Toyota Camry – Review, Specs, Pricing, Videos and More

Toyota Camry Specs

Engine: 2.5L 4-cylinder / 3.5L V6
Horsepower: 203 / 301
Torque: 184 lb-ft / 267 lb-ft
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Seating Capacity: 5
Cargo Capacity: 15.1 cubic feet

Toyota Camry Hybrid Specs

Engine: 2.5L 4-cylinder with 88kW electric motor and either a lithium-ion (LE) or Ni-MH (SE, XLE) battery
Net System Horsepower: 208
Net System Torque: 163 lb-ft
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Transmission: CVT
Seating Capacity: 5
Cargo Capacity: 15.1 cubic feet

Toyota Camry Fuel Economy

The 2.5L four-cylinder Toyota Camry is rated at 29 mpg city, 41 highway, and 34 combined.

The 3.5L V6-powered Camry is rated at 22 mpg city, 33 highway, and 26 combined.

If you want maximum fuel economy, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is rated at an excellent 51 mpg city, 53 highway and 52 combined.

Toyota Camry Safety Rating

The Toyota Camry is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, which is the highest possible rating the organization gives to the safest cars.

The Camry scored Good in all crash tests and even got a Superior rating in front crash prevention tests. The Camry comes standard with a pre-collision system that has pedestrian detection and in the IIHS’s tests, the Camry avoided a collision in a 12 mph and 25 mph test. Other standard safety features included in Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) are lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic highbeams, and adaptive cruise control.

An excellent optional safety feature includes blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert. Along with 10 airbags, front seats that were designed to lessen whiplash injuries when collisions happen, and more, the Camry is one of the safest cars out there.

Toyota Camry Features

The Camry has a lot of exterior features meant to give the sedan an aggressive look. Quad exhaust tips, 19-inch wheels, a black contrast roof and LED lighting are all available to give the Camry a sportier look. As mentioned above, the Camry comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic highbeams, and full-speed adaptive cruise control. A 7-inch touchscreen is standard.

Other available features include a 10-inch color head-up display, a 7-inch digital display in the gauge cluster, and 8-inch touchscreen, a 9-speaker/800 watt upgraded audio system, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, automatic emergency reverse braking, wireless phone charging, adaptive headlights, a bird’s-eye view reverse camera, and more.

Toyota Camry Pricing

There are 10 different available trims for the 2019 Toyota Camry. The Toyota Camry starts at $23,945 for the base L model. Up from there, the LE starts at $24,450, the SE at $25,650, and the XLE at $29,025, and the XSE at $29,575. These trims are only available with the base four-cylinder engine.

Stepping up to the V6 model, the XLE V6 starts at $34,150 and the XSE V6 at $34,700.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid LE starts at $28,250, the Hybrid SE at $29,950, and the Hybrid XLE at $32,825.

These prices do not include the $930 delivery and processing fee.

Toyota Camry Competitors

The Toyota Camry competes with other mid-size family sedans like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Kia Optima, Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Mazda6, Chevrolet Malibu, Volkswagen Passat and more.

Future Toyota Camry Plans

We wouldn’t be surprised if Toyota offered an all-wheel-drive version of the Camry in the near future to better compete with the Subaru Legacy and Nissan Altima, which is now available with AWD.

Toyota Camry Review

By Craig Cole

How do you even review the Toyota Camry? Since its introduction three decades ago, this stalwart sedan has transformed into a red-white-and-blue icon, become an interwoven part of American society, the warp to democracy’s weft, like Uncle Sam or childhood obesity.

Speaking ill of this car feels tantamount to burning the flag or calling Harriet Tubman a degenerate vagrant. For 15 consecutive years, Camry has been America’s best-selling car, the go-to option for folks that want as much servility in a motor vehicle as they do reliability.

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Since it was introduced in 1982, Toyota has delivered more than 18 million copies globally. To continue this showroom success, it has thrown the baby out with the proverbial bathwater, transforming this venerable nameplate from the ground up.

Completely redesigned, fully overhauled, totally updated, this is the first all-new Camry in 35 years; about the only thing that carries over from its predecessor is the shiny Toyota badge.

Old Name, New Coke?

Surprisingly, the grille varies depending on which model you get. Standard versions, like the fairly basic LE car tested here, are graced with an outstretched, ribbed affair. Sportier SE and XSEs receive a mesh treatment that’s considerably more attractive. Add them all up and between the conventional and hybrid models, there are at least 10 variants of the car, which is kind of crazy, but Toyota is keen on offering something for everyone.

All in the Family

Sharing fundamental underpinnings with the Prius hybrid, this sedan rides atop the Toyota New Global Architecture, TNGA for short. Accordingly, it’s torsional rigidity has been increased by 30 percent and it gains double-wishbone rear suspension, among countless other improvements.

Thanks to a focus on engaging dynamics and its lower center of gravity, this car is more fun than any Camry before. It also comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense P, the brand’s suite of advanced driver-assistance technology, which includes things like adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and automatic high beams. This car is also more fuel efficient and refined than ever before.

Skyactiv, EarthDreams, Dynamic Force?

As in years past, three powertrains are offered in the Camry, including a 3.5-liter V6 with 301 horsepower and a hybrid that in base form is estimated to average as much as 52 miles per gallon. Watch out, Prius!

But the volume leader is an efficient and refined four-cylinder, now suspended on a quartet of mounting points for reduced noise and vibration. Totally redesigned, this offering displaces 2.5-liters and delivers up to 206 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque in XSE models. Serving in the high-volume LE version it’s rated at a skosh less, 203 ponies and 184 units of twist. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard in all non-hybrid Camrys.

That’s par for the course in the midsize segment these days, but it’s worth nothing just how far things have come over the last 30-odd years. For a dash of perspective, its ancestor from 1983 had half as many gears and just 92 horses on tap.

Minimizing your fuel spend, this is one seriously economical car. LE models should sticker at 28 miles per gallon city, 39 highway and 32 mpg combined. Toyota is gunning for best-in-class efficiency with the Camry and it looks like they might have achieved it.

But following Mazda and Honda’s lead when it comes to ridiculous names, this new engine is called a “Dynamic Force” four-cylinder, which is, thankfully, not quite as ridiculous as Skyactiv or EarthDreams but it still makes me shake my head.

Fortunately, a questionable name can’t sink a good product, and after spending a chunk of time driving this fresh-faced four-door family hauler, I can tell you Toyota’s promise of more passion isn’t just marketing speak. They’ve actually delivered, and more than I ever expected.

Welcome Home!

The new Camry’s styling assertiveness carries through inside, where its cabin is tasteful and premium. There are soft plastics where you want them and plenty of intuitive technology. Thanks to trim A-pillars and a hood that’s nearly two inches lower than its predecessor’s, forward visibility is unhindered.

There’s plenty to praise here, though there are a few minor missteps worth mentioning. Bargain-basement plastic dominates the console, looking like an unfinished prototype component, plus there’s some odd trim running across the dashboard. In addition to this, the center stack is a mishmash of fonts and button styles. Some consistency would have made things look significantly richer.

Also, Toyota still refuses to offer Android Auto, though it finally offers Apple CarPlay. Instead, it is pushing its own infotainment system, which it claims provides a more integrated experience, whatever that means. People want seamless connectivity and these two systems provide it, not their offering, which, for whatever reason, refused to connect to a Samsung smartphone provided for demonstration.

Fortunately, folks of the taller persuasion are sure to appreciate Camry’s backseat, which is roomy in every dimension, a boon for knees, heads, and hips.

This all-new car’s trunk is likewise huge at up to 15.1 cubic feet, with a broad opening and low lift-over height. Beyond this, the lid now features reengineered hinges so it opens further forward, meaning you’re less likely to bang your head while loading items.

The Drive

Driving dynamics are probably one of the least important purchase considerations for Camry customers, falling somewhere between carpet-pile height and its resistance to root-knot nematodes. Still, the new model aces what counts in the segment: It’s efficient, refined, spacious, and, we’ll get to this later, affordable. Despite all this left-brain stuff, Toyota has worked tirelessly to deliver an engaging on-road experience, but did it succeed?

Acceleration is more than adequate, with the engine and eight-speed transmission working hand-in-glove. You can really feel that they were developed by a dedicated team that was all on the same page because they perform beautifully.

This four-banger is extremely refined and provides a powerband that’s surprisingly broad, which means you don’t need wide-open throttle just to get moving. Shifts are also quick and well timed with no bad habits or misbehavior noticed during testing.

If a mass-market model is just too common for you, consider the optional V6. I briefly sampled an XLE example fitted with this engine and it was rocket fast. Smooth and swift with a snarly sound, this 3.5-liter unit moved the car briskly when you planted your right foot. But it’s really too bad, only about 6 percent of Camry buyers opt for this engine and I wonder why Toyota continues to offer it given the four-cylinder’s dominance.

Toss the new Camry into a corner and it does what you expect. The LE model is definitely softer than any of the trims with “S” in their name, but it never wallowed or flopped around like a tetherball. The ride is quiet and smooth with a wisp of body roll while cornering. Unfortunately, the LE’s eco-friendly P215/55/R17 tires do make a bit of ruckus when pressed.

Refreshingly, this car’s steering is sharp, with a welcome crispness on center and an inspiring amount of heft. Never has a Camry felt so good to drive, which is sure to please first-time buyers and probably surprise repeat customers.

The Verdict: Toyota Camry Review

How does this new Camry compare to major rivals? The Mazda6 is still a bit more fun to drive and I think Ford’s Fusion looks nicer, but this is no knock against the all-new Camry, which is a wallflower no more; it actually has appeal.

The new model still provides everything drivers expect in a Toyota sedan – roominess, efficiency, comfort, and reliability – but it also offers dramatically more style and better performance.

Toyota Camry Hybrid Review

By Jodi Lai

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is my favorite Camry.

This statement is true even when you take the V6 model into account. Although the V6 Camry can smoke a few sporty cars at a stoplight, it just doesn’t seem natural in the same way that a very quiet, fuel-efficient Camry does. A hybrid Camry seems to make more sense than a Camry that’s trying to be sporty, even though Toyota claims that it isn’t doing the boring thing anymore.

The new Camry is filled with all sorts of amazing improvements over the last one and although it did lose AutoGuide.com’s comparisons against the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Sonata, it’s still ridiculously good, especially if you’re loyal to Toyota. The hybrid model just makes everything the Camry does better.

Fuel Economy

The Toyota Camry Hybrid’s excellent fuel economy is hard to argue with. The LE trim sedan is officially rated at 51 mpg in the city, 53 on the highway, and 52 combined (4.9/4.8/4.9 L/100 km), which is better than its main rivals. The new Honda Accord Hybrid is rated at 47 mpg (5 L/100 km) across the board, and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets 39/45/42 mpg (5.9/5.3/5.6 L/100 km).

I was getting 36 mpg (6.5 L/100 km) in the XLE version without even trying (though I was using Eco Mode a lot, which limits how quickly you can accelerate), and that was during a week with very cold and snowy winter conditions that are not ideal for hybrids. It was quite far off from the XLE’s official fuel economy ratings (44/47/46 mpg), but a more patient and dedicated driver than I could easily squeeze more efficiency from the sedan, especially at a comfortable temperature and with high-efficiency tires on (my tester had winter tires). The LE trim level gets a lithium-ion battery pack, while the SE and XLE get a nickel-metal hydride setup.

There were very tangible cost savings when I filled up the Camry Hybrid after a week of driving versus my daily driver. Those savings add up quickly.

Green Guides

When it comes to getting the most mileage from a tank of gas, I’ll take any help I can get. The Camry will score you based on how efficient your driving is and resets every time you stop, but the system is not that transparent in how it comes up with that score, which means it’s harder to improve on that score. Other hybrids make a game out of greener driving, which makes it easier to be efficient, especially if you’re a competitive person. Other hybrids visualize how green you’re driving in an effective and easy-to-digest way that helps you improve. The Camry doesn’t really have this and would benefit by making it more fun.

The Camry Hybrid does, however, have a useful gauge in the cluster that shows you when you’re being the most efficient — if you’re coasting or accelerating very gently, the needle stays in the green Eco zone, and if you stomp on the pedal, it quickly shoots up into the grey “Power” zone, and if you’re braking, the needle goes into the recharge zone. You learn pretty quickly how to avoid the grey zone. This is a very good indicator of efficiency, but the other systems in the Camry don’t relay much information and end up being quite useless. Not a huge deal, as learning how to drive a hybrid more efficiently is only a quick Google search away.

Driving Dynamics

All the improvements to the Camry’s driving dynamics have also made it into the hybrid version. The same excellent chassis is employed here and it keeps the car much more composed than it used to be in pretty much every scenario: highway driving, city driving, rough roads, curvy roads; the Camry does it all quite gracefully and drama free.

Like the conventionally gas-powered model, the Camry Hybrid is smooth, quiet and comfortable. The system switches between battery and gas power pretty seamlessly and the only complaint I have about driving dynamics is that the brakes can feel a bit unnatural, which makes it a bit more difficult to drive smoothly. The first bit of brake travel doesn’t really do much and then it bites aggressively almost all of a sudden, probably a result of having regenerative braking.

The Camry Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 176 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The internal combustion engine is augmented by an electric motor that adds 118 hp and 149 lb-ft, but the hybrid system’s net power output is 208 hp. Power is sent to the front wheels via a CVT. It’s not thrilling to drive, but it definitely doesn’t need to be. In regular mode, the Camry Hybrid gets up to highway speeds and passes decently, but in Eco mode, you have to be very patient, which will net you better fuel economy.

Lacks Attention to Detail

One reason why the gas-powered Camry lost our comparisons against the Sonata and Accord despite being such a strong car is that Toyota seemed to display a lack of attention to detail, which is the same case with the hybrid version.

It’s the little things like having the wireless cellphone charger in a spot where a phone could easily slide away into the footwell if you do an aggressive turn (a better rubberized mat would have fixed the problem), or the fact that even after a week of use, my fingers still couldn’t intuitively locate the trunk release button out back. Little things like how the front collision sensors continue to beep even though the car is stopped completely and there’s no more risk of a crash (this happens while parking, waiting in traffic, etc). Or even the fact that the buttons used to control the infotainment and climate controls on the center console are tiny, oddly shaped, and not labeled in the clearest font, which makes them harder to use while driving.

And one more: not offering Android Auto (though it does have Apple CarPlay) when the infotainment system is laggy, not terribly user-friendly, and looks dated makes it worse. These are all little complaints that alone aren’t that significant, but add up to create a frustrating experience.

The Verdict: Toyota Camry Hybrid Review

The hybrid is my favorite member of the Camry family and if you’re considering the regular four-cylinder version, you might as well spring for the hybrid. The efficiency is hard to argue with and it does everything the conventional Camry but does slightly better.