Preview: Redesigned 2025 Toyota Camry Goes Hybrid-Only, With AWD Available on All Trims
Big changes are coming to the top-selling Toyota Camry for the 2025 model year. Along with an exterior redesign, the popular sedan will now be offered only as a hybrid, and all-wheel drive will be available as an option on all trims.
In This Article
CR’s Take • Outside • Inside • What Drives It • Active Safety and Driver Assistance
In addition to the fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain, every Camry will get safety and driving assistance features such as blind spot warning (BSW) and adaptive cruise control (ACC) standard, along with niceties such as wireless phone charging. Even with all that technology, the new Camry appears to have a user-friendly interior, with plenty of large, well-labeled buttons and a traditional gear selector.
What it competes with: Honda Accord Hybrid, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Kia K5, Nissan Altima, Subaru LegacyPowertrain: 225-hp/232-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid engine; continuously variable transmission; front-wheel drive/all-wheel drivePrice: $28,000-$36,000 (estimated)On sale: Spring 2024
We think the latest crop of hybrids are often better than their non-hybrid counterparts. In general, hybrids benefit from instant acceleration away from a stop, quiet operation around town, and significant fuel savings. Toyota’s hybrid powertrains are smooth and relatively quiet, and have proved to be exceptionally reliable. Combining what appears to be a no-nonsense interior with a fuel-sipping hybrid engine and optional AWD could make the Camry a no-brainer for midsized sedan shoppers.
The Camry now sports a Prius-like streamlined grille and LED headlights. Otherwise, it’s obvious that Toyota hasn’t made any major changes to the Camry’s overall shape for 2025. The sides and rear appear slightly freshened. The base LE trim gets 16-inch wheels, while the higher trims get 18- and 19-inch wheels. SE and XSE trims get additional air ducts and trim, while the XSE gets a color-matched front grille, black trunk garnish, gray alloy wheels, and optional two-tone paint.
We’re glad to see plenty of large buttons and a traditional gear selector in what appears to be a well-laid-out interior format. Because the new model shares much of its design with the current Camry, we wouldn’t be surprised if it also shares a low stance and snug rear seat. When we buy our own 2025 Camry, we’ll evaluate how easy it is to use and get in and out of.
Even the base LE gets wireless charging and five USB ports, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, and rear climate vents. XLE and XSE trims get a larger 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and leather-trimmed seats.
There’s only one engine choice: a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder hybrid setup that Toyota says has been retuned to improve fuel economy. The existing Camry got 47 mpg overall in our tests, so any improvement will give this midsized sedan truly impressive mileage.
All-wheel drive will now be optional on all Camry trims. The system works similarly to the AWD setup in the Prius, with a second electric motor that supplies power to the rear wheels when necessary. Toyota says the front-wheel-drive Camry is good for 225 hp, while the AWD version is rated at 232 hp. No word on acceleration or 0-to-60-mph statistics, but we’ll test those after we buy our own Camry when it goes on sale in early 2024.
Every Camry comes standard with important active safety features. These include automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcycle detection, and—new for 2025—blind spot warning (BSW) and rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), which were previously only available as part of a package. Lane departure warning (LDW), adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane centering assistance (LCA), and automatic high beams are also standard, along with Toyota’s Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) feature, which uses camera and radar to automatically slow or steer the vehicle, gently, while the driver is in control. We’ve found this feature most useful in preventing inadvertent tailgating.
Toyota hasn’t shared details about pricing or performance, but we expect better fuel economy and quicker acceleration than the current Camry Hybrid.
We plan to buy an updated Camry as soon as it goes on sale in 2024.
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