The Toyota Camry (XV30) is a
mid-size car
Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in t ...
produced by
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
from June 2001 to January 2006. The XV30 series represented the fifth generation of the
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry (; Japanese: トヨタ・カムリ ''Toyota Kamuri'') is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Camry ...
in all markets outside Japan, which followed a different generational lineage. The XV30 range is split into different model codes indicative of the engine.
Four-cylinder
The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized.
Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...
models utilize the ACV30 (
front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longit ...
) and ACV35 (
all-wheel drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
) codes, with MCV30 (3.0-liter) and MCV31 (3.3-liter) designating the
six-cylinder
The straight-six engine (also referred to as an inline-six engine; abbreviated I6 or L6) is a piston engine with six cylinders arranged in a straight line along the crankshaft. A straight-six engine has perfect primary and secondary engine balan ...
versions.
On August 27, 2001, for the 2002 model year, the Toyota Camry was released as a larger sedan (taking styling cues from the successful
Vitz,
Corolla and
Solara) only, but without a station wagon for the first time. Due to station wagons losing popularity to
minivan
Minivan (sometimes called simply as van) is a North American car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. The equivalent classification in Europe i ...
s and
crossover
Crossover may refer to:
Entertainment
Albums and songs
* ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album)
* ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987
* ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album)
* ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album)
* ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definitio ...
s, the Camry wagon was replaced by the
Sienna
Sienna (from it, terra di Siena, meaning "Siena earth") is an earth pigment containing iron oxide and manganese oxide. In its natural state, it is yellowish brown and is called raw sienna. When heated, it becomes a reddish brown and is call ...
minivan
Minivan (sometimes called simply as van) is a North American car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. The equivalent classification in Europe i ...
(in North America only) and the
Highlander SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definitio ...
, both vehicles utilizing the Camry's platform.
Design and engineering
Development of the XV30 began in 1997 after launch of the XV20 under chief engineer Kosaku Yamada. By 1999, 26 months ahead of scheduled production, a new design by Hiroyuki Metsugi was chosen and later frozen in July 1999 for June 2001 production. The production development process (which began in April 1999) was reduced by 10 months, from the prior XV20's 36 months to 26 months. Design patents were filed at the Japan Patent office on January 25, 2000 and registered under patent No. 1142401.
The front end of the car was relatively short, leaving a great deal of the length to the cabin, a technique adopted by compact cars. In contrast to the fairly squat
XV20 Camry, the XV30 generation was a decidedly tall vehicle. It was taller and had a longer wheelbase than the previous model. The
coefficient of drag
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: c_\mathrm, c_x or c_) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water. It is used in the drag equ ...
had been reduced to .
Two engines were available, an all-new 2.4-liter ''
2AZ-FE
The Toyota AZ engine family is a straight-4 piston engine series. The AZ series uses an aluminium engine block with cast iron cylinder liners and aluminium DOHC cylinder head. The engine series features many advanced technologies including slant- ...
''
VVT-i
VVT-i, or Variable Valve Timing with intelligence, is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by Toyota. It was first introduced in 1995 with the ''2JZ-GE'' engine found in the JZS155 Toyota Crown and Crown Majesta.
The VVT-i ...
I4 engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the e ...
and a carry over 3.0-liter ''
1MZ-FE''
V6 engine. Both engines in the United States were
ULEV certified. Any model could be equipped with a V6 or a 4-speed
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...
, although the
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission (mechanics), transmission ...
was not available on V6 models outside of Australia and New Zealand. The Camry's front suspension used MacPherson struts mounted to a front sub-frame while the rear suspension used a dual link setup also mounted to its own rear sub-frame.
For safety
ABS,
Vehicle Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
, front and rear head
side curtain airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. Th ...
s, and front seat-mounted
torso side airbags were optional. The
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collision ...
(IIHS) rated the Camry ''Good'' overall in their frontal offset crash test.
In their side impact test a ''Good'' overall rating was given to models equipped with side airbags,
while models without side airbags were given a ''Poor'' overall rating.
Camry Solara
Until the 2003 model year, the
Camry Solara remained on the previous XV20 chassis, and received only minor styling upgrades to the front and rear ends. However, the Solara did receive the same 2.4-liter ''2AZ-FE'' I4 engine that was available on the Camry sedan.
The second generation Camry Solara was introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model. Again, styling from the Camry was radically different, taking design cues from the
Lexus SC
The is a grand tourer that was retailed by Lexus (a luxury vehicle division of Toyota), and built from 1991 until 2010. It features a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive design and seating for up to four passengers. The first-generation SC debuted as ...
430.
Toyota Camry TS-01
A high-performance concept of the Toyota Camry, named the
Toyota Camry TS-01
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
was shown at the 2005 Melbourne International Motor Show. This concept vehicle had significant performance and visual upgrades from the production Toyota Camry and hinted at the
TRD Aurion.
Markets
XV30 Camrys were manufactured in at the
Tsutsumi plant in
Toyota City
, formerly known as Koromo, is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 426,162 and a population density of 464 people per km2. The total area was . It is located about 35 minutes from Nagoya by way of the Meite ...
, Japan;
Toyota Australia
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It markets Toyota products and manages motorsport, advertising and business operations for Toyota in Australia. It is also responsible for Lexus vehicles in A ...
's facility in
Altona, Victoria
Altona is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Hobsons Bay local government area. Altona recorded a population of 11,490 at the .
Altona is a large suburb c ...
;
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) is an automobile manufacturing factory in Georgetown, Kentucky, United States. It is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor North America, itself a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan. The plant assem ...
manufacturing plant in
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a home rule-class city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 37,086 at the 2020 census. It is the 6th-largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the seat of its county. It was originall ...
, United States; and at the Toyota Gateway Plant in
Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao ( th, ฉะเชิงเทรา, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in central Thailand, capital of Chachoengsao Province. It is on the banks of the Bang Pakong River. It includes ''tambon'' Na Mueang and parts of Ban Mai, Bang T ...
, Thailand. Other manufacturing facilities for their respective regional markets include locations in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Japan
The XV30 Camry was launched in Japan in September 2001. Daihatsu continued with its twin Altis model for the Japanese market. The second generation Altis was introduced in the same month as the Camry, and was available with the ''2AZ-FE'' 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Visually, the Altis is very similar to the Japanese market Camry with the 4-cylinder engine. The
Verossa was also sold during this model timeframe, offering Japanese buyers a well-equipped sedan with similar dimensions to the Camry, with a
rear-wheel drive
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the rear wheels only. Until the late 20th century, rear-wheel drive was the most common configuration for cars.
Most rear-wheel ...
powertrain setup, or an optional all-wheel drive that the Camry did not offer. The Verossa was not a strong seller, and replaced by the
Mark X
Mark X or mark 10 often refers to the tenth version of a product, frequently military hardware. "Mark", meaning "model" or "variant", can be abbreviated "Mk."
Mark X or mark 10 can specifically refer to:
In technology In military and weapon ...
in 2004, continuing to offer a rear-wheel drive powertrain.
North America
US production started on July 23, 2001. In the United States, the basic CE model was dropped and the SE sport model was reintroduced. Both the LE and SE models were available with a manual transmission when equipped with the four-cylinder engine. Some of this generation Camry sold in the US are being produced at TMMK as well as at Tsutsumi Plant in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. A Camry manufactured in Japan is denoted with a VIN starting with "JTD", as well as a small hatch on the passenger's side of the front bumper containing equipment that is compatible with Japanese towing systems; US-made models are denoted with a VIN starting with "4T1". In addition to the LE and SE trims, the top-of-the-line XLE came standard with alloy wheels, JBL premium audio system, and leather, as well as optional side airbags and
Vehicle Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
(VSC).
The Canadian version of this Camry is slightly different from the versions sold in the United States due to the additional Child Restraint System.
In 2002, for the 2003 model year, a few new features were added including the optional, power-adjustable pedals and pedal-type parking brake for the XLE trim. The 3.0-liter ''1MZ-FE'' engine was now equipped with VVT-i, increasing horsepower from .
For 2004 models, the Standard and Limited Edition trims were included for the US market. In SE models a 3.3-liter ''3MZ-FE'' V6 replaced the smaller 3.0-liter ''1MZ-FE''. The passenger airbag disable feature was also added for this model year to prevent or reduce injuries to infants.
For 2005 models, Toyota introduced its refreshed Camry with new upgrades such as a chrome grille, with the SE having a unique, blackout grille. Other exterior changes are new headlight and taillight designs, redesigned front bumper, and new wheels. Interior upgrades to the Camry included a rear center head restraint, a storage bin in the door, ''Optitron'' electroluminescent gauges, steering wheel-mounted audio controls standard for all trim levels, chrome interior door handles and shift gear button, and standard leather seating on V6-powered XLE trims. A 5-speed automatic transmission also replaced the previous 4-speed automatic and ABS became standard on all trims.
Engines
Mexico
Toyota launched in Mexico in 2002. Trim levels were LE and XLE. The LE models had the 2.4 L
''2AZ-FE'' whilst LE and XLE models were available with the
I4, 157 hp
3.0 L
''1MZ-FE'' V6. The previous-generation Camry was not available in Mexico; such vehicles there were often
illegal imports from the United States. All vehicles had
automatic transmissions.
Brazil
In
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, the Camry was launched there in 2002. However, this version did not offer a 4-cylinder version; all models had a 3.0-liter V6 initially, before upgrading to the 3.3 V6 as of 2006. XLE was the sole trim level.
China
In China, the XV30 Camry was imported from Japan and launched there in 2004. The 2.4 litre ''2AZ-FE'' was the only engine available, paired to the 4 speed automatic gearbox. Pricing for the Camry was 336.800 yuan ($US53,270 - January 2022 exchange rate).
Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, the 2002 to 2006 Camry is available in five different trims: the ''Altise'', ''Ateva'', ''Sportivo'', ''Grande'' (2004 onwards) and ''Azura''. The Altise, Ateva and Sportivo are available with either the 2.4 L four-cylinder or the 3.0 L V6 engine, whilst the Grande and Azura were only available with the V6. Only the Altise and Sportivo models could be fitted with a manual transmission — all other models are equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. In 2003, the V6-powered ''Altise Sport'' model was introduced, which is basically the Altise model with the sports suspension that was fitted on the ''Sportivo'' and ''Azura'' models and was available in manual and automatic transmission. The Australian and New Zealand ''Camry Sportivo'' corresponds roughly to the American ''Camry SE''.
The Australian and New Zealand models were significantly different from the other Camry models around the world and had around 77% locally developed components to suit Australian and New Zealand roads and driving conditions. The brakes, body panels (which would only fit on the Australian made body and chassis), headlights, seats, radio antenna and suspension were all locally developed after 10,000 km of extensive testing in New Zealand under the supervision of Toyota engineers. Power output on the Altise Sport, V6 Sportivo and Azura models was compared with the of the standard V6 models due to a high-flow rear muffler.
When the revised range was launched in Australia and New Zealand in September 2004, the ''Grande'' model was reintroduced which, together with the Azura model, were the top-of-the-range models. The Grande however was fitted with the standard suspension rather than the sports suspension as fitted on the Azura model. The Grande and Azura models have Satellite Navigation (GPS) as standard equipment, and were the first Toyota models in Australia to be fitted with the new ''Toyota Link'' system. The Toyota Link system is a state-of-the-art satellite and mobile SMS GSM communications system that gives the driver access to roadside assistance and emergency help via the electrochromatic rear view mirror. In August 2005, the ''Altise Sport'' model was reintroduced (V6 auto only) together with ''Altise Limited'' (four-cylinder and V6) that has additional features. The Ateva model had an interior upgrade to leather trim and rear passenger air conditioning vents. The Altise was repositioned as a fleet model and the manual transmission was no longer available on V6 Sportivo models from January 2006 production. Automatic Camrys in Australia still used the dated four-speed because it retained the 3.0 V6 engine.
A number of milestones were achieved with this generation's Camry in Australia. The one millionth Camry (Black Azura) built in Australia and 10 millionth Camry worldwide rolled off the production line at Altona in September 2004. In May 2006,
Toyota Australia
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It markets Toyota products and manages motorsport, advertising and business operations for Toyota in Australia. It is also responsible for Lexus vehicles in A ...
exported the 500,000th Camry to New Zealand, in recognition of the relationship between Toyota Australia and Toyota New Zealand. More than 90% of Australian Camry exports are left-hand drive vehicles to Middle East countries including
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
,
Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
,
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
,
Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of t ...
,
Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it sh ...
and the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
. The overseas demand for the Australian-made Camry is still running at record levels, despite the release of an all-new model in August 2006.
Middle East
In the Middle East, the fifth generation Camry is available in 4 variants: XLi, GLi, Touring and Grande V6. The XLi trim comes reasonably equipped and is a common choice for taxis and is the volume seller. The Camry weathers extreme heat well and is often preferred by fleet buyers looking for reliability. The GLi trim adds alloy wheels, wooden panel interior and foglamps. The Touring and Grande trims come with a 3.0 LT V6 engine. The current Australian-made Camry remains one of the top-selling passenger vehicles in the Middle Eastern region.
Additionally, in recent years, fifth generation Camrys have become very popular in the Middle East for "
Tafheet
Tafheet (تفحيط), or hajwalah (هجولة), (colloquially known as Arab drifting or Saudi drifting), is a type of street racing-like subculture believed to have started in the late 1970s in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, that involves ...
" or Arab Drifting. The main objective is to drift the Camry sideways along the road (usually a long stretch of road or freeway), while sometimes even being in the flow of traffic. This is highly dangerous, as there have been instances
of the rear suspension components failing and a rear wheel being lost.
Taiwan and Southeast Asia
The Camry in Taiwan and Southeast Asia of this generation looked very similar to other versions, but the front end had a "thicker" grille and larger, all-white, differently shaped headlights. The reverse lights were moved onto the trunk above the added rear fog lights and were somewhat similar to the lights on a second generation
Avalon's trunk. The older models from 2002 to 2003 had tail lights with a white streak across them, while models 2004 and later did not.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, the fifth generation Camry was launched in July 2002 in two trim levels: 2.4 G with either 5-speed manual or 4-speed manual transmission and 3.0 V with 4-speed automatic transmission. The facelifted version was released in June 2004.
Philippines
In the Philippines, the fifth generation Camry was initially introduced in 2002 with 2.0- and 2.4-liter engines, with 4-speed automatic and no manual transmission. Compared to the US version, this had a different front end design (grille and headlights), as well as inner taillight garnishes. The facelifted version, which came out in around November 2004 saw off the 2.0-liter and introduced the 3.0-liter V6 with 5-speed automatic along with new colors and wheel design.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, the fifth generation Camry was launched in August 2002 with two versions 2.4G and 3.0V. The 3.0V version has equipment such as wood and leather interior materials, automatic air conditioning, electrically adjustable rear seats, individual lights, cup holders and electric rear window blinds (automatically open when reverse gear). In addition, in the standard equipment list, there are remote control and anti-theft central door locks, ceiling storage boxes, rear glass antennas... Vehicle safety includes: System Brakes with large discs on all 4 wheels are supported by ABS anti-lock mechanism, EBD electronic brake force distribution function and BA emergency brake support. The wide field of vision at both front and rear also increases the effectiveness of the active safety system. The list of passive safety devices includes: 2 airbags, seat belts, front seats designed to prevent head and neck injuries, and pedals that automatically retract in the event of a collision. In addition, the GOA body style will absorb kinetic energy in an accident, limiting injury to the driver and passengers. The facelifted Camry was introduced in July 2004 and is powered by a 212 hp (3.0 V6) VVT-i engine. The headlights can automatically change the projection angle when entering uneven terrain.
References
{{Toyota timeline (North America) 1980–2009
XV30
Cars introduced in 2001
Cars discontinued in 2006
Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States