The Toyota Camry just made a move that surprised everyone. For 2025, this ninth-generation sedan ditched its gas-only engines and V6 option completely. Now every single Camry rolls off the lot with hybrid power under the hood. This shift tells you everything about where the midsize sedan market is headed.
- Every 2025 Camry comes standard with Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system, delivering 225-232 horsepower depending on drivetrain choice
- Fuel economy reaches an impressive 53 mpg city and 50 mpg highway in the base LE model with front-wheel drive
- Pricing starts at $28,400 for the LE trim and tops out around $36,425 for the loaded XSE with all-wheel drive
What Changed Under the Hood
Toyota paired a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motors to create something that actually works. The front-wheel-drive versions pump out 225 horsepower through two electric motors. Choose all-wheel drive and you get a third motor on the rear axle, bumping power to 232 horses. That’s 30 more horsepower than last year’s standard four-cylinder gas engine made.
Here’s what makes this setup different. The hybrid system can run on pure electric power for up to 40% of your city driving. When you’re cruising on the highway, the gas engine takes over. Hit the brakes and the regenerative system converts that kinetic energy right back into electricity for the battery.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) comes with paddle shifters to simulate gears. You still get three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal. Sport mode sharpens the throttle response and holds onto power longer. Eco mode does the opposite, focusing on stretching every drop of fuel.
Real-World Fuel Economy Numbers
The LE trim with front-wheel drive gets the best fuel economy at 53 mpg city and 50 mpg highway. Add all-wheel drive and those numbers drop slightly to 51 city and 49 highway. The sportier SE and XSE models sit at 48 city and 47 highway with front-wheel drive.
Car and Driver tested the XSE AWD on their 75-mph highway loop and matched the EPA estimate at 43 mpg. Another reviewer drove 210 miles in Southern California, mostly highway, and averaged 46.4 mpg. These numbers beat most non-hybrid competitors by a wide margin. The Hyundai Sonata SEL manages 28 mpg combined. The Kia K5 EX hits 29 mpg combined. Even the Honda Accord Touring Hybrid comes in at 44 mpg combined.
What You Get Inside
Toyota redesigned the cabin with inspiration from the larger Crown sedan. Base models come with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen. Step up to the XLE or XSE and you get 12.3-inch screens for both the gauge cluster and infotainment display.
Every Toyota Camry includes wireless charging, dual-zone climate control, and five USB ports (mix of A and C). The higher trims add heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-inch head-up display. The XLE and XSE can be optioned with a JBL nine-speaker audio system.
Cloth upholstery comes standard. Move up the trim ladder and you get SofTex or genuine leather with accent stitching. The sportier SE and XSE models throw in aluminum sport pedals and paddle shifters mounted on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Safety Tech That Comes Standard
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard across all trims. This suite includes pre-collision alert with automatic emergency braking that can detect pedestrians and cyclists. You also get adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, lane departure warning with steering assist, road sign recognition, and automatic high beams.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert come standard too. The XLE and XSE can be upgraded with a Premium Plus package that adds traffic jam assist, front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, a 360-degree camera, and front and rear parking assist with automatic braking.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2025 Camry its Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest rating they offer. Kelley Blue Book named it Best New Model for 2025.
Four Trims to Pick From
The LE starts at $28,700 and focuses on comfort. The SE at $31,000 adds sportier suspension tuning and more aggressive styling with 18-inch wheels. The XLE at $33,700 loads up luxury features with chrome accents and premium interior materials. The top XSE at $34,900 combines sport and luxury with 19-inch black and smoke-gray wheels, mesh grille, and aerodynamic touches like canards near the front fenders.
All-wheel drive adds about $1,500 to any trim level. Toyota backs the hybrid components with a 10-year or 150,000-mile warranty. The electric drive parts get eight years or 100,000 miles of coverage.
Making the Switch Makes Sense
Dropping the V6 might sting for enthusiasts who loved the old TRD model’s 301-horsepower engine. That car had personality. This new hybrid setup plays it safer. But Toyota knows its audience. The Camry buyer wants reliability, space, and good fuel economy. This hybrid-only approach delivers all three while keeping the price reasonable. You save thousands on gas over five years compared to driving a non-hybrid sedan, and battery replacement costs run around $3,000 to $5,000 if you ever need one down the road. For most people cross-shopping midsize sedans, this trade-off works.
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