Is the 2025 Toyota Camry a Real Upgrade? (2024 vs 2025)

The 2025 Toyota Camry seems more like an extensive refresh than a proper redesign, but is that really the case? And are the changes enough to justify buying one over the 2024 Camry? Let's find out.
Other key competitors to look at include the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5 and countless compact crossovers.
Thank you, Royal South Toyota in Bloomington, Indiana, for letting me test drive a few Camrys to make this video possible.
Royalsouthtoyota.com
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[@sammyt3514]

Black is probably the best color on this new Camry; looks super sharp.

[@richscott2483]

The hardest color is Black to keep clean, it is a dust reflector and attractor, it will show water spots and swirls. The Automotive Industry uses soft water-based paints that are spray layered super thin. The primer will show if you get chips or scratches. Black, then White are the 2 worst colors to maintain on any vehicle. Do not waste money on Ceramic Coating at an Auto Detailer. Graphine Sprays and Ceramic Sprays work very well for up to 3 months. Always use high-quality Microfiber Towels, once dirtied use a new one Have a dozen clean MF towels on hand. Always wash in Cold Water with approved Microfiber Laundry Detergent and Low Heat/Air Fluff Dry as Heat will destroy MF towels. The only time if not experienced yourself is after 3 or 4 years may consider a Professional Auto Dealer to perform Paint Correction and Clay Barring your vehicle, then provide a Sealant and nice Wax job. But Ceramic Coating is just too darn expensive as will look nice for up to 2 years but it does not prevent paint chips, dings, or scratches. Never use Protective Paint Film "PPF" or go to Ziebart the worst place of them all and a ripoff.

[@sammyt3514]

@@richscott2483 All good tips, and believe me I'm painfully aware of how hard it is to keep black looking clean having only owned black cars, but I can't help but liking how a black car looks for the 5 minutes it takes for it to get dirty again after washing it ;)

[@bjsimon802]

The reviews are very good for this car, many people say the added power from hybrid powertrain make the drive better, drives like a sports sedan

[@chriskane8625]

Another dealer that has ruined a beautiful car by affixing their advertising to the body. License plate frame … ok but STOP putting decals on cars!

[@escheidl]

The 25 is a nice upgrade. I sat in one at the dealership while I was getting my oil changed and saw many nice improvements over my 18 Camry hybrid. With the used car prices still being in the stratosphere, I doubt you could find a used one cheap enough to warrant buying used. Especially considering the difference in interest rates, new verses used.

[@adrienchan2097]

I have 18 Camry XLE hybrid std. should I get 25 model or is a waste?

[@escheidl]

@@adrienchan2097 If you're the type that likes to always drive a late model car, the 25 Camry is a noticeable upgrade from the 18 and I feel the best sedan in it's class. I personally have learned to buy my Toyota's new so I don't have to pay for others maintenance mistakes and mishaps, and keep them for 20+ trouble free years. That way I can enjoy 15 years of no car payments. So I won't be replacing mine until at least 2038.

[@andynickles7505]

@@escheidl it’s definitely tempting as the infotainment finally looks up to par with their competitors and looks like it will age much better than the previous gen in my opinion.

[@escheidl]

@@andynickles7505 Yes, the infotainment system looks very nice compared to ours. Just the fact that it now has wireless Android Auto/Apple Car play is a huge upgrade in my opinion. Now I just sat in it, but I found the seats were more comfortable front and back and the materials were very nice. The doors close with a nicer sound too (about time Toyota). Also, for the first time in a Camry you can get rain sensing wipers and dual memory seats. But only on the most top of the line optioned XLE's and for some reason is not available in the XSE trims. 🤷‍♂ I feel the 25 is a notable upgrade, but don't pay any ADM and send the dealers the wrong message that they can take advantage of us. The dealer I was at said they would even deal below MSRP. But that remained to be seen since I'm not going to be in the market until 2038. 😉

[@andynickles7505]

@@escheidl thanks for the information! Yeah I’ve been driving a 2004 Mazda6 since I bought it in 2003. So maybe I’ll treat myself with a 2025 or 2026 if I can get it for the right price.

[@normaninsandiego7061]

I like the looks of the 2025 Camry. If it will go full lawnmower, that is a plus. Excellent review.

[@msmarshall854]

NEW DESIGN--it's definitely growing on me.

[@fredonia81]

Toyota and all the other companies need to understand that those 18 inch wheels fitted with low sidewall tires are not feasible on the poorly maintained roads in Northern America! They should go with 17 inch wheel that will fit with a 50 series tire to achieve that happy sweet spot. As usual they insist on those sunroofs that take up headspace, adding extra cost to the vehicle for a hole in the roof that a lot of us don’t care to have.

[@Cap683]

Agreed. Got the LE with option package.

[@CarlosMartinez-mr1qb]

Great Review!!!

[@Realistick]

Thanks🥸

[@jecksonng]

2024 look so much better on body kit design

[@naveenthemachine]

The 2020 looks better. The interior is a lot cleaner than the 2021-24 models

[@wholeNwon]

Always like your reviews.

[@Realistick]

Thank you for being a regular viewer!

[@wholeNwon]

@@Realistick Gotta help out with the algorithm, right?

[@inosurrender8327]

The SE and XSE look so clean in black especially with the honey comb front grill

[@felixliu8535]

Does new Camry come with illumination lights?

[@jxmar_]

Yess XLE! Finally! My favorite trim😍

[@andynickles7505]

Correction I optioned one and it is $42k. I really want that traffic jam assist. Wish it was either standard or a stand alone option. Maybe someday.

[@Realistick]

In Canada? I got one to $42 grand on the builder (XSE AWD with premium plus pkg) on the US website but 47k would be into crown signia territory🫠

[@andynickles7505]

@@Realistick you are correct $42K. The build calculator let me select both the premium package and premium plus packages which drove up the cost.

[@bjsimon802]

Worldwide inflation, done by powerful men who are causing famines

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

You grew your hair out and new glasses-- lookin good bro.

[@Realistick]

Thanks!

[@obhatti]

@@Realistick Could barely focus on the car review - was legit drooling haha!!!

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

​@@obhatti He's mine LOL.

[@0HOON0]

This car, like the Prius, really benefits from the switch to AWD. Due to the battery and electronics messing up the weight distribution, my '21 Hybrid has poor traction in the snow.

[@solo2rules]

Get a set of snow tires and all will be good.

[@kILLuMBuS]

picking up a 25 SE black on black tomorrow and i'm just as excited as I was picking up my Supra..godlike reliability and mpg let's goooo

[@genzigzag]

As always a great review! I know the market for coupes has all but disappeared but wouldn't it be great if Toyota had a Camry based coupe for people that simply would like a nice affordable cruiser and don't need the extra 2 doors?

[@Realistick]

A new Crown or camry Solara would be awesome. Maybe if Honda sees success with the new 2-door hybrid prelude, Toyota would consider dropping in a (larger) 2 door option as well!

[@TamlaPearsey]

Yes, an all new 2 door Camry Solara would be competitive if they brought it back. The Solara was nimble and had a sporty feel.

[@genzigzag]

​@@TamlaPearsey I would agree, you don't need a all out sports car or Uber GT with +400HP. Something attractive, comfortable and decently quick, thanks to the hybrid AWD setup.

[@threadoflife]

Should I buy this or the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Premium fully loaded I’m torn? 🤔

[@andrewbutera3737]

Should I buy the first model year of this re design or wait??

[@hjer731]

Maybe wait a few months. But this is not a full redesign

[@degenwest]

Excellent review. Keep up the good work!

[@Realistick]

I appreciate that, thank you for watching!

[@suburiboy]

I don’t see the point of a basic transportation family/commuter car that is too rare for you to find and starts over $30k. That is starting to creep into impractical land.

[@ggromi2983]

The Corolla is more for the basic transporter buyer. It’s a lot more affordable and much easier to purchase for most car shoppers. The Camry is for a more comfortable means of transport, but even the base mode has some nice goodies.

[@shadowhound5113]

I still don’t like the front of the new Camry. I also wish it had more ground clearance and more headroom.

[@stanpister6832]

You say the need for the V6 is gone when in Canada you can NOT even purchase a 2024 Camry V6 TRD. They have been SOLD OUT and unable to spec/build since early 2024. The website wont allow you to spec or build one. (I live in Vancouver CA) Toyota isn't even giving consumers in Canada the option of even purchasing one... So is the need gone? Or is the demand so high they sold out right away? Due to the increasing costs of servicing and maintaining cars now, I think a lot of Lexus ES 350 would consider a 2024 Toyota V6 TRD if they could buy one...

[@Realistick]

I said the need was mostly gone (not that there was no need whatsoever), there's still a niche for that kind of car, but the hybrid aligns with what MOST people want out of a Camry! I hope the v6 lives on in the ES350. Maybe Canada is different, but in the states, they reduce allocations of configurations that take longer to sell. This does make it harder to find, and will also negatively affect sales of the V6, but no, the demand here isn't high.

[@stanpister6832]

@@Realistick Yeah that is what I thought as well. Nerf’d it because it wasn’t doing well. Sad. But you would think that if they could produce it they would…I do consider that building a V6 on the line is probably a lot more expensive as they have separate part of factory etc etc added costs to do 1 different than the others. Sad because all the old 1997 camry’s you see on fb marketplace are the XLE v6 trim levels. Sad that we are prioritizing better fuel economy for shorter vehicle life span when a V6 can last like 10 years longer with normal maintenance than a 4 cylinder…in the long run of a vehicle purchase the ROI is higher with the V6s toyotas

[@msmarshall854]

REALLY appreciate the trim you chose to review-----the XLE in interior gray, rather than disgusting all-black everywhere. This car can be nice inside if it's not all black.

[@yournightmare9999]

New design camry inside, outside looks like hyundai or kia

[@jeffreyerickson6766]

Who is that girl at the end?

[@alexesco1521]

What I like from my Camry is about 4 years hacen spend just gas

[@raymond_sycamore]

Saying "value" In any way as a descriptor for a $30,000 vehicle really breaks me.

[@derekgaliee4351]

I like Hyundai and Kia & Mazda

[@davidhunternyc1]

I would never buy a car that uses a cheap plastic infotainment screen, from the toy aisle at Walmart, slapped haphazardly on top of the dash. This trend is getting worse, not better. Bean counters, not designers, run automotive companies. The new 2025 VW Jetta, which had a nicely integrated infotainment screen, has also resorted to this cost savings trick. It's ugly and I'm not fooled, not by Toyota nor VW. Let's hope Audi and Volvo don't start dumbing down their infotainment screens.

[@wholeNwon]

Camrys really appeal to those of us who prioritize reliability. Can anyone describe the other brands you mentioned as being "reliable"? I do agree that screen placement is worse than disappointing. Not sure I could live with that.

[@davidhunternyc1]

@@wholeNwon What gets me is that Toyota makes excellent cars with reliable engines, then they ruin it with a lazy, cost saving $200 mistake. The cheap infotainment screen is in your face at all times, blocking the view outside the windshield. Nothing you can do about it. If people want to be glued to their computer screens, they'd be at home glued to their computer screens. We are being forced to look at computer screens all day every day. It's got to stop.

[@wholeNwon]

@@davidhunternyc1 I get your point. That's one of the several reasons that I haven't replaced my 26 yo Lexus and may never.

[@naveenthemachine]

The 2018-20 Camrys have a better integrated touchscreen

[@davidhunternyc1]

@@naveenthemachine yep

[@keeperzero]

My 1985 Ford Festiva Sport is way better

[@jeretso]

You are taller than Thor. I dont know anyone your height. You should do a review with 5 other tall guys for fun. Seriously Camry has plenty of room for us normal people with kids.

[@sachinnair91]

He is super tall

[@mountainhobo]

He is my height. He is perfectly normal. You guys are short.

[@sachinnair91]

@@mountainhobo 6'3 is not normal height. Stop trolling. Average adult American male is 5'9-5'10

[@blackgold754]

Yeah sedans just don’t work h8m. He needs a SUV. I’m 5 ft 10in and sedans would be pretty decent for me and although I prefer bigger cars, sedans are better for fuel economy.m

[@mountainhobo]

@@sachinnair91 Stop whining. I drive a 2012 Camry, it has perfectly sufficient room in the back seat. No, you shouldn't need an SUV. Stop sloping those roofs in the back pretending it's a sporty coupe. It's not. It's a dumb design trend.

[@elGamiReal]

I personally like how the old model looks. It was really flashy and attention seeking.

[@tylermilsop]

Is it me or is audio bad ??

[@joey86bu1]

Yes if you want..... 1. Less engine options. 2. Worse styling (imo). 3. CVT whine.

[@realLovesu]

Do u like desigen camry 25? or 24

[@210kennypowers3]

Toyota is ass backwards is500 has a v8 engine but your full size truck doesn’t even have the option but cost more with a turbo which are unreliable and you make a Camry without the trd package or gr package. So much for the return customer market .

[@kellyaustin7487]

You just excited grandparents everywhere 😅

[@justsomeone6835]

And you probably like Dodge jeep Chrysler junk Boxes lol 😂

[@SkyRL25]

Make way more sens the the. overpriced Prius......... I had a 2023 Prius prime XSE love it but way too expensive for the utility of the car.......

[@markymark28]

Notice after the toyota recalls and safety scandals, Most if not all of youtube car reviewers are doing Toyotas and nothing but praises.

[@anthonyariola6278]

How can u possibly impress ur girlfriend with a Toyota Camry?🤷🏽‍♂️😂

[@Realistick]

Perhaps with a 301 hp v6🤠, but no, she probably won’t care unless she also happens to be a distinguished car nut.

[@naveenthemachine]

With the silky smooth v6, red interior, 360 camera, and pano roof

[@richarddobson3138]

If it takes a vehicle to impress your girlfriend, then you need a different girlfriend..

[@terrancecloverfield6791]

@@richarddobson3138 You would think, but history has shown us that girls like fast cars, and they like it when men can handle that speed. I don't know how to explain it, but with all the car sideshows in California, there has been a good mixture of guy:girl ratio. Guys also like girls who can handle fast cars too. There's just something primal that just activates parts in our brain the screams "lust".

[@richarddobson3138]

@terrancecloverfield6791 Sir I've been there, down that. My days of kow towing down to what a woman wants are over..If she's that immature, I want no part of her.. Financial stability, completely out of debt, owning your home and car outright with no payments and a healthy bank account should be more important to any woman who has a clue.. This car, to be the most popular sedan in America by a long shot, has more than enough features, stylish looks, and speed. I'm an old fart now but back in 1985 I fell for the same stuff you are talking about and bought an 85 Camaro..It was shortly thereafter, I realized what a fool I was..Because of my conservative nature I kept the car 20 years but this required constant effort and repairs..I had 362,000 miles on it when I sent it to the junkyard in 2005..The Camaro was a V-6 but only had 135 horsepower. 3 transmissions, 5 fuel pumps, 3 alternators, and about 50 mass air flow sensors, and 3 exhaust systems..My 2013 Camry SE has 68k miles and not one repair yet..Oh, and it has 178 horsepower and is a 4 cylinder with twice the pickup and twice the gas mileage.

[@naveenthemachine]

Short answer is nope Vs the 8th gen XSE v6 absolutely not 😂

[@jonathanratliff4780]

Negative….many other upgrades makes the positive side of ledger real on new one…sorry, don’t be too jealous your car still is a fine one

[@naveenthemachine]

@@jonathanratliff4780 no it doesn’t. A cheaper interior a noisier 4 cylinder does add to the positive side of ledger My 2020 XSE v6 stomps on this new one in just about every way

[@jonathanratliff4780]

@@naveenthemachine you are so erudite Naveen, I am so impressed 😂😂😂

[@jxmar_]

@@naveenthemachine”your”😂😂😂 boy you know damn well it ain’t yours💀💀

[@naveenthemachine]

@@jxmar_ how can prove it’s not mine? Can you prove that your car is yours? Oh wait you can’t. It’s probably your parents 😂😂

[@richscott2483]

I will never purchase a 9th Gen. 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid. It is the worst design ever created by Toyota for the 2025 Camry inside and outside. It is super ugly. Also a lame and pathetic Hybrid. You are better off with the 8th Gen. 2nd edition refreshed 2021 to 2024 Camry one of the best designs Toyota had come out with for the Camry. The MSRP of $41,305 for my fully loaded 2023 Camry XSE 3.5L V6 versus MSRP of nearly $42,000 for a fully loaded 2025 Camry XSE Hybrid FWD. Add $1,500 if you want AWD. My 2023 Camry XSE V6 is much better than the 2025 Camry Hybrid. But if you want to go Green Economy and fuel efficiency with a slower and lame ugly looking Camry, that's your prerogative.

[@Chris_really_]

Interior is still ugly

[@JeffBaker-ph6yj]

All personal opinions, no technical advice don't know about the proven 2.5 time for a redo, not impressed so far

[@0HOON0]

The A25A is a great engine. Happy to see it stick around for another generation.

[@sammyjammy6647]

You don’t purchase a Camry to be impressed

[@escheidl]

The 2.5 A25A FXS hybrid engine is one of Toyota's best powerplants ever. I'd like to see it put in more models. If Toyota was able to fit this into the Corolla, it would get much better fuel mileage and be much quicker than it currently is. As it is, the current Camry LE already get's better fuel economy and is considerably quicker than the current Corolla with it's anemic 2.0 liter hybrid engine. And that's in a bigger heavier car. Imagine if it was in the smaller lighter Corolla. It would get phenomenal fuel mileage and be very quick. As they say, if it aint broke don't fix it. This engine is well on it's way becoming legendary.