2009 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry gets mostly good crash-test scores, but it does only a "marginal" job protecting passengers in a rear-end collision, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Although J.D. Power and Associates says the Camry is still one of the most dependable cars you can buy, another top consumer survey says the Camry's reliability has fallen to just "average" in recent years. "Its reliability isn't bulletproof, like it was a short time ago," Cars.com says of the Camry, which is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. At least the Camry holds its value well. Kelley Blue Book predicts the Toyota Camry will retain more than half its value after three years, and The Globe and Mail of Toronto quotes similar figures from Automotive Lease Guide in its latest family sedan comparison.

Fuel economy is just as good with the Toyota Camry as with other top family sedans, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's estimates. Like the Accord and Sonata, the base Camry posts 25 mpg in mixed driving (21 mpg city/31 mpg highway) with either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. However, its 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is the least powerful among top sedans, and critics say that it shows. Upper-level Camrys offer an optional 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine with a six-speed automatic only. The EPA estimates it will deliver 23 mpg (19 city/28 highway), which reviews say is good for a V-6.

Features such as cruise control and power windows and locks are standard equipment in the base Toyota Camry (*est. $19,395). Next up is the Camry LE (*est. $20,600), which adds a few standard bonus features (such as keyless entry and a power driver's seat) and the option to add a few more, including an upgraded satellite-capable stereo. The Toyota Camry SE (*est. $21,815) offers many more extra-cost options, including a HomeLink transceiver that can operate your house's garage door, lights and security system, a voice-activated navigation system, Bluetooth wireless calling and heated leather seats.

Topping out the range is the Toyota Camry XLE (*est. $25,575), which includes some of these luxury features as standard equipment and adds a few more, including a 40/20/40 split reclining rear seat. It doesn't fold like the regular 60/40 split seat does, reviewers note, but it does include a locking trunk pass-through. Reviews note that options can drive up the Camry's price to nearly $30,000.

As the best-selling car in America, the Toyota Camry is a contestant in most family sedan tests. Motor Trend, Cars.com and TheTruthAboutCars.com all pit the Camry against leading rivals, ranking the cars from best to worst. Autoblog.com doesn't test the cars head-to-head, but it does draw comparisons in its single-car review of the Camry. Although The Globe and Mail of Toronto doesn't test cars, its comparison of six family sedans is clear and thoughtful. Consumer Reports' tests are more extensive, covering almost every family sedan available. They're also the most objective and data-based, although Consumer Reports' experts also make subjective judgments about things like comfort. We found crash-test ratings at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and IIHS, fuel-economy data at the EPA, resale predictions at Kelley Blue Book and reliability ratings at J.D. Power and Associates.