By Eric Brandt
Updated June 30, 2025
The Toyota Camry is a practical, safe, and efficient midsize sedan with a standard hybrid powertrain and available all-wheel drive.
Few cars fulfill the duties they’re made for as well as the Toyota Camry, which is why it’s the reigning champ of our Best Buy Award in its class. With an efficiency rating of up to 51 mpg, the best safety scores a car can receive, class-leading resale value, and available all-wheel drive (AWD), it’s hard to find any fault at all in the Camry as a sensible and practical midsize sedan. SUVs have been winning many hearts and minds (and dollars) in recent years, but American families who still prefer a humble sedan will find just about everything they need in the Camry.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize cars, including the 2026 Toyota Camry.
After a one-year hiatus, a Nightshade Edition rejoins the Toyota Camry lineup for 2026 following a full redesign for 2025. It’s essentially an appearance package for the SE trim that adds black exterior trim and 19-inch black wheels. Also, the hazy blue Dark Cosmos paint option joins the color palette.
The 2026 Toyota Camry will be in U.S. dealerships in the fall of 2025.
We expect the 2026 Toyota Camry to start at about $30,000 for the base LE trim. A well-equipped XSE model should begin at around $36,000. Expect to pay about $1,600 extra for all-wheel drive on any given trim. This is a low starting price for a hybrid midsize sedan, but most of its non-hybrid rivals have similar starting prices.
Camry LE | $30,000 (est) |
Camry SE | $33,000 (est) |
Camry Nightshade Edition | $34,000 (est) |
Camry XLE | $35,000 (est) |
Camry XSE | $36,000 (est) |
Before buying a Camry, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Toyota Camry resale value is the best in its class. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.
The 2026 Toyota Camry is powered by a 225-horsepower hybrid 4-cylinder engine matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. When you opt for all-wheel drive, the net output increases to 232 hp.
There are few cars in the whole automotive world that strike the just-right balance of performance and efficiency quite like the Toyota Camry. This hybrid powertrain has enough juice for on-ramp sprints and highway passing with the ability to return over 50 mpg. What more could you want from an engine in a daily commuter?
The Camry’s suspension brings a little poise and agility to an otherwise comfort-focused setup. We reckon Camry owners past and present will be pleasantly surprised by this extra nimbleness, especially if they choose all-wheel drive for optimum grip. The SE and XSE models have a sportier suspension tune, yet we’d say they’re still comfortable enough for most tastes.
In general, body roll is kept to a minimum, and we enjoyed taking the Camry a little quicker than usual through the turns. As always, the Camry feels easy to drive. The beltline is low, contributing to excellent outward vision, which adds to the confident feeling in the car.
In addition to highway driving assist features, which are expected in new models in this class, the Camry has what Toyota calls Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). PDA brings some of that semi-autonomous tech to city driving by assisting with gentle braking and steering when the car’s camera and radar systems find it necessary. These small favors from the car take some of the stress out of busy city driving and, in our experience, just make the whole driving experience a little more relaxed.
The hybrid 2026 Toyota Camry returns up to 53 city/50 highway/51 combined mpg. Only the base LE trim achieves a combined fuel economy rating of 50 mpg or higher, no matter the number of drive wheels. The higher trims with and without all-wheel drive range between 44 and 47 combined mpg.
According to EPA estimates, the difference in monthly fuel costs between the most efficient and least efficient versions of the Camry is about $12, so don’t be too dissuaded by the lower efficiency ratings of the higher trims.
Compared to other midsize hybrid sedans, the Honda Accord Hybrid gets 44-48 combined mpg, and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets 47 combined mpg. The Camry is the most efficient hybrid sedan in its class and is the only one available with all-wheel drive.
The Toyota Camry is a family sedan through and through, which means the interior is roomy and comfortable in front and back alike. We’ve found the front seats to have a nice width and enough support and cushioning to be comfy on long-distance drives. We also noticed hushed road noise in the XLE and XSE trims, thanks to the noise-reducing acoustic front glass.
An 8-inch central infotainment screen and a 7-inch digital gauge cluster are standard. A 12.3-inch central display is standard on XLE and XSE models and optional on the SE and Nightshade Edition. We like this system; it’s user-friendly and includes standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay across the board.
The rear seats have generous space with 38 inches of legroom and enough width for two adults to sit back there without getting too cozy; a middle seat is present if you need one. A rear center armrest with cupholders is standard in every midsize sedan, but we still appreciate this simple comfort feature in the Camry. Trunk space measures 15.1 cubic feet, which is about average for this class.
While the Toyota Camry has no shortage of space, it’s worth mentioning that the Honda Accord (and its respective hybrid variant) has almost three more inches of rear legroom and a slightly bigger trunk. Neither sedan feels tight or cramped, but extra space is a notable advantage of the Camry’s oldest rival.
We think the recently redesigned Camry looks smooth, upscale, and contemporary, making it more of a competitor against highly stylish contenders like the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5. The XSE also offers the option of a two-tone paint scheme that includes a roof finished in metallic black. Meanwhile, the new-for-2026 Nightshade Edition adds a dark and moody aesthetic to this sensible sedan.
Toyota Audio Multimedia
Whether it’s the smaller screens in the lower trims or the 12.3-inch examples in the pricier variants, each one has attractive graphics and quick processing speeds. Wireless phone integration and wireless charging are standard throughout.
All-wheel drive
Toyota offers an all-wheel-drive setup with an extra electric motor driving the rear axle, kicking in whenever conditions demand. It’s the only hybrid sedan in its class with this option.
Proactive Driving Assist
The standard Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) system helps with gentle braking and steering in city driving, enhancing safety, comfort, and convenience in every commute.
Digital Key
Owners can authorize other people to access and drive their Camry using a phone app. It’s part of the Premium Plus package.
JBL audio
Here’s another reason to select the optional Premium Plus package offered with the two higher trims. JBL is a highly respected name in sound reproduction, and we think it’s a worthwhile upgrade if your budget allows it.
Head-up display
Available as an option in the XSE and XLE, this feature shows vital information on the windshield within the driver’s line of sight. Once more common in luxury cars, we welcome technology like this trickling down to the mainstream.
Every 2026 Camry has a hybrid drivetrain. The combustion engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder unit augmented by an electric motor for a total of 225 hp with the default front-wheel-drive arrangement or 232 hp when all-wheel drive is in the picture, which adds another electric motor for the rear axle. Every Toyota Camry routes power to the wheels via an eCVT automatic transmission.
The Toyota Camry is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage is typical for this class. Hybrid components have an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty, and the hybrid battery is protected for 10 years/150,000 miles. Toyota also includes two years/25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, plus two years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage.
This generation of the Toyota Camry has earned the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it gets the top 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These are the two top safety honors that a car can receive, bolstering the Camry’s credentials as a safe family car.
Curb Weight | 3450 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 99.9 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 13.0 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 38.3 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 42.1 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 5.4 inches | ||
Overall Length | 193.5 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 57.7 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 15.1 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 37.4 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 111.2 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 72.4 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
LED Headlights | Available | ||
Rear Spoiler | Port Installed |
City | 53 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 50 mpg | ||
Combined | 51 mpg |
Drivetrain | FWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular | ||
Hill Start Assist | Available |
Horsepower-Combined | 225 @ 6000 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 163 @ 5200 rpm | ||
Engine | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.5 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
New Toyota Camry | New 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 | New 2026 Kia EV4 | New 2026 Volvo ES90 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $29,795 | $39,095 | N/A | N/A | |
KBB.com Rating | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | N/A | |
Consumer Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 | N/A | N/A | |
Fuel Economy | City 53/Hwy 50/Comb 51 MPG | City 151/Hwy 120/Comb 135 MPGe | N/A | N/A | |
Fuel Type | Hybrid | Electric | N/A | N/A | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | N/A | N/A | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | N/A | N/A | |
Horsepower | 225 @ 6000 RPM | 149 HP | N/A | N/A | |
Engine | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.5 Liter | Electric Motor | N/A | N/A | |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD | N/A | N/A |
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Yes, the 2026 Toyota Camry comes exclusively with a hybrid powertrain.
Yes, front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional in the 2026 Toyota Camry.
We expect the 2026 Toyota Camry to start at about $30,000.
The 2026 Toyota Camry is part of the 9th-generation Camry, which our owners give an above-average reliability rating of 5 out of 5.