The revamped 2025 Toyota Camry comes equipped with a hybrid powertrain as standard and offers the option of all-wheel drive. It doesn’t visually distinguish itself much and doesn’t perform significantly differently, but it adheres to Toyota’s strength of improving an already good vehicle.
The enhancement comes from a hybrid powertrain rated for up to 51 mpg combined for the base LE variant with front-wheel drive. That’s remarkable for a vehicle that approaches nearly full-size dimensions. It provides ample space, is well-appointed, safe, historically dependable, and boasts plenty of zest on the road. All-wheel drive merely elevates it further, making it the only AWD hybrid sedan aside from the larger Toyota Crown.
The ninth-generation Camry may not evoke excitement, but its practicality is satisfying, rendering it one of the most well-rounded vehicles available today. Below are some advantages and drawbacks during the week I drove a well-appointed XLE with AWD in and around Chicago and its outskirts.
The only other all-wheel-drive models without a plug that achieve fuel efficiency comparable to the 2025 Toyota Camry are from the same lineage. The smaller Corolla Hybrid AWD registers 48 mpg, while the stylish yet much tighter 2024 Toyota Prius AWD boasts a rating of 54 mpg. Toyota dominates the hybrid segment, and that might actually understate their position. During an 80-mile round trip from the suburbs to the city with merely 8 miles at highway velocities, all while the A/C was set to 60 degrees on a sweltering 100-degree day, the trip meter indicated 48.6 mpg. Crossovers cannot rival that efficiency, and most other AWD sedan hybrid alternatives, aside from the Crown, cannot compete with its spaciousness.
Every Camry is powered by a hybrid 2.5-liter inline-4, but with all-wheel drive, a third motor is incorporated to power the rear axle, increasing the output from 225 hp to 232 hp. (AWD adds $1,525 to all Camry models.) The updated hybrid system utilizes lighter and more compact motors, while the hybrid transmission mimics an 8-speed automatic through paddle shifters that complement Normal, Eco, and Sport modes, offering a range of variability for the driver. Even though it doesn’t match the power of the discontinued 301-hp V-6, the drive system leaves little to be desired. It’s responsive from the start and delivers ample enthusiasm for overtaking maneuvers.
The test vehicle featured a light gray interior. A soft-touch material with a checkered design covers the doors and dashboard, but it appeared and felt like refurbished hotel carpeting.
The conspicuousness of the material might have been linked to a peculiar interior design aspect. A panel separates the passenger’s knees from the console, then arches outward like a lap table extending from the console to the door, seemingly supporting the glove compartment and the upper dashboard. There must be a structural rationale for this protrusion, but it protrudes awkwardly.
The 60:40 split rear seats can be folded down to increase the 15.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity, but you cannot do so from the second row. The only method is to pull the latches at the edge of the trunk. It’s sufficiently straightforward, but it would be preferable to achieve this by leaning into the rear doors. Those rear doors may be tight for larger bodies, yet the 38.0 inches of rear legroom is generous even if headspace is limited. Due to the hybrid battery pack situated under the rear seats, the folded seats sit higher than the cargo floor.
All-wheel drive and heated steering wheels pair together like Midwestern winters and fleece-lined boots. The Camry XLE is equipped with a heated steering wheel, but the button for it is alone placed right in the center of the climate control panel. It’s nearly obscured if not for the small icon on the digital display. It’s preferable to avoiding it in the touchscreen or amongst other controls, yet it’s unconventional. The most practical location for the heated steering wheel button would be on the steering wheel itself. Owners will adapt to it quickly, much like their breath becomes visible in the cold.
The Camry has held the title of the bestselling sedan in the U.S. since the George W. Bush era. The 2024 Honda Accord may boast a higher TCC Rating of 7.3 out of 10 compared to 7.0 for the Camry, but the Camry continues to outpace the competition of sedans in efficiency, value, and spaciousness, along with the additional advantage of offering all-wheel drive.
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