General

Toyota Camry Is Our Midsize Car Best Buy of 2026

By 01/20/2026 6:17pm

  • Standard hybrid powertrain nets 51 mpg
  • Available all-wheel drive
  • Spacious and comfortable
  • Impressive standard tech and safety features
  • Price yours | See listings near you
Toyota Camry Is Our Midsize Car Best Buy of 2026
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock

After de-crowning the 9-time winning Honda Accord last year, the Toyota Camry returns as the Midsize Car Best Buy Award winner for 2026. The Toyota Camry takes the crown for a second year in a row thanks to its undisputed set of features, value, and efficiency, all of which make a great argument for why it’s so good. Let’s talk about what continues to make this car so special.

Effective and Efficient

The 2026 Toyota Camry remains a sensible top choice for American families thanks in part to its practical design. This midsize sedan offers fuel efficiency of up to 51 mpg combined, notches exceptional safety scores, and boasts class-leading resale value. All of these qualities make the Camry not only easy to drive, but also easy to live with.

As all 2026 Toyota Camry models are hybrid, they deliver exceptional gas mileage numbers regardless of which of the five trims you choose. Competitors offer hybrid powertrains, but they come at a price premium over gas-only trim levels. That Toyota’s hybrid power comes standard, and at a lower starting price, gives this sedan tremendous value.

Because Toyota has been building hybrid-powered vehicles for what seems like an eternity, they are also a trusted brand when it comes to reliability and durability.

Toyota Camry Is Our Midsize Car Best Buy of 2026
Photo: Guy Spangenberg

Every trim level of the Camry offers all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option. If you live in a region with inclement weather, that extra traction at all four corners will come in handy in ice or snow. These Camry models have 232 net system horsepower, seven more than with front-wheel drive. Either way, given the extra oomph of power you get with the electric motor, you can have confidence getting quickly onto a highway on-ramp or zipping quickly out of a tricky situation.

Driving the 2026 Camry feels as effortless as you’d hope. It behaves as well on mountain roads as it does on your daily commute and provides all passengers a comfortable place to enjoy a long road trip. We also love that fuel stops are far less frequent. The 2026 Toyota Camry has an EPA range of up to 663 miles on a tank of fuel.

Stellar Tech

The 2026 Camry comes standard with an impressive suite of safety features that includes lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. The Camry is the only midsize sedan to offer Proactive Driving Assist, a Toyota-exclusive system that assists with gentle braking and steering by using the vehicle’s camera and radar. Much to our delight, this alleviates stress in busy places like city driving and makes for a safer driving experience overall.

Toyota Camry Is Our Midsize Car Best Buy of 2026
Photo: Guy Spangenberg

The Camry not only gets robust safety systems but also has incredible tech features to make your drive more connected and entertaining. The car comes with a crisp 8- or 12.3-inch touchscreen, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. You can also opt for a head-up display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims.

Superb Style

The 2026 Camry has a sleek exterior design that might make others crane their necks to steal a second look. New for 2026, customers can opt for the Nightshade trim, which gives the vehicle a darker, moodier look by adding black exterior trim and 19-inch black wheels. A new color, Dark Cosmos, has also been added to the palette for 2026. No, that’s not the death metal of Camry colors; it’s more of a muted blue. The interior feels generously roomy, with seats ideal for long-distance drives. Sun-lovers will be delighted to know that a panoramic moonroof comes as an option for bright, sunny drives.  

Affordable for a Hybrid

The 2026 Camry’s pricing is at the low end of the hybrid midsize sedan segment.

We can think of more reasons to recommend the 2026 Toyota Camry, but we’re running out of room. So, for these reasons and so many more, we are once again awarding the Camry as the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy for the Midsize Car segment. Now, let’s see if it can three-peat.

New 2026 Toyota Camry Prices

Retail Price
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
LE
$30,195
TBD
SE
$32,495
TBD
Nightshade
$33,495
TBD
XLE
$35,195
TBD
XSE
$36,395
TBD

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More 2026 Toyota Camry

Our 2026 Best Buy Award Winners