has seen it all and yet sells in consistently impressive numbers. Historical data suggests Toyota sold 316,185 units in the US in 2025, 309,876 units in 2024, 290,649 units in 2023, 295,201 units in 2022, and 313,975 units in 2021. While this may still be less than the peak of 472,808 units sold in the country in 2007, it is still mighty impressive and the best in the segment.
Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Toyota Camry in blue being drivenToyota
So while the Camry has numerous strengths that have made it a blockbuster hit, its ability to hold on to its reputation of bulletproof reliability and low running costs has kept it beyond the reach of any rival model. And while Toyota does manage to sell far more Corolla units in the US than any of its other offerings, the Camry is what truly epitomizes the best of all worlds. Besides, all’s well if all’s in the family, right?
Source: Toyota, iSeeCars, JD Power, CarEdge, RepairPal, NHTSA
