2025 Toyota Camry XSE- Owner's Review After 25k Miles/6 Months

[@bohwie9098]

Hey, been watching since pretty much the first Camry review, and just wanted to say your videos seem a lot more confident/composed now. Keep up the good work!

[@DNDrives]

Thank you so much for your continued support, I'm happy to hear that my skills are improving!

[@miguelvillegas5549]

Got mine 10 days ago with 4 miles. Gun metal grey and its an amazing vehicle so far

[@TedTyler]

Congrats man

[@karanliveforever]

I got my Se 2 weeks and I am going through that car play problem too. Also I am averaging bad mpg as well, I think it is due to cold weather so really hoping everything goes right in the summer. Keeping doing these reviews 😊

[@legendsofjr1]

Don’t forget to change your oil at the 1k-3k mark. Break-in oil helps get the engine coated but excess wear will mess it up and lead to horrible mpg. I was avg 39, after the first change I’m back up to 42. Only at 6k miles though and just over 2 months

[@karanliveforever]

@ yeah I am going to do that. Thanks 👍

[@koreywashington7422]

I bought the 2025 last fit liner using your code yesterday! 😁

[@DNDrives]

Thanks for supporting! I hope you will like them!

[@scb9]

Car looks great! Continué to keep us informed on your mods.

[@DNDrives]

Thanks, will do!

[@rlderemer]

On the phone disconnecting, There should be a button or volume knob to restart the cars infotainment system. Restart and it should connect OK without having to reset everything. Also can have problems if you use a VPN or developer mode on your phone.

[@dane940]

You need to take your car to the dealership to fix those issues while the car is still under warranty.

[@DNDrives]

I'm honestly debating on whether I should or not, my fear is that they tear open my headliner and panels only to make it worse.

[@sammyjammy6647]

@@DNDrivesI’d trust a reputable dealership before I went to a mom and pop type of shop. Reputable is the key word. I live in Southern California where there’s dozens of Toyota dealerships that compete with each other

[@Patrick-In-NC]

Thanks for the review! I would be curious to know how your tire wear is at 25,000mi? Keep up the good work I look forward to the next one

[@DNDrives]

My tire wear is very normal, there is plenty of thread left. I'm not sure if I mentioned it in the video but I did replace 2 of the tires due to nails in the sidewall.

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

Online it says your car has a combined mpg of 46-47 so you're perfect!

[@kurtgrundel4045]

Hoping Toyota puts rain sensing wipers and seat memory on the 26 XSE.

[@JohnMyersHabitofWinning]

My 2025 Camry LE the radio. Sometimes there's no sound only satellite works if I turn the car off and back on the AMF and radio will work again the sound part

[@n-v-me7022]

Where's the aooa caliper cover amazing looking car enjoy🎉

[@djplonghead5403]

Everyone seems to have a door panel issue.

[@Lisa-pn1eu]

Got mine is August and got six thousand miles

[@StuzzyJMan702]

Got mine in July . At 10,000 miles

[@ThIzZoLaSchannel]

Luckily I don't have any of the creeks but my Android auto rarely initially connects when I start the car in the morning I have to manually do it through the settings and that's been ever since I've owned it (Nov)

[@marcelarodriguez4697]

Hi, can you use Apple Car Play with a chord rather than wirelessly?

[@DNDrives]

I am not entirely sure but I think you can. There is a USB port for data sharing so you can probably set that to be used for CarPlay.

[@ritagilmer5389]

Thank you for sharing your 2025 Camry XSE review. My question is regarding your front window tint. Do you have any problems with sunlight at its highest peak during the day and oncoming car lights at night blinding you. I’m much older than you , driving a 2011 RAV4 and the sun wrecks havoc with me trying to drive . Any problems or recommendations to combat brightness through your windows? Sorry for the long question. Thank you for your response.

[@DNDrives]

I have to start off by saying that my window tint is NOT legal. You can obtain a medical exemption to tint your windows dark legally. The tint definitely helps with the sunlight. I recommend getting the darkest possible as a strip on the top part of the windshield, also known as a brow. The side windows can be tinted as dark as you want with the exemption, however the trade off is you won’t see much at night. If you want a nice balance, I’d recommend 20% on your side windows, 50% over your whole windshield, and 5% on the brow. It depends from area to area but here the police don’t mind your tint even if it’s illegal unless you have a stupid dark windshield. Hope this helps, feel free to ask more questions if needed!

[@adarshudassi]

What rear dash cam are you using and did you install it yourself?

[@DNDrives]

I’m using a boogio dashcam from Amazon. I installed it myself, I have a video on my channel explaining how I did it.

[@WendyGonzalez_]

Do you have recommendations for dash cams?

[@DNDrives]

Boogio dashcam from Amazon. It’s around $40

[@WendyGonzalez_]

@DNDrives thank you for your reply. Do you have any advice for starting your Hybrid during winter? I got my camry few days ago, but I'm not sure if warming it up is needed as a regular gas car. Thanks in advance.

[@DNDrives]

You asked the right person, I actually have researched a lot about this. Since these cars are hybrid, you can get in, start it right up and immediately drive it. If you pay close attention, you can feel that the car knows the engine is cold and doesn't use the engine to power the driving until it's warm enough, unless you press the gas pedal down far. I've noticed that the car idles the engine while using only electric power when the engine is cold. Furthermore, the engine oil in these cars are built to circulate fast, since most of the time the engine starts it has to immediately put in work. That's why the oil is so thin, it's so it can circulate around the engine fast. There is absolutely no harm in not waiting for it to warm up, it was designed to get up and go immediately, cold or not.

[@WendyGonzalez_]

@@DNDrives thank you so much! 😊

[@AUTOmaniak33]

Hi Donald, here in Russia all the bloggers who review Toyota Camry Hybrid say that it has a CVT, and that's it, no more information. and no details about the gearbox, we have very little information here about this eCVT. Therefore, I ask you to tell us more about this box and touch on the topic of how it differs from a regular CVT and how exactly, also touch on the topic of reliability, because everyone knows that a regular CVT is extremely unreliable. I will be very grateful to you, because this is important information that perhaps few people know.

[@DNDrives]

I am going to be honest, I don't know too much about the differences but eCVT transmissions are primarily used on hybrid cars only. From what I've heard, eCVT transmissions are way more reliable than the conventional CVT. Here's an AI generated snippet explaining it more in-depth. I cannot verify the correctness because it is AI generated but it sounds reasonable to me: A CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) uses a system of pulleys and a belt to provide seamless acceleration with infinite gear ratios, typically found in gas-powered cars. An eCVT (Electronic CVT), on the other hand, is used in hybrid vehicles and combines a planetary gear system with electric motors to blend power from the engine and electric motor efficiently. CVTs focus on fuel economy and simplicity, while eCVTs are designed for hybrid systems and offer regenerative braking and smoother energy transitions.

[@rlderemer]

The best video describing the eCVT is kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWeUiJyegreXoK8si=1SNs535b6YOxSeEd

[@luriensantiago8297]

Thanks for the review. Do you experience any rattle from the panoramic sunroof?

[@DNDrives]

I used to, it seems to have remedied itself. Hasn’t happened in months

[@luriensantiago8297]

@DNDrives Thanks. Was it a light rattle on the front end?

[@DNDrives]

It was near the middle beam that separates the front and rear panes of glass

[@nb31b]

After watching the car care nuts video on repairing the seal on a panoramic sunroof, I will never, ever, ever buy a car with a hole in the roof again. lol

[@DNDrives]

I saw that video too, it’s crazy you have to disassemble the entire roof

[@nb31b]

@ it was more like disassembling the entire interior of the car 😂 so crazy

[@rogerh2694]

Has your Toyota profile been deleted from your car yet? I hear that's also a reoccurring issue for some. Also, do you connect through wire which it doubles up as when you charge the phone etc? With the random times it doesn't connect thru bluetooth, wire seems just as quick and sounds like should have the more bulletproof connection.

[@DNDrives]

I'm pretty sure I don't have the Toyota profile in my car, it's just my personal user profile. I solely use the wireless connection, the wire I plug my phone with is strictly for charging. I prefer the convenience of the wireless, as long as it's not too troublesome I'm willing to deal with the occasional mishaps.

[@lildog143]

Did you get the top wrapped vinyl or black PPF?

[@DNDrives]

Just black vinyl

[@gregjones2472]

Did he just say he tinted the windshield.... smh

[@rkgsd]

I don't like the fact that the panoramic roof is being forced on you if you get the XSE and XLE. I also prefer the unpainted all-black grill the SE and LE has due to rock chip concerns, but you have no choice but to get the painted grill on the higher trims. There's no way to put PPF on that part. You could spray it with black Plasti-Dip.

[@legendsofjr1]

The panoramic roof isn’t forced. I have the xse premium. I opted out of the premium+ because i didn’t want the roof and didn’t need the pano camera

[@rickfrank7934]

@@legendsofjr1lol

[@FettyHuang]

How often do you wash the car and you do detailing or car wash?

[@DNDrives]

I wash every time after it rains. I park in my garage overnight so when there is no rain, I just dust it off and vacuum every afternoon and it stays clean until it gets wet. Whenever I wash I just run it through the wash and dry it and vacuum myself.

[@sammyjammy6647]

@@DNDrivesif you had to do it all over again what else would you have purchased for the same money? Or would you have purchased the Camry again?

[@DNDrives]

I would probably buy a slightly used BMW M340i, I didn’t this time around because I wanted reliable efficient transportation and I wanted brand new

[@brenttitus2134]

@@DNDrivesYou made the right decision over a BMW. Those vehicles are always a lease and never a buy.

[@OogieB]

Where’d you get the roof wrapped

[@DNDrives]

Detail Wrapz in Sugar Land Texas

[@anwarjaw2260]

Bro how much u put down how did u get approved?

[@DNDrives]

10k, I have great credit

[@jacobharrison8939]

I thought I was the only one to get nails In my tires. It is very frustrating

[@johnoconnor3218]

Is this AWD?

[@DNDrives]

No, I have the FWD

[@gm4210]

If you got 20% tint which is already illegal on a sedan may aswell of gone 5%.

[@DNDrives]

I have 3%

[@gm4210]

@ i knew it looked darker that 20% just wasnt sure would off been at 0% if you put 5% over your factory tinted glass.

[@AlexanderKhaminets]

@@DNDrives so the manufacturer provided you with perfectly functioning windows to have side views and blind spots, and you just paint it black. then proceed to say 'it is hard to see at night'. you like to be handicapped while driving?

[@DNDrives]

I like privacy and protection from the sun, personal preference. If you don't like it, don't tint your car.

[@m4yh3mcarter]

You can help your fuel economy by giving your battery time to warm up while running your heat. Also i find that coming up to the speed of traffic in normal way is more fuel efficient then half throttling little by little. Gives the battery more time to coast. Nice video bro thanks.

[@DNDrives]

Thanks for the insight! I've also noticed that driving normally results in higher efficiency then when I am purposely driving calmly to save gas. Lately I haven't been paying much attention to trying to get the max MPG, I've just been driving it and the numbers have been just fine.

[@rlderemer]

The engine is most efficient at 2500 RPM. Accelerate at 2500 rpm for the most efficiency. So don't baby to much. You need the HUD to get a tach.

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

I didnt know that the windshield could be tinted

[@DNDrives]

It can’t, legally you are not allowed to

[@craigmack1715]

Not legally in NYS

[@raymikes1234]

The car play issue happens when Apple updates software, and it takes some time for the car companies to update there software, this is not just a Toyota problem, all the wireless 🛜 vehicles experience it, some companies are just quicker than others to update there vehicles

[@DNDrives]

I've never thought of it this way, this definitely makes sense!

[@yongkorngchheu1083]

Is that a trash can on the door? I want I link to that

[@DNDrives]

a.co/d/avpC6or

[@Freep-m2l]

There many flaws which no reviewers dont want to admit

[@DNDrives]

I try to be as open as I can, Toyota isn’t paying me to review this car so I have no inclination to hide flaws.

[@YayboeSea-s4y]

You Drive 133 Mph Mr. Sir?

[@DNDrives]

No

[@seethingsclearlyawaken3424]

You say, living in the United States, one shouldn't be driving in excess of 117 miles per hour. Yeah, well, what if the police are chasing you? Have you ever thought about that? Yeah, say if you just robbed a liquor store or convenience store? So, now you see? There is a good reason to drive faster than 117 mph. One other thing, driving this type of hybrid vehicle at high speeds, (117mph), really depletes the hybrid battery power rather quickly. It would not have the opportunity to regenerate itself, so there would be a major strain on the hybrid/battery system. I wouldn't recommend driving that fast very often. I like your car a lot, especially the red interior. You seem like a very nice young man. You did a great job creating this video. Keep it up! The fuel pump needs the gasoline to cool itself. Referring to the USB plugs in your lower dash...late model Prius have the same set up. Allegedly, one is for connectivity or transferring information to the head-unit, such as listening to audio files and such. The other is for charging only. I don't know which is which on your Camry, but I would check it out in your manual. One my Prius, 2024 model, every once in a while my head unit disconnects with my phone for no reason. What I do is, I restart my phone, instead of restarting the vehicle. So, I believe it's a stupid quirk that is built into Toyota head-units. Also, I have an Android, not an Apple product...that's why I say it's a quirk in the Toyota head-unit.

[@DNDrives]

Thank you for your support and valuable insight! I've never thought about the regeneration of the battery at such high speeds before, now that you say it, it makes a lot of sense why hybrids usually have a lower top speed. The head units in these cars are very interesting, you'd think a brand with such reputation and popularity would have something like this down to a T.

[@codernov]

You must be doing uber or lyft with that kind of mileage in only half a year.

[@DNDrives]

I do Instacart

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

Electronic issues: see your dealer. Shouldnt have to reboot.

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

Same with creaks.

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

6.8 seconds! That's fast in my book.

[@glendabuchanan9545]

I lost my interest in this pretty quickly you I'm sorry you just didn't get to the car quick enough and just boring not good sorry

[@rickfrank7934]

Sounds like you have a personal problem