Close to the sweet spot — one airbag recall, one free coolant-valve program, and a transmission that just needs a good test drive.

The eight-speed automatic is still the top mechanical cluster, though the 2021's lower overall volume makes it less dominant. Owners report the familiar accelerator-linked whine (one original owner noted it starting at 67,000 miles), delayed 1st-to-2nd shifts, and occasional loss of drive. Toyota has no warranty extension, but mechanics who see these daily rate the four-cylinder Camry's UB80 as far more durable than the V6 Highlander's version, note Toyota revised the transmission after the early 2018 builds, and point to 60,000-mile fluid changes as the key preventive. Screen it directly — warm the car, accelerate, listen for the whine — and weigh mileage and fluid history, since an out-of-warranty replacement is quoted at $3,000 up to $7,000–$9,000.

The 2021 falls in recall 23V865: a short circuit in the occupant-classification sensor can keep the front passenger airbag from deploying. The fix is free, but parts were slow, so the complaint file for this year is largely owners reporting the recall couldn't be completed yet ('part not yet available'). Confirm the VIN status; if it's still open, budget it as a free but possibly delayed fix.

A service bulletin covers 2020–2022 Camrys that can show reduced engine power or a warning light in freezing temperatures, traced to throttle-body sensor codes. It's a software/inspection fix rather than a failure, and it only matters in genuinely cold climates — worth asking about if the car lived somewhere with hard winters.