Whencrossovers and SUVs began getting popular, sedans were discounted as a dying breed. The fact that many automakers likeFord andChevy pulled the plug on their sedans to make way for more popular body styles didn’t instill any faith either. However, sedans survived and are still quite a popular choice across segments. With hybridization taking over parallelly, sedans received a new leash of life, so to speak, and many models from mainstream automakers began seeing a rise in sales.
One such model comes from Toyota. The Japanese automaker has a few sedans in its portfolio, but there’s one that takes the cake and is not just a popular ‘sedan’, but a hot favorite with shoppers in general. In fact,this hybrid was the second best-seller in Toyota’s lineup, behind only the RAV4. If we delve even deeper, Toyota moved 205,000+ examples of this model, now solely available as a hybrid model, just 3,000-odd examples shy of the best-seller, again, the RAV4’s hybrid iteration. So, if you’re looking for a hybrid sedan and are a first-time shopper for an electrified model – or, even a first-time car shopper in general – this sub-$30,000 sedan will not disappoint you.
For the 2025 model year, the Toyota Camry enters its ninth-generation with a significantly simplified lineup and a hybrid-only offering. Although sales of midsize sedans are getting eaten up by trucks and SUVs, the Camry remains a good-selling product for Toyota. This has motivated the carmaker to preserve and evolve the nameplate in the areas that matter, like comfort, handling, safety, efficiency, fuel-economy and reliability.
- Transmission
- Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission
- Horsepower
- 225-232 HP @ 6,000 RPM
- Torque
- 163 LB-FT @ 5,200 RPM
- Driveline
- Front- or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Economy
- 44-51 MPG
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including EPA, JD Power, and NHTSA.
TopSpeed’s Best Hybrid Of The Year Is The 2025 Toyota Camry
Toyota's popular midsize sedan goes all-hybrid, but maintains its widespread appeal.
The 2025 Toyota Camry Is A Jack Of All Trades
Toyota has been selling the Camry internationally for over four decades, and its hybrid version for close to two decades. It’s safe to say that the Camry has earned legendary status and is still one of the most sought-after models. For the 2025 MY, Toyota took a bold step to turn theCamry into a hybrid-only model, thus serving as a strong testimony to the company’s faith in its hybrid powertrain.
Opting for a hybrid version of any model over its ICE version is a no-brainer. The only reason not to opt for it would be the premium you’d have to pay for the hybrid setup. So, how did Toyota counter this? Well, by pricing it very similar to the outgoing model. The price increase was around the same lines you’d expect from a new-gen model, but here, you got a hybrid engine under the hood that’s more efficient and could offset the price increase over the years.
Apart from its efficient and powerful engine, Toyota also restyled it inside and out. The bold, aerodynamic looks aid the Camry’s presence and performance (the slippery design aids efficiency) and also added modern tech features to make it a little more future-proof. Offered in four trims, all of them either with a front-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive setup, the Camry had something for every potential customer. And, the icing on top is the sub-$30,000 starting price for the base trim, and the top-end coming in at under $40,000 before options, thus making the 2025 Camry cheaper than the price of an average car in the U.S. Talk about an absolutely value-for-money proposition!
Generational Evolution Of The Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry is one of auto history’s best, and the Camry Hybrid has been a rock in the mid-size sedan class for 20 years. Here’s how it did it.
Offered In Four Trims Starting At $28,700
The2025 Camry will be available in four trims – LE, SE, XLE, and XSE. All the trims can be had with either the FWD setup or the AWD. If luxury is what you’re looking for, then the near-$35,000 top-of-the-line XSE trim is what you should consider. It comes with all the bells and whistles that Toyota has to offer. But, if efficiency is what you’re eyeing, then the base LE trim is the one to go for.
2025 Toyota Camry Trims And Prices
Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | |
LE | $28,700 | $30,225 |
SE | $31,000 | $32,525 |
XLE | $33,700 | $35,225 |
XSE | $34,900 | $36,425 |
Just because this is a budget car doesn’t mean you get a barebones model if you opt for the base trim. TheLE trim comes with some niceties like a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, eight-inch touchscreen setup, dual-zone climate control, push start button, and wireless charger, to name a few.
But, the top-spec XSE trim is, of course, where the car shines and gives you a premium vibe. You get things like:
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Leather-trimmed heated steering wheel
- Leather front seats with eight-way power adjustments
You can also option it with a panoramic glass roof for some extra moolah.
Does The Toyota Camry Offer The Best Bang For Your Buck In The Sub-$35,000 Segment?
For the 2025 MY, Toyota made the Camry a hybrid-only model. The sales numbers have been staggering and Toyota has covered all the bases with this model. Although hybrids are more expensive than their ICE counterparts, Toyota has managed to take on and take down its rivals successfully. If you were looking for a sedan with a budget of $35,000, would you consider the 2025 Camry, or would you pick one of its rivals, like the Honda Accord or the Hyundai Sonata? Or, perhaps, look within the Toyota stable and get the cheaper Prius or the Corolla Hybrid?
200+ Horsepower At Your Disposal
The automaker dropped the V-6 engine with the sixth-gen model, which means the 2025 Camry can be had with just the fifth-gen Toyota Hybrid System. This setup comprises a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine paired with a couple of electric motors. The engine generates 184 horses and 163 pound-feet of torque, whereas both motors make 134 horses and 153 pound-feet of torque. Combined,this hybrid setup makes 225 horses. This, by the way, is the output for the FWD model.
Engine | 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, One Permanent Magnet Motor |
Transmission | eCVT |
Horsepower | 225-232 Horsepower |
Torque | 163 Pound-Feet |
Driveline | FWD or AWD |
0-60 MPH | 7.4 Seconds |
Top Speed | 115 MPH |
If you opt for the all-wheel-drive model, you get an additional motor mounted at the rear that makes 40 horsepower and 62 pound-feet of torque. This results in an additional seven horses from the overall setup – 232 horsepower. Power is routed to the wheels via an eCVT.
We got to drive this car when it was launched, and it left us impressed:
The hybrid drivetrain also proved rather punchy and eager to play along. At this point, it's obvious that Toyota has mastered hybrid technology. The new Camry is a wonderful testament to this.
- William Clavey, TopSpeed Journalist.
Over 650 Miles Of Overall Driving Range On A Full Tank Of Gas
Depending on the trim, the overall efficiency varies. But, in its best avatar, which is the base LE trim with FWD setup, the Toyota Camry delivers 53 miles in the city, 50 miles on the highway, and51 miles combined for every gallon of gas it consumes.
Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | |
EPA-estimated Fuel Economy (City) | 53 MPG | 51 MPG |
EPA-estimated Fuel Economy (Highway) | 50 MPG | 49 MPG |
EPA-estimated Fuel Economy (Combined) | 51 MPG | 50 MPG |
EPA-Estimated Range | 663 Miles | 650 Miles |
Coupled with a 13-gallon gas tank, you can go up to 663 miles on a tank before you’d be forced to fill up. The least efficient of the lot is the top-spec XSE trim in the AWD setup that returns figures of 44 mpg in the city, 43 mpg on the highway, and 43 mpg combined. A full tank of fuel will be good for a distance of 572 miles. The consumption here is 2.3 gallons for every 100 miles, as opposed to 2.0 gallons when you opt for the base trim.
As per EPA estimates, this highly efficient sedan willsave you $3,750 in fuel costs over five years when compared to an average new vehicle. If you need some more numbers, then expect to spend roughly $900 annually on fuel costs, which means your cost to drive 25 miles is $1.52.
Here’s The Toyota Camry Trim That Is Actually Worth The Premium
There are multiple Toyota Camry variants, but which of these is actually worth the premium over the base LE?
No Dearth Of Safety Features
The automaker has equipped the 2025 Camry with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes driver assistance features like:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Lane Tracing Assist
- Road Sign Assist
- Proactive Driving Assist
If you choose the XLE or the XSE trims, you can opt for the Premium Plus Package, which further includes features like:
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Front-Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Change Assist
- Panoramic View Monitor
- Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking
A Fairly Reliable Model As Well
The new-gen Camry was alsothe most reliable Japanese sedan in 2024, scoring 86/100 for quality and reliability as per JD Power. Consumer Reports, which is a little stricter with its ratings, gave it a predicted reliability score of 56/100, which it says, is on par with the average new cars.
NHTSA started tracking the recalls for the Camry Hybrid as a separate car starting in 2018, and here's how it has fared since:
Model Year | Number Of Recalls |
2018 | 0 |
2019 | 2 |
2020 | 2 |
2021 | 1 |
2022 | 1 |
2023 | 0 |
2024 | 1 |
2025 | 0 |
The car also comes with a solid warranty plan, which includes a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty on the hybrid battery.
2025 Toyota Camry Warranty
Basic Warranty | 36 Months/36,000 Miles |
Powertrain Warranty | 60 Months/60,000 Miles |
Corrosion Perforation Warranty | 60 Months/Unlimited Miles |
Restraint Warranty | 60 Months/60,000 Miles |
Hybrid System Warranty | 96 Months/100,000 Miles |
Hybrid Battery Warranty | 120 Months/150,000 Miles |
