The Toyota Camry has long been synonymous with reliable and economical transportation, and the redesigned 2025 model aims to continue this legacy while incorporating modern updates. For loyal Toyota customers, the 2025 Camry might be the best iteration yet, building on the brand’s reputation for dependability. However, for those seeking excitement and driving thrills, the Camry remains firmly planted in the realm of sensible, albeit somewhat uninspiring, vehicles. This review dives into the details of the 2025 Toyota Camry XSE to assess its strengths and weaknesses in a competitive sedan market.
Exterior Styling: A Tale of Two Halves?
The 2025 Camry represents a complete redesign, replacing the previous generation that debuted in 2018. While the “all-new” label is applied, Toyota has taken an interesting approach. The front and rear fascias are dramatically updated with a sharper, more modern design language, but the central portion of the car’s sheet metal appears largely unchanged. This results in a somewhat disjointed aesthetic, as if two different design philosophies were merged into one vehicle. The sharp lines at the front and rear clash with the rounder, more conventional midsection. While subjective, this design choice might not appeal to everyone seeking a cohesive and harmonious look. Some trims, particularly those with bright colors and the mesh lower front fascia, can appear particularly busy and less refined.
Interior Enhancements: Quality Over Excitement
Stepping inside the 2025 Camry reveals a more optimistic picture. The interior represents a noticeable step up in overall quality. The XSE trim, positioned as the top-tier offering, showcases the nicest Camry interior to date. Space is ample for both front and rear passengers, and the seats are comfortably designed for longer journeys. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels premium to the touch, and the large center display screen is user-friendly.
While the interior is objectively “good” across the board, it doesn’t quite reach “great” or luxurious levels, especially when compared to competitors like the Hyundai Sonata. Material quality is improved, but the overall design remains somewhat bland and lacks standout elements. The steering wheel controls are cluttered with an excessive number of buttons, and the shiny lower controls are prone to fingerprint smudges. The digital gauge cluster follows Toyota’s typical cluttered design, making customization less intuitive than it could be. A peculiar design flaw is the exposed hexagonal screws on the sun visor mounting points, an unusual and unrefined detail in a new car interior.
Technology and Safety: Advanced but Annoying?
The 2025 Camry is equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety systems and standard features expected in modern vehicles. However, it also incorporates Toyota’s “PDA” (Proactive Driving Assist) system, which functions like always-on radar cruise control, even when cruise control is not engaged. This system can be overly sensitive, applying brakes unnecessarily in situations like downhill stretches on country roads, even to the point of requiring driver intervention with the throttle. While intended to enhance safety, this feature can be intrusive and more of a hindrance than a help. Fortunately, it can be disabled through the steering wheel controls, although the process isn’t particularly intuitive.
Hybrid Powertrain and Performance: Efficiency and Refinement
A significant change for the 2025 Camry is that all models are now hybrid. The powertrain delivers 225 horsepower in front-wheel-drive configurations and 232 horsepower with all-wheel drive. This represents a welcome power increase, providing the Camry with improved responsiveness. More importantly, the engine refinement is notably improved. Previous Toyota four-cylinder engines were often criticized for their rough and noisy character. The 2025 Camry’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine is significantly smoother and quieter, both in sound and feel. The 0-60 mph acceleration is around 7 seconds, placing it on par with the Toyota Prius. However, it is slower than the outgoing V6 Camry model.
Fuel Economy: Good, but Not as Advertised
The window sticker boasts an impressive 47 MPG combined for the XSE model. However, real-world testing yielded a still-respectable 39 MPG in typical daily driving conditions. While 39 MPG is commendable for a sedan of this size, it falls short of the advertised figures. Interestingly, newer Toyota hybrids seem to exhibit slightly reduced real-world fuel economy compared to older models, potentially due to a focus on performance improvements.
Driving Experience: Competent but Unengaging
The 2025 Toyota Camry prioritizes comfort and ease of driving over dynamic performance. The steering is described as “medically deceased,” lacking feedback and feel, which discourages spirited driving. While the steering is accurate, it offers little engagement for the driver. Ride quality is a strong point, providing comfortable and composed handling over various road surfaces, with minimal wind and road noise intrusion. However, when pushed in corners, the Camry reveals its lack of enthusiasm for sporty driving. It lacks precision and composure in quick transitions, exhibiting noticeable body roll. Competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda6 offer more engaging and enjoyable driving dynamics. Toyota’s focus remains on comfort and practicality, which aligns with the preferences of most Camry buyers.
Pricing and Value: Premium Price for a Bland Sedan?
The tested 2025 Toyota Camry XSE carries a hefty price tag of $42,195. This price point is considered expensive for a Camry and places it in competition with more luxurious or more dynamically engaging sedans. While the 2025 Camry is improved, the high price might make it less appealing to buyers who are not strictly loyal to the Toyota brand. Alternatives offering more driving fun or a more upscale interior are readily available in this price range.
Conclusion: Refreshed but Not Revitalized
The 2025 Toyota Camry is undoubtedly an improvement over its predecessor, fulfilling its core mission of providing economical and comfortable transportation. Toyota has successfully enhanced the interior quality and refined the hybrid powertrain. However, the exterior styling is debatable, the interior remains somewhat bland despite improvements, and the driving experience is uninspired. The biggest hurdle for the 2025 Camry might be its price. At over $42,000 for the XSE trim, it faces stiff competition from more exciting and luxurious options. The 2025 Camry is a better Camry, but it remains a fundamentally bland sedan in a market with increasingly compelling alternatives.
Pros:
- Impressive hybrid fuel economy
- Improved interior quality
- Refined hybrid powertrain
Cons:
- Mismatched exterior styling
- Expensive for its class
- Unengaging driving dynamics
