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Vehicle Min Max 2006 Toyota Camry N/A N/A 2012 Subaru Legacy N/A N/A 2012 Toyota Prius v N/A N/A 2013 Ford Taurus N/A N/A Average Not Available 
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Vehicle Min Max 2006 Toyota Camry N/A N/A 2012 Subaru Legacy N/A N/A 2012 Toyota Prius v N/A N/A 2013 Ford Taurus N/A N/A Average Not Available Based On: 10% down, 5% APR, 60 months
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MPG city hwy 2006 Toyota Camry 22 31 2012 Subaru Legacy 19 26 2012 Toyota Prius v 44 40 2013 Ford Taurus 18 27 Average 26 31 MPG22 City | 31 Highway
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2006 Toyota Camry Review Summary
What reviewers liked most about the 2006 Toyota Camry:
Since its debut in the United States nearly 25 years ago, the Camry has earned a reputation for smart design, pleasing function, build quality and durability. It's not all hype.
- New Car Test DriveThe latest edition of America's best-selling car has more of everything, which has to be scary for the competition. This Camry has a better interior, less bland styling, and superior power trains than before.
- Consumer Guide
What reviewers liked least about the 2006 Toyota Camry:
Again, all pleasant enough and functional enough, but it's duller than an empty office cubicle.
- AutoWeek
2006 Toyota Camry Comparisons:
...but the Toyota's six-speed automatic, replete with the seamless and swift manual mode, outclasses the Accord's five-speed, which seems as refined but misses the connectedness of full manual control.
- Motor Trend
Best one-liners about the 2006 Toyota Camry:
Toyota takes pains to keep the price of the up-level Camry under $30K, while it carefully positions its hybrid version against the domestic competition in price.
- Edmunds.com
2006 Toyota Camry Introduction
The Toyota Camry is the best-selling car in America, the crown jewel of cars in the auto industry. Toyota tells us the name "Camry" comes from kan-muri, which in Japanese means "crown." That seems appropriate given that the Camry outsells such popular gems as the Honda Accord and Ford Taurus.
The Camry appears to be a perfect transportation appliance, flawlessly performing its duties, never annoying its owner. It rides smoothly, softly over beat-up city streets. The interior is ergonomically excellent, with big climate and audio knobs that are easy to adjust. The seats are comfortable.
The Toyota Camry was all-new last year. A longer wheelbase brought significantly increased rear-seat legroom. Its new look is at once taller and more rounded, in keeping with current fashion.
For 2003, the Camry offers more standard and optional equipment. All models now come with remote keyless entry, while the XLE model adds fog lights, and a six-disc CD changer for its JBL audio system. Also new is the availability of power adjustable pedals.
Given Toyota's reputation for quality, durability and reliability, the 2003 Camry should once again prove to be the ideal car for about 400,000 buyers who don't want to worry about their car.
2006 Toyota Camry Walkaround
The Toyota Camry was totally redesigned last year, but the new look did not stray too far from that of previous models. We bet that Toyota was watching carefully when Ford launched a radical new Taurus in 1996, with oval-themed styling that proved too avant-garde for conservative buyers. Ford lost quite a few sales before retreating to a safer design.
So while Toyota claims to have put more excitement into the current Camry, in truth it looks a lot like the old Camry. Ironically, the most-changed elements are the rear deck and taillights, and these have a distinctly Taurus flavor. The front of the Camry appears to have a bit of Lincoln LS in it, thanks to the way the grille cuts into the top edge of the front bumper.
The Camry does present a more sculptured appearance, with slightly flared wheel arches and a distinct dual crease line in the hood, the latter leading nicely into the grille. To some extent its smooth lines camouflage its height; the current car stands two inches taller than the pre-2002 model.
2006 Toyota Camry Interior Features
The Toyota Camry has a comfortable interior with controls that are simple and easy to operate. Everything is laid out simply.
Radio and climate controls are mounted high in the center of the dash for easy access. Three big knobs mounted prominently in the center of the dashboard are used to manually control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning on SE and LE models. XLE models get automatic climate control with a smooth tactile feel that reminds us of Lexus, which set the modern standard. The stereo uses big buttons and knobs that are easy to operate, whether scanning for radio stations or moving between songs on a CD. A navigation system is available for the XLE. We found the audio quality poor on the LE's optional JBL system.
The instruments are located in a relatively small pod right in front of the steering wheel, with a large half-moon tachometer and matching speedometer. The fuel and temperature gauges are located within the two larger instruments. Lights and windshield wiper/washer controls are on stalks on the steering column, leaving the left lower edge of the dash free of switches.
Camry's dashboard is relatively plain, with no large curved surfaces, and it is set relatively high. The dash blends nicely into the door panels, but the cover for the passenger-side air bag is noticeable as the seams show clearly. Many other manufacturers have managed to make the passenger-side air bag invisible.
A wide center console separates the two front bucket seats and contains useful storage areas. The parking brake on the LE and SE is also located in the center console, whereas the XLE gets a foot-operated parking brake.
Rear-seat passengers will find the accommodations quite pleasant for a mid-size passenger car. Head- and legroom have increased compared to the previous Camry. The rear seat splits 60/40, allowing long objects to pass through from the trunk, although the opening is smaller than it might be. The trunk itself is a decent size and shape. Gooseneck hinges steal valuable space, but are hidden under a cover, reducing the chance that they will damage trunk contents as the lid is closed.
2006 Toyota Camry Driving Impressions
Toyota knows how to build quiet cars with a comfortable ride. Toyota's Lexus division has excelled in this area and this expertise appears to have worked its way over to the Camry. Engines are quieter than in pre-2002 models, while an innovative engine mounting system further reduces vibration. Stiff body structure and asphalt sheet insulation assures that even when the four-cylinder engine is driven hard, engine noise is quite subdued.
This is an easy car to drive. There is nothing untoward or strange about the Camry; it does everything just right. An enthusiast driver would complain that it lacks character, but for the average driver that's a plus. No one driving a Camry has to think much about what's going on.
More than two-thirds of all Camrys are sold with the four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. The 2.4-liter inline-4 is inexpensive and fuel-efficient and provides plenty of power. Computer logic controls the automatic transmission; the car can tell when it is going up hill or down hill and the transmission shifts gears accordingly. It can hold a lower gear longer when necessary to avoid the annoying shifting up and down that occurs in some automatics.
The ride is pleasant, verging on luxurious, with enough cushioning to make passengers feel comfortable. The steering is light but not sloppy. Those who like sportier, more precise handling will notice that the different suspension setup and tires on the SE do make the car feel crisper, though it's still far from a sports sedan.
You'd never know from driving the car, but the gas pedal is a drive-by-wire affair. That means it is not connected directly to the engine by a cable; instead, it activates a sensor connected to a computer, just like the controls in modern aircraft. One advantage of this arrangement is that the optional Vehicle Skid Control system can take over the throttle in an emergency and apply just the right amount of throttle and braking to keep the vehicle on a more stable path.
2006 Toyota Camry Final Word
Toyota admits that while few people aspire to own a Camry, lots of people recommend a Camry to their friends. The Camry is what's known as a safe buy. It pleases so many buyers by offending none. It is in many ways an unremarkable car, except for its total lack of identifiable flaws. It Toyota has tried hard to make the latest Camry a little more exciting while at the same time making sure it will still transport its occupants from A to B and back without any drama, nor any worries about reliability, year in and year out.
So the Toyota Camry is not be as exciting as the Nissan Altima or Volkswagen Passat. But if you prefer a car that blends in with the crowd, a smooth, comfortable car that delivers hassle-free transportation, a car that offers stellar reliability, then the Camry should prove an excellent choice. That's why the Camry will likely continue as America's most popular new car.
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