Is a Celica a Camry?
No. The Toyota Celica and Toyota Camry are distinct models aimed at different buyers: the Celica is a sporty compact coupe/liftback produced from 1970 to 2006, while the Camry is a mainstream midsize family car sold since 1982 and still in production. That said, there is a historical footnote: in Japan from 1979 to 1982, Toyota sold a four-door sedan called the “Celica Camry,” which served as a precursor to the standalone Camry line.
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What each nameplate represents
The Celica built its reputation as an affordable sports-oriented model—first rear-wheel drive, later front-wheel drive—with notable high-performance variants used for rally homologation. The Camry, by contrast, has been engineered primarily for comfort, space, and everyday reliability as a midsize sedan (and, in some markets and eras, liftback or wagon).
Key differences at a glance
The following list outlines the major distinctions that most shoppers and enthusiasts care about when comparing the two nameplates.
- Body and mission: Celica = compact sporty coupe/liftback; Camry = midsize family sedan.
- Production timeline: Celica (1970–2006 globally; U.S. sales ended after 2005); Camry (1982–present, including the all-new 2025 hybrid-only generation).
- Drivetrain history: Celica was RWD (1970–1985) then mostly FWD, with AWD in GT-Four/All-Trac Turbo variants; Camry has been primarily FWD, with AWD available in recent model years (including hybrid e-AWD in 2025).
- Performance focus: Celica offered high-revving fours and rally-bred turbo AWD trims; Camry historically offered economical fours and smooth V6s, with an emphasis on comfort and efficiency (and now hybrid powertrains).
- Market positioning: Celica targeted enthusiasts and style-conscious buyers; Camry targets practicality, value, and mass-market appeal.
Taken together, the Celica and Camry serve very different roles in Toyota’s lineup: one sporty and compact, the other practical and family-focused.
The historical connection: “Celica Camry” in Japan
There is one point of confusion rooted in late-1970s Japan. Before the Camry became its own globally recognized model, Toyota sold a sedan called the “Celica Camry.”
- Model: Toyota Celica Camry (Japan-only), introduced in 1979 as a four-door sedan related to the Celica/Carina lineage.
- Transition: In 1982, Toyota launched the first standalone Camry (V10), a front-wheel-drive model that set the template for the modern Camry line.
- Scope: The Celica Camry nameplate did not appear in the U.S.; it served as a domestic bridge between Celica styling cues and what became the separate Camry series.
This explains why some historical references link the two names—but outside that brief, Japan-only period, Celica and Camry have been distinct vehicles.
Where they stand today
As of 2025, the Camry enters its ninth generation and is sold exclusively as a hybrid in North America, with front-wheel drive or available electronic all-wheel drive. The Celica remains discontinued, and Toyota has not announced a revival. Enthusiast demand keeps the Celica relevant on the used market, especially performance variants like the GT-Four (ST165/ST185/ST205), while the Camry continues as a high-volume, mainstream bestseller.
Bottom line
A Celica is not a Camry. They’re separate Toyota models with different histories, designs, and purposes—connected only by a brief Japan-only “Celica Camry” sedan sold from 1979 to 1982 before the Camry became a standalone line.
Summary
Celica and Camry are not the same: Celica was Toyota’s sporty compact coupe/liftback (1970–2006), and Camry is its long-running midsize family car (1982–present). The only overlap is a historical curiosity—the Japan-only “Celica Camry” (1979–1982)—that preceded the modern, standalone Camry range.
What type of car is a Camry?
Compact car
| Toyota Camry | |
|---|---|
| Class | Compact car: 1982–1998 (narrow-body) Mid-size car: 1991–present (wide-body) |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1982–present) Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (1986–2011, 2019–present) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Toyota Celica Camry Toyota Corona (Asia, for XV20 model) Toyota Avensis (Europe, for XV70 model) |
Is the Celica a Supra?
The styling of the original Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was longer. Starting in mid-1986, the A70 Supra became a separate model from the Celica. In turn, Toyota also stopped using the prefix Celica and named the car Supra.
What does Celica mean in Spanish?
With a name that means ‘Celestial’ or ‘Heavenly’ in Spanish, the minute the Celica turned a wheel in 1970, it was destined to be a star.
What type of car is a Celica?
The Toyota Celica is a sports car that was produced from 1970 to 2006. It was available in various body styles, including coupes, liftbacks, and convertibles, and featured a range of four-cylinder engines. Initially rear-wheel drive, it later transitioned to front-wheel drive and also offered all-wheel drive (GT-Four models).
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- Sports Car: The Celica was designed to be a sporty and stylish vehicle, often competing with other Japanese sports cars of its era.
- Body Styles: It was offered in different body styles:
- Coupe: A classic two-door hardtop design.
- Liftback: A three-door hatchback with a sloping rear roofline.
- Convertible: A two-door convertible model.
- Engine Options: Celicas were powered by a variety of four-cylinder engines, some with turbocharging and all-wheel drive (GT-Four models).
- Drive Type: Early Celicas (1970-1985) were rear-wheel drive, while later models (1985-2006) were primarily front-wheel drive, with some exceptions like the GT-Four.
- Japanese Market: In Japan, the Celica was exclusively sold at Toyota Corolla Store dealerships.
- Influence: The Celica served as the basis for the first two generations of the Toyota Supra, before the Supra became a standalone model.
