Toyota Camry:
Pros:
- Excellent handling
- Solid safety and driver assistance features
- Great crash test ratings
- Powerful V6 engine available
Cons:
- Cabin noise during acceleration
- All-wheel-drive only available with the four-cylinder engine
- Styling might be too aggressive for some
Summary
The 2020 Toyota Camry is the newest version of the popular five-seat, four-door midsize sedan that was last significantly redesigned in 2017. Competing with the Honda Accord, Mazda6, Hyundai Sonata, Subaru Legacy, and Nissan Altima, the Camry brings good fuel efficiency, technological sophistication and secure handling to the table.
There's a version for sportier looks, those interested in more comfort, and everything in between. This vehicle even comes with a hybrid option.
Although the Camry comes loaded with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, you can buy a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. This Camry retains most of the features of earlier generations, though it has slightly more aggressive styling. In addition to the Entune 3.0 touchscreen infotainment system, the Camry comes with the Safety Sense-P package of safety and driver assistance tools for a pleasant ride.
Exterior
TLDR: Bolder in style than earlier Camrys, this model comes in a variety of colors.
The Toyota Camry has the most aggressive styling of any Camry, according to CarBuzz, boasting crisp detailing and a sleek silhouette. The vehicle is 16 feet long and weighs 3,241 to 3,572 pounds depending on its trim level. All trim levels come with automatic LED headlights.
The base trim features 16-inch steel wheels, while other trim levels boast 17- or 18-inch aluminum or alloy wheels. The Toyota Camry TRD, the highest trim level available, boasts 19-inch aluminum wheels. The TRD also sports unique style cues, such as a prominent rear spoiler and a black exhaust, aero trim, and grille. The TRD's lower cladding calls to mind a tuner.
Visually, the SE and XSE trim levels are the most aggressive, according to The Car Connection. Aside from their badges, hybrid versions of the Camry don't look any different than regular versions.
Interior Quality and Comfort
TLDR: The interior of the Camry boasts plush, comfortable seats and solid materials.
Cloth upholstery comes standard with the Camry, but you can buy leather upholstery if desired. Up to five people can sit comfortably in this vehicle, with room for three in the rear seats. Taller passengers in the back may find their view and headroom lacking due to the sloping roofline. The legroom in the back seat is ample, however.
CarBuzz states that all models have 38 inches of legroom, 54.7 inches of hip room, and 55.7 inches of shoulder room. Only some trim levels have rear-seat air vents. Although this vehicle doesn't have as many storage pockets as some rivals, the interior storage space is still pretty good, according to The Car Connection. Both heated and power-adjustable front seats are available for purchase. Autotrader says the arrangement of the steering wheel and driver controls is more intuitive than in past models.
The rear seats for all but the base Camry are 60/40 split-folding. Also, the rear seats boast a pair of easy-to-use LATCH connectors, and the center back seat comes with a tether for joining anchors. The Car Connection notes that every trim level's front seats are supportive. It says the materials feel well-made, though it wishes the SE trim level's fabric upholstery was more luxurious. Car and Driver says that the higher trim levels have much higher-quality materials than the lower trims, singling out the Camry XLE's elegance in particular. The TRD trim level sports red accents throughout the interior, including on the floor mats, seatbelts, gauges, and headrests, and its seats boast Black Sport Soft-Tex material for a luxurious look and feel.
Utility and Practicality
TLDR: This Camry could use more cargo space.
This midsize sedan has 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, somewhat less than most of its rivals. Only the Camry L trim level has less cargo space, at 14.1 cubic feet. By comparison, the Honda Accord has 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Hyundai Sonata has 16.3 cubic feet.
The Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu boast 16 and 15.8 cubic feet, respectively.
Technology and Infotainment
TLDR: Decked out with all sorts of amenities, the Camry's main technological highlight is its easy-to-use Entune 3.0 infotainment system.
The Camry has no shortage of technological amenities. In addition to a USB port, Sirius XM satellite radio, a six-speaker audio system, and Bluetooth, this vehicle comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. According to U.S. News and World Report, the system is highly intuitive, and you can upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen with a CD player. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay, a feature that lets you make calls, listen to podcasts, perform navigation, and other tasks. However, the system doesn't support Android Auto, unlike most competitors.
The Toyota Camry even lets you link up to Amazon Alexa. A Wi-Fi hotspot is also available for an extra fee, though every driver gets a complimentary Verizon 4G LTE data trial for six months of free Wi-Fi usage. The Siri Eyes Free app, which comes standard, lets you operate the vehicle's infotainment system through voice commands for safer driving. Some trim levels come with a nine-speaker JBL audio system featuring a subwoofer. Higher trims also come with two extra USB ports.
Safety and Driving Assistance
TLDR: This vehicle has some of the best safety ratings in its class.
The Toyota Camry comes with a wide range of driver assistance technologies to make traveling more comfortable and, therefore, safer. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic high-beams, lane keep assist and forward automatic emergency braking all come standard with the Camry. The cruise control for higher trim levels includes a stop-and-go traffic feature. A rearview camera also comes standard with the new Camry.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Toyota Camera a 'Top Safety Pick+,' while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the vehicle a safety rating of five out of five stars. The IIHS granted the Camry a Good rating in all safety categories, and the NHTSA gave the car a Superior rating in all categories.
Drivers looking for extra safety features can opt for a reverse automatic emergency braking system as well as blind spot monitoring feature. A head-up display, rear cross-traffic alert and a surround-view parking camera are also optional. For peace of mind, Toyota gives drivers complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles as well as a warranty for three years or 36,000 miles. A powertrain warranty for six years or 60,000 miles also comes with this vehicle. This Camry's warranties are somewhat shorter than those of rivals, such as the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata.
Driving Experience
TLDR: Smooth to ride and quick to accelerate, the Camry has two vigorous engines on offer.
According to Car and Driver, the Camry drives like a charm, with responsive handling and smooth maneuverability. Car and Driver's reviewers note that Toyota Camrys have historically fallen short in this regard. However, some drivers may prefer the looser steering of earlier model years. Braking is seamless but not too sensitive. The Camry hybrid model even channels the energy from braking into the vehicle's battery pack. Although some trims differ from the base model somewhat in terms of steering and suspension tuning, all trim levels feel mostly the same on the road. SE and XSE models have slightly firmer ride characteristics, while the TRD is by far the most aggressively tuned.
The Camry comes with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine capable of 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. However, in the Camry XSE, this engine can produce 206 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. If you want a more powerful ride, you can opt for a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque.
Compared to the competition, the Camry's engines are robust. The vehicle can reach 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. Cornering is precise, and the steering wheel has a nice weight. Each Camry comes with front-wheel-drive, though all-wheel-drive is available for higher trim levels for an extra $1,400, but only with the 2.5-liter engine. Finally, hybrid models are equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired to an electric motor for a combined rating of 208 horsepower.
The Camry also comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission, except for the hybrid model, which has a continuously variable transmission. Despite the Camry's smooth ride, the cabin noise is noticeable.
Fuel Efficiency
TLDR: This vehicle features a robust fuel economy, and the hybrid models are even more efficient.
In terms of fuel economy, the Camry is easily one of the best Camry models. With the 2.5-liter gas-only engine, this vehicle gets 28 mpg on city roads and 39 mpg on highways for a combined 32 mpg, with the base model enjoying a 2 mpg advantage over higher trim levels.
With the V6 engine, the Camry gets 22 mpg on city roads and 32 mpg on highways for a combined 26 mpg, with the XLE trim enjoying a 1 mpg advantage. Featuring a lithium-ion battery, the base hybrid LE gets 51 mpg on city roads and 53 mpg on highways for a combined 52 mpg.
The hybrid XLE and SE, which both have a nickel-metal battery, are capable of 44 mpg on city roads and 47 mpg on highways for a combined 46 mpg. Edmunds included the new Camry on its list of the Best Gas Mileage Cars for 2020.
Trim Levels and Pricing
TLDR: With six trim levels and several hybrid options available, there's a trim level for just about everyone.
The Toyota Camry comes in six trim levels: L, LE, SE, XSE, XLE, and TRD. Hybrid versions of the vehicle are also available, as is the special SE Nightshade Edition.
The Camry L, or base trim, has a base price of $24,295 and comes with most of the safety and driver assistance features, such as lane keep assist, automatic high-beams, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. It also comes with the 7-inch Entune 3.0 infotainment system, automatic bi-LED headlights, forward -collision warning, an automatic emergency braking system, and more.
The Camry LE, which starts at $24,840, comes with everything the Camry L delivers plus a pair of extra USB ports, alloy wheels, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and rear seats that are 60/40 split-folding. Starting at $26,040, the Camry SE has styling perks, such as a leather steering wheel and color-keyed rear spoiler. The SE Nightshade version of this car has black trim along the back and costs $27,695.
The Camry XLE, which starts at $29,325, comes with heated front seats, wireless charging, rear-cross traffic alert, and blindspot monitoring. The Camry XSE, by comparison, starts at $29,875 and boasts a sport-tuned suspension, 3 more horsepower, a nine-speaker JBL audio system, and dual exhaust, among other amenities. The Camry TRD, a sportier version of the car, has a red-trimmed interior and starts at $31,040.
Hybrid versions of the LE, SE XLE and XSE trim levels are available. The hybrid LE costs around $29,200, while the hybrid SE costs $30,905. The hybrid XLE and XSE trim levels both have MSRPs north of $33,500. A destination charge of $920 is standard for all Camrys.
Value
Compared to its rivals, the Camry is a great pick. Although it's a little expensive for a midsize car, the Camry has excellent handling, good fuel efficiency, and an impressive suite of technological amenities. It's also a safe choice, with top marks from the IIHS and NHTSA.
The Camry doesn't have as much cargo or passenger space as the Honda Accord, its main rival, but its 3.5-liter engine surpasses all Accord engines. The Camry's base engine is also more powerful than the Mazda 6's, another competitor. Autotrader contends that the 2020 Subaru Legacy has a more conservative aesthetic than the Camry, which may appeal to some.
