When you’ve been as successful as the Toyota Camry, it’s easy to take a few chances. As America’s best-selling sedan for 22 years in a row, the Camry could simply phone it in, stick to its successful formula, and watch the orders roll in. Toyota has taken a decidedly different approach, boldly reinventing the midsize sedan for the 2025 model year as it introduces the Camry’s ninth generation. The headline can be found under the hood where Toyota has nixed pure internal combustion for a new hybrid setup across the entire trim ladder.
The decision pays dividends in terms of efficiency, with the Camry instantly jumping to the top of its class with an EPA-estimated 51 MPG combined. This productive powertrain isn’t the only bright spot for 2025, with reimagined styling, a contemporary interior, and a long list of optional extras making this year the perfect time to seek out a Toyota Camry for sale. Join me as I paint why the 2025 model represents such an intriguing evolution of this Toyota legend and see if any other midsize models can hope to keep up.
Hybrid Power
The transition to an entirely hybrid powertrain is easily the most notable feature of the 2025 Camry. Toyota has phased out the standalone V6 and four-cylinder gas engines for the new model year, replacing them with a pair of hybrid powertrains that offer an impressively versatile combination of efficiency and performance. We’ll start with the front-wheel-drive Camry, which is paired with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that give the midsize maestro 225 hp to play with. Those who prefer a little all-wheel action will appreciate the addition of a third electric motor for the AWD model, which is bolted onto the rear axle and ups the power to 235 hp.
Today’s drivers are savvy enough to know that an ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain doesn’t come at the cost of performance, but just to drive the point home, I’ll underline the fact that the FWD 2025 Camry gets 22 hp more powerful than the outgoing four-cylinder 2024 model. The new hybridized Camry is even an improvement on the standalone Camry Hybrid, with 17 hp more to its name. With the ability to reach 60 mph in just 6.8 seconds, the AWD hybrid Camry XSE outpaces some of its closest competitors to provide a peppy ride.
Of course, pure speed isn’t the main selling point of the hybrid approach. The 2025 Camry is also easily the most efficient sedan on the market, with its standard hybrid powertrain offering 51 MPG combined. The Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra place a distant second at 34 MPG combined, and while the Accord can go toe-to-toe with the Camry, its hybrid version costs a good $4,000 extra.
A Digital Dashboard
Starting under $30,000, the 2025 Camry defies its budget price with a tech-heavy cabin that delivers a long list of advanced safety, convenience, and entertainment features. It all starts right behind the steering wheel, where a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster lets drivers keep track of vital vehicle metrics, safety alerts, GPS directions, and more on a full-color display. The instrument panel can even be customized to fit your preferences and style, but it’s the available head-up display (HUD) that might represent the 2025 Camry’s most futuristic feature.
By projecting a live graphic directly onto the lower portion of the windshield, the HUD gives drivers the ability to monitor their speed, current gear, and the following distance that’s been set for the adaptive cruise control system. This safety-enhancing tech is designed to reduce distractions behind the wheel, allowing drivers to keep their eyes glued to the road without missing any important information or alerts.
The HUD is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Camry’s safety-focused tech. The sedan features the full suite of Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 driver assistance features on every trim, including automatic high beams, automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and more, but it’s the Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) that really catches attention this time around.
This clever feature uses a network of four cameras to deliver a panoramic, bird’s-eye view of the area immediately surrounding the Camry. Displayed directly on the available 12.3-inch infotainment display, this unorthodox POV comes in handy when trying to nestle into the perfect parking space or check your surroundings for unseen obstacles.
Personalized Packages
The Camry is a well-rounded sedan that’s sure to fit the unique needs of different drivers, but those looking to customize their 2025 model need look no further than the Camry’s optional equipment packages. Designed to round out the Camry’s ample arsenal of convenience, comfort, and entertainment features, these packages are a great way to create a one-of-a-kind ride that will fit any budget.
Available on the LE and SE trims, the Cold Weather Package adds a heated leather steering wheel and heated front seats to the mix for a little extra comfort on those cold morning commutes. The two entry-level trims are also eligible for the Convenience Package, which includes an auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-adjustable driver’s seat, HomeLink universal garage door opener, and Toyota’s Smart Key System.
That latter feature enables owners to unlock the Camry’s front doors without ever removing their keys from their pocket, and it will certainly come in clutch when your hands are full. The LE and SE can also be had with an optional power tilt/slide moonroof, though the XLE and XSE up the ante with an available panoramic glass roof with a power tilt/slide feature.
The Multimedia Upgrade Package elevates the standard 8.0-inch infotainment display to a 12.3-inch unit on the SE trim, though the larger screen comes standard on the XLE and XSE trims. These two range-topping trims are also treated to the available Premium and Premium Plus Packages. The first includes some impressive tech features like the 10-inch head-up display, nine-speaker JBL Premium Audio system, and 1Digital Key capability that turns your smartphone into a way to lock, unlock, and start your vehicle. The package also comes with ventilated front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a memory feature for both the driver’s seat and side mirrors.
The Premium Plus Package is the Camry at its ritziest, making some important additions to the Premium Package that include a long list of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This package is a must-have for any driver looking to sit back, relax, and enjoy their ride, with features like Front Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Panoramic View Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Braking, a Driver Monitor Camera that keeps tabs on your alertness, and Traffic Jam Assist, which can control the brakes, accelerator, and steering in frustrating stop-and-go traffic.
An Icon Improved
The Camry has maintained its dominance in the midsize segment thanks to a thoughtful combination of efficiency, practicality, and performance. The new 2025 model improves on this impressive track record with a pair of new hybrid powertrains that make the Camry one of the most economical models on the road today. At 51 MPG, the Camry is about as efficient as they come, though that’s just one aspect of its appeal.
A host of modern interior safety, comfort, and infotainment tech allows the sedan to punch well above its $30,000 price tag, while the optional equipment packages give every driver the chance to create the bespoke Camry of their dreams. These features would be more than enough to justify a test drive at your local Toyota dealership, but when you factor in the brand’s reputation for reliability—and the Camry’s top-tier resale value—it’s tough to make an argument against investing in this best-selling sedan.
