2025 Toyota Camry COTY Review: Revolutionary Powertrain, Evolutionary Design

Beyond being a midsize sedan, what is a Camry? Now that the ninth generation has arrived, Toyota presents a modified answer to that question, offering the 2025 Camry exclusively hybrid powertrains, in both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations.

Otherwise, the Camry keeps its familiar sedan form factor; the new Camry’s roofline is identical to the outgoing model, though the front and rear fascia have been overhauled to conform with the rest of the Toyota lineup’s design language. Shoppers still have a choice between comfort-oriented LE and XLE trims and sporty SE and XSE variants. For MotorTrend’s 2025 Car of the Year competition, the range-topping 2025 Camry XLE and XSE variants make an impressive showing as worthy finalists but stumble when held up to the scrutiny of our criteria.

See All 33 Photos33

On one end of the 2025 Toyota Camry range, there’s the comfort-oriented XLE model. Painted Wind Chill Pearl here, this sedan appears to be the staid midsize conveyance folks have come to expect from a Camry. Under its unadventurous sheetmetal, this Car of the Year contender reveals a monumental step forward.

With power from Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid powertrain, the 2025 Camry benefits from increased output to the tune of 225 hp in its FWD layout. Even with an extra 23 hp, fuel economy rises from 44/47/46 mpg city/highway/combined to 47/48/48 mpg. “Toyota has vastly improved the Camry’s hybrid system, no question,” deputy editor Alexander Stoklosa said. “Even without the third rear motor on this front-drive example, the car hustles up to speed in an unstressed way, albeit with some grumbling from the engine.”

The suspension is appropriately soft, absorbing bumps and rough patches with grace. There’s some tire slap over sharper imperfections, but the 2025 Camry comes across as a composed and comfortable daily driver. Handling and driver engagement don’t suffer in the Camry’s default guise. In fact, many of our judges found the hybrid Toyota to be an enjoyable companion on our winding road course.

Still, the Camry has some areas in need of improvement. Some of our evaluators take issue with the brake pedal, which has a squishy and nonlinear feel followed by wooden responsiveness. The cabin is attractive and modern in its design, yet it makes use of materials that feel cheap. Some squeaks and rattles make themselves known over imperfect surfaces, impinging on what would otherwise be a quiet interior.

With those complaints in mind, the Camry generally gets the basics right and offers generous creature comforts at its $39,720 as-tested price. “For an everyday midsize sedan, the new Camry excels,” associate editor Justin Westbrook said. “The back seat is comfortable, there are power ports everywhere, a wireless charge pad, the interior infotainment gets the job done in a simple-enough layout and format, and it’s easy to pair a phone.” As far as fulfilling the Camry’s intended function goes, the XLE gets the job done.

See All 33 Photos33

On the other end of the Camry’s trim structure, the XSE serves as the most expensive option with an as-tested price of $42,260. Positioned as a more athletic alternative to the XLE, it comes equipped with a sport suspension and an exterior dressed up with flashier trim. Inside the cabin, a standard Cockpit Red colorway keeps the boy-racer theme going.

With a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, springs, and dampers, the 2025 Toyota Camry XSE exhibits a noticeably firmer ride than its XLE sibling. These upgrades improve handling on curvy roads. With the more powerful all-wheel-drive system developing 232 hp, this XSE test car exhibits a driver-focused character. The additional torque of the third electric motor provides noticeable low-end torque, but benefits trail off at higher speeds.

“Pretty much everything about the XLE you can ascribe to the XSE,” director of editorial operations Mike Floyd said, “except it was a smidge more buttoned down on the winding track, thanks to its sport tuning and AWD, which gave it a predictably more sorted feel.” It’s more fun to scoot and boot around in the Camry XSE, but its setup diminishes comfort and refinement in nearly every other scenario.

With its twin-pronged trim structure, Toyota demonstrates the Camry can be more than a placid commuter car. After putting this pair of top-level Camry sedans through our Car of the Year testing procedures, however, our judges agreed the XLE trim level better suits the Toyota’s personality. The XLE model is more comfortable and is better refined for day-to-day use—exactly what’s needed in a midsize sedan. Yes, the Camry XSE can be more fun in the corners, but the XLE’s more affordable starting price allows you to kick some funds toward the peppier and more capable all-wheel-drive system. If Toyota irons out some of the Camry’s kinks as production continues—tinny doors and rattly B-pillars are not what we expect from the Japanese manufacturer’s vehicles—the redesigned hybrid will be a holistically improved sedan.

This review was conducted as part of our 2025 Car of the Year (COTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.