Who says the sedan is dead? Certainly not Toyota. The automaker is launching a ninth-generation Camry at this year’s LA Auto Show and the sedan has a lot going for it, starting with updated styling. But what could be the real game-changer is the move to an all-hybrid powertrain lineup and available all-wheel drive. Headlight.News checks out the 2025 Toyota Camry.
The Toyota Camry gets some serious updating for the 2025 model year, but it’s still recognizable to loyalists.
Toyota has spent months teasing a mystery car set to make its public debut at this year’s LA Auto Show. Headlight.News got an early look at what turns out to be — as we suspected — the ninth-generation Camry.
There’s been plenty of debate about the future of the sedan market. We’ve seen several brands, starting with Ford, drop their four-door sedans entirely, while others have sharply pared back their offerings. But Toyota has remained firmly committed to sedans, even while expanding its portfolio of SUVs.
“We still believe in sedans. Not everyone wants an SUV,” David Christ, group vice president and GM, Toyota division told Headlight.News.
So, the 2025 Toyota Camry will serve as the real test of whether it’s got a sound strategy in place.
For the new model year, the Camry comes in hybrid form only, although all-wheel drive is an option.
The next-gen Camry isn’t entirely new, retaining the TNGA-K platform used for the outgoing model. And the new design won’t come as a complete shock to Camry loyalists. But virtually every element of the gen-9 sedan has been updated in one form or another.
Kevin Hunter, CALTY design chief, noted the more dynamic look of the new Camry was meant to “celebrate the spirit of a low-slung sedan.” He told Headlight.News, the new Camry has a “faster, longer silhouette, looking more akin to a sports coupe than a traditional sedan.”
The design has a clearer point of view. And there’s plenty of new technology onboard. But the most significant move comes with a shift to an all-hybrid drivetrain lineup, offered with both front- and all-wheel drive options.
Electrifying
By the start of the 2025 model year, Toyota plans to have 19 hybrid models in its portfolio, what with the new Camry joining the fold. But if you haven’t checked out where the automaker has gone with its latest gas-electric technology you may be in for a surprise.
Sure, they’re meant to deliver significantly better fuel economy than gas-only products. But Toyota is now putting a premium on performance, as well. All-wheel-drive versions of the sedan will deliver up to 232 horsepower from their combined gas and electric drivetrain components. That’s a 30 hp increase over prior gas-only AWD versions of the Camry.
The 2025 Camry becomes the first Toyota sedan to use the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System or THS 5. It pairs a 2.5-cylinder inline-4 gas engine with two electric motors. While the on-demand all-wheel-drive system makes a peak 232 hp, the front-drive package comes in at 225 ponies.
All-wheel-drive versions of the sedan will deliver up to 232 horsepower from their combined gas and electric drivetrain components.
The AWD system adds a rear-mounted electric drive motor to enhance traction when the system senses a loss of grip in inclement weather or during aggressive cornering, Toyota claims. The package will be available on all grades of the ninth-generation Camry.
Made in the U.S. of A.
The 2025 Camry is an American project through and through. To start with, it was designed and engineered at both the CALTY design studios in Newport Beach, California and Ann Arbor, Michigan. And it will be assembled in the States, as well.
The focus has been on giving Camry a real point of view, starting with the Hammerhead front fascia and slim lighting, front and back.
As before, there will be numerous grades appealing to different buyers. The XE and XSE models adopt a sportier appearance, including their honeycomb grilles, as well as what Toyota describes as “racing-inspired functional aerodynamic air ducts, front-side canards and a rear diffuser. They also get dual-tip exhausts. The XE features 18-inch wheels and tires, the XSE upgrading to 19s.
The XLE tops a range of more conservative looking trims.
The XE features 18-inch wheels and tires, the XSE upgrading to 19s.
A plusher, “open-style” cabin
As with the exterior design, the 2025 Camry’s cabin varies notably by trim — but all emphasize the roominess of Toyota’s midsize sedan.
SE models are finished in a suede-like SofTex, with XSE versions featuring standard leather trim. “The higher-end XLE grade,” explains the automaker, “is the first Toyota Camry to feature leather and Dinamica microfiber-trimmed seats.
Both XLE and XSE models features laminated, noise-reducing front and side glass, and are available with heated and cooled front seats. All trims feature smart-key ignitions and dual-zone climate systems.
Tech talk
The 2025 Toyota Camry is the latest model to feature the automaker’s Intelligent Assistant, an onboard system that, like the familiar Amazon Alexa voice assistant, can be summoned simply by saying, “Hey, Toyota.” It operates virtually all onboard controls.
The 2025 Camry features a 7-inch digital gauge cluster on LE and SE trims, with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE models jump to 12.3 inches.
The new sedan also features wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless smartphone charging system comes standard, and there are numerous USB-A and USB-C ports. A wireless smartphone charger is standard, and a WiFi hotspot comes with a 30-day trial subscription.
The 2025 Camry features a 7-inch digital gauge cluster on LE and SE trims, with an 8-inch touchscreen. The XLE and XSE models jump to 12.3 inches and also offer an optional 10-inch head-up display. A 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation also is available.
A digital key package, which allows a smartphone to replace a key fob, is available.
Digital Safety
Buyers will find an array of advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, built into even the base XE and SE models. As part of the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 package, these include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. Radar cruise control is featured on all trim levels.
On XLE and XSE models, buyers can add even more digital safety tech, including traffic jam assist, front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist and a panoramic view monitor.
Pricing and Availability
Expect to see the 2025 Toyota Camry arrive in U.S. showrooms next spring. The outgoing 2024 Camry currently starts at $27,515 including delivery fees.
0 Comments