2025 Toyota Camry XSE Hybrid - Review by Bruce Hotchkiss +VIDEO

Roomy And Economical

Bruce Hotchkiss

By Bruce Hotchkiss
Special Correspondent, West Coast Bureau
THE AUTO CHANNEL

What can I say about a family sedan that is rated at 48-mpg around town? How about "WOW!"

There is no doubt that the Camry has grown a whole bunch since it first arrived on our shores way back. It was then a compact with a length of 174.6"; it is now 193.5". Now nineteen inches may not sound like a lot, but believe me it is. My mom had a 1984 Camry and she loved it, although I can tell you it wasn't the roomiest car I was ever in.

Toyota introduced us to hybrid (gas/electric) cars with the Prius. They were late to the pure EV market, and recently they have announced their focus will be on hybrids for the present time. I agree with this decision.

Power for the Camry Hybrid is provided by an electric motor and a 2.5-liter, DOHC 4-cylinder. Combined power is 225 hp (AWD gets two electric motors and 232 hp). The transmission is a CVT, maybe one of the best because I didn't notice it (some CVTs are really noticeable).

I think the Camry's current styling is aggressive. It looks more like a sports sedan than an econo-sedan. Let's say it is sporty but it is not a race car. You won't be embarrassed with its performance but you also won't win too many races. Except for economy races.

I like the "Cockpit Red", as they say "it pops". I found the driver's seat too hard for my taste, I sat on top of it, there was little give.

Like many new vehicles there are controls everywhere. Thankfully the stuff I use regularly was fairly easy to adjust. There was a gear shift lever (thank you), easy to use climate control system, and I figured out how to directly enter a SiriusXM channel without consulting the owner's manual. The only control I had some trouble with was the cruise control and I'm sure with time I'd master it (the writing on the steering wheel control buttons is small).

I'm not sure anyone needs the P235/40R19 tires that are standard on the XSE. This is a family sedan so maybe more compliant tires would make more sense? The base Camry LE is shod with P205/65R16 tires that probably give a better ride.

Economy is the name of the game though, and the Camry doesn't disappoint. For ultimate economy you should go with the FWD LE; it is rated at 53-mpg city and 50-mpg highway. AWD does take a toll but not a drastic one. As I mentioned at the top the XSE FWD is rated at 48 city and 47 highway. Still darn impressive. The gas tank holds 13 gallons, so if you drive at a reasonable pace you can easily go more than 400 miles on a tankful.

There is 15.1 cubic feet of storage in the trunk, and as you can see the opening is high and wide.

I've heard from a few people that they worry about the cost of replacing a hybrid battery. Yes they are expensive but in reality they do not often require replacement, at least not during the first ownership. I know people who have driven a hybrid well over 100,000 miles with no problems, and double that is not beyond reason.

So how much does a 2025 Camry cost? That depends on the model; a base LE starts at a reasonable $28,400, a top of the line XSE starts at $34,600, the test 2025 Camry XSE Hybrid has an additional $6,500 tacked on in options. There are two other versions, SE and XLE that bridge the gap from least expensive to highest price. Prices are from toyota.com.

If you're looking for a family sedan you should consider a 2025 Camry.