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Popular opinion dictates that it’s challenging to find a bad Toyota Camry. Out of its extensive tenure, quite a few years stand out as borderline lemons. The Toyota Camry is the quintessential mid-size economy car next to the Honda Accord. It’s comfortable, has lots of space, and now they even have 300 horsepower while managing to stay fuel-efficient. It’s a no-brainer for anyone trying to find a commuter that can also handle a road trip. The best part about the Camry is they’re available at low prices. Here are some of the best used Toyota Camry models under $15,000.

2017 Toyota Camry is the last good model year

A Toyota Camry from 2017 is old enough to eat the average depreciation, but not so old that you can’t drive one reliably. There are still a few things to watch out for, but 2017 is a solid model year for the most part. It’s relatively lightweight at 3,480 pounds maximum curb weight, and customers can get 268 horsepower with the 3.5-liter V6. The one flaw with this car is its grip, according to Car and Driver. A new set of summer performance tires should solve that issue quickly. They also come standard with state-of-the-art safety equipment.

2011 Toyota Camry is the lesser of a few evils

2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid parked outside
2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid parked outside | Toyota

Toyota Camrys from 2011 had the same powertrain as 2017, except the 2011 can have a manual transmission. A few problems that plagued the Camry from 2007-present can be traced back to automatic transmissions. If you pick a year that has few engine problems and has a manual option, you’re in good hands. Fuel economy was incredible at the expense of good tires, as exhibited in the 2017 model. According to NHTSA, owners of the 2011 Toyota Camry contend with a malfunctioning A/C, but as far as broken parts are considered, it’s not the worst problem to have.

2004 Toyota Camry: not too old to perform

If you’re willing to go much older, a 2004 Toyota Camry is another good bet. This model came right before the revamp of 2006, before the dark times of the Camry. Models from 2004 came with 3.3-liter V6s making 225 horsepower, plus some smaller options, along with a 5-speed automatic or manual. The car was less powerful but weighed a lot less at 3,100 pounds and had far fewer recalls than the following years. Mileage was consistent with the Camry’s reputation at over 30 mpg on the highway. Camry models from 2004 may have been one of the last of the reliable old-school workhorse Toyota Camrys.

The Toyota Camry is not an infallible car

While the Toyota Camry enjoys a reputation for being reliable and safe, it’s not an invincible car. That said, it’s big enough to seat four people comfortably, gets decent mileage, is lightweight, makes decent power, and if you choose the right year, it can have astounding cornering performance. These are what make the Toyota Camry a top seller.

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