The 2025 Toyota Camry marks a significant redesign for the popular sedan, aiming to be the best Camry yet. For loyal Toyota customers, the renowned dependability and trustworthiness of the brand will undoubtedly make this new model appealing. However, for those seeking excitement and driving thrills, the 2025 Camry might just be another iteration in a long line of competent but uninspiring transportation. This review dives deep into the 2025 Toyota Camry XSE, exploring its strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it deserves your attention in a competitive sedan market. While it excels in its mission for economical and comfortable travel, questions arise about whether these improvements justify its elevated price tag and if it truly offers anything beyond ‘better blandness’.
Exterior Styling: A Tale of Two Halves?
The 2025 Camry represents a complete redesign, succeeding the generation that debuted in 2018. The previous generation’s widespread presence on roads is a testament to its sales success. For this new model, Toyota opted for a refreshed front and rear fascia while seemingly retaining the central structure from the previous model. This approach results in a somewhat disjointed aesthetic. The sharp, modern design language at the front and rear contrasts with the carry-over, rounder midsection. While subjective, this design choice lacks overall visual harmony. Certain trims also feature a prominent mesh lower front fascia, which can appear somewhat awkward, particularly on lighter vehicle colors.
Interior Enhancements: A Step Up in Quality, But Still Conservative
Moving inside the 2025 Camry XSE, the cabin presents a more positive impression. There’s a noticeable improvement in material quality throughout. As the top-of-the-line Camry trim, the XSE aims to offer the most refined Camry interior to date. Space is ample in both front and rear seats, and the seats themselves are comfortable for longer journeys. The leather-wrapped steering wheel provides a pleasant tactile experience, and the large center display screen is user-friendly. Overall, the interior is consistently ‘good’ – without any glaring weaknesses. However, it doesn’t quite reach the level of ‘great’ or match the perceived luxury of competitors like the Hyundai Sonata in terms of premium materials.
Despite the generally positive impression, some elements fall short. The steering wheel controls are cluttered and overly complex with an abundance of buttons. The glossy lower controls are prone to fingerprint smudges. The digital gauge cluster, characteristic of Toyota, can feel overwhelming and lacks intuitive customization. While cabin quality is improved compared to previous Camrys, the design remains somewhat uninspired. Even the “venetian blind-like” trim on the dashboard, intended as a visual highlight, appears out of place and detracts from the overall design coherence. An unusual detail is the exposed hexagonal screws for the sun visor mounts, visible when the visors are lowered. This oversight in a new car interior is surprising and detracts from the otherwise improved finish.
Technology and Safety: Advanced Features with Quirks
The 2025 Toyota 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), an active driving assistant system. While intended to enhance safety, this system, which functions like always-on radar cruise control, can be intrusive. It may apply brakes unnecessarily, even on gentle downhill stretches on country roads, if it perceives you are too close to a vehicle ahead. In some instances, drivers might need to apply the throttle to override the system, which can feel counterintuitive and potentially more hazardous. Fortunately, this feature can be disabled, albeit through the somewhat cumbersome and button-heavy steering wheel controls, rather than the main display settings.
Hybrid Powertrain: Enhanced Performance and Refinement
A significant change for the 2025 Camry is that all models are now hybrid. This is a positive step for Toyota, aligning with the industry’s move towards electrification. The hybrid powertrain delivers 225 horsepower in front-wheel-drive configuration and 232 horsepower with all-wheel drive. The increased power is immediately noticeable, giving the Camry a much-needed boost in responsiveness. More importantly, the updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine exhibits improved refinement. Historically, Toyota’s four-cylinder engines have been criticized for their unrefined and noisy character. However, in the 2025 Camry, the engine operates more smoothly and quietly, with a less intrusive and more pleasant sound. The 2025 Camry achieves a 0-60 mph time of approximately 7 seconds, matching the Prius in acceleration. However, this is about a second slower than the previous generation Camry V6 model.
Fuel Economy: Good, But Not As Advertised
While the window sticker boasts an impressive 47 MPG combined for the XSE trim, real-world testing revealed a still respectable 39 MPG during a week of typical driving. This is a notable difference from the advertised figure. It appears that newer Toyota hybrids may be delivering slightly lower fuel economy compared to models from just a few years prior. However, the improved performance may justify this slight trade-off for some drivers.
Driving Dynamics: Competent but Unexciting
In terms of driving experience, the 2025 Camry prioritizes competence and predictability over engagement. The steering is described as “medically deceased,” lacking feedback and feel, which discourages spirited driving. However, the front wheels respond accurately to steering inputs. Ride quality is commendable, providing comfort over varied road surfaces, with minimal wind and road noise intrusion. When pushed in corners, the Camry reveals its lack of sporting intentions. It lacks precision and composure in quick maneuvers. While modern tires provide adequate grip, the Camry is clearly tuned for relaxed cruising rather than dynamic handling. During quick transitions, the Camry feels less agile than competitors, exhibiting noticeable weight transfer. While typical Camry buyers may not prioritize sporty handling, competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda6 offer surprisingly engaging driving dynamics in this segment. Toyota’s focus remains on comfort and ease of driving, which aligns with the preferences of its target customer base.
Conclusion: Improved, But at a Premium
The 2025 Toyota Camry is undeniably an improvement over its predecessor. It fulfills its core mission of providing economical and comfortable transportation effectively. Toyota understands its customer base, and the 2025 Camry likely delivers what they expect. However, the price point, particularly for the top-spec XSE model at $42,195, raises questions about value. For buyers seeking more driving enjoyment or a more luxurious interior, alternatives may be more appealing. The 2025 Camry is a refresh, not a revolution. It’s a better version of bland, but still fundamentally bland.
2025 Toyota Camry XSE
Price as-tested: $42,195
Pros: Impressive hybrid fuel economy, improved interior quality.
Cons: Stylistically mismatched exterior, expensive for the segment, lacks engaging driving dynamics.
