My associate drove the Toyota Camry SL hybrid examined right here and didn’t need to give it again. She’s not a automotive particular person, however she is uncovered to extra new automobiles than most – and after I requested her what she thought it was value, she answered with a guess of “about $70,000?”
WATCH: Paul’s video evaluate of the 2025 Toyota Camry Ascent Sport
Proper. That offers you an concept of how good this new-generation Camry SL ‘HEV’ is, and what it looks like… that’s, it feels far costlier than it’s.
And it’s not low cost. At $53,990 plus on-road prices, it’s the most costly new Camry ever bought in Australia.
So does it actually dwell as much as the value tag? I’ll provide the precise car-person qualified-expert evaluate, so learn on!
How does the Toyota Camry evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota Camry towards equally sized autos.
Toyota
Camry
How a lot does the Toyota Camry price?
All Camry variants within the new-generation vary are petrol-electric hybrids, however Toyota has moved away from ‘hybrid’ because the advertising and marketing time period, in the direction of the time period ‘HEV’ (for hybrid-electric car), as is well-liked in Europe.
However irrespective of which means you have a look at it, the new-generation Camry line-up – slimmer, and HEV-only – is costlier than ever earlier than. It’s additionally higher geared up, too, particularly on this high-grade SL trim.
To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up towards its rivals, try our comparability software
What’s the Toyota Camry like on the within?
It definitely seems and feels a bit extra particular than the lower-grade variations. I had direct context for that, having jumped from the entry-level Ascent into this flagship SL.
The panoramic glass roof is welcome, and regardless of the actual fact it has a structural pillar intersecting the glass, it does add a number of gentle to the cabin. Within the decrease grades, the black headlining could make it really feel a bit gloomy in there.
And whereas the leather-based seat trim is hardly adventurous by way of the ending and trim design, the seats are comfy, simply adjustable, and the driving force’s seat reminiscence settings shall be welcome for individuals who share with a shorty.
It perhaps doesn’t fairly really feel as particular inside as another autos for this type of cash. The finishes are a bit secure, however it’s a Camry, so I suppose that’s okay?
The 12.3-inch touchscreen media system is ok, however I’m nonetheless not satisfied it has the very best menu construction in contrast with rival techniques. There are some hidden controls (just like the audio settings, which aren’t the place you’d anticipate them to be), and the actual fact the automotive has linked providers means there are sometimes ‘Notifications’ popping up, which could be irritating.
For those who’re like me, and also you’re more likely to simply depend on wi-fi Apple CarPlay to select up your cellphone every time you get again in, you need to be comfortable. It labored flawlessly for me for every week.
And there’s a bodily quantity knob, in addition to easy steering wheel controls, too.
Beneath the media display can also be a financial institution of buttons (hallelujah) for local weather controls, seat heating and cooling, and steering wheel heating. I used to be so comfortable that these carried over, and weren’t relegated to an on-screen show.
On the subject of shows, there’s a 12.3-inch driver info display that modifications ‘character’ with the drive mode (pink for Sport, gray for Regular, and inexperienced for Eco), and in any other case there’s a wealth of data on display together with digital speedo, security tech controls and extra.
Cost ports abound, with 5 USB-C jacks throughout the 2 rows, and there’s a wi-fi cellphone charger on this high Camry grade.
There’s good storage up entrance, together with giant bottle holders within the doorways, a pair of cupholders which are nearly excellent for a take-away espresso, and a small caddy alongside the wi-fi cost pad, too.
Backseat house is ample for a six-foot/182cm grownup like me to take a seat behind their very own driving place with affordable foot, knee and headroom. Three throughout could be a contact squeezy as there’s nonetheless a big transmission tunnel in the way in which.
There are ISOFIX baby seat anchors within the window seats, and three top-tether factors throughout the parcel shelf. And whereas it’s barely a giant difficulty, I discovered it very troublesome to unlatch a seat, due to the form of the attachment level.
Facilities are nice within the second row, with directional air vents, the aforementioned cost factors, map pockets on the seatbacks, and huge door pockets. And there are properly positioned LED lights within the rear, too.
Now, with regards to the Camry’s boot, it’s huge – 524 litres of cargo capability with the rear seats in place, and that’s simply sufficient to cop every week’s value of baggage for a small household.
Nonetheless, if you wish to load longer and wider gadgets in, you’ll should be aware of the constraints of the cargo space, because it’s not as sensible as a boxy SUV.
It actually made me want the brand new Camry got here as a wagon like these of outdated. It might be a lot extra sensible with a liftback and that further load top and width.
Nonetheless, there are nonetheless procuring bag hooks, and you’ll decrease the seat backs utilizing the set off pulls within the boot – however they don’t fold the seats down for you.
Thanfully, there’s a space-saver spare tyre below the boot ground.
What’s below the bonnet?
As within the earlier mannequin, Toyota doesn’t state a mixed torque determine for its 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain, however there have been some modifications.
Certainly, that is Toyota’s first mannequin in Australia with the model’s fifth-generation HEV system, which is extra highly effective, and presents higher claimed effectivity than its predecessor.
On take a look at, over a couple of hundred kilometres of blended driving – metropolis, city, freeway, freeway and open roads – I noticed a median of 4.6 litres per 100km on the driving force information show.
The large consideration right here, although, is that it requires 95RON premium unleaded this time round, which does add some further price on the servo.
It has a 50-litre gasoline tank capability, which suggests – based mostly on my consumption – it ought to clear 1080km per fill!
To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up towards its rivals, try our comparability software
How does the Toyota Camry drive?
The brand new-generation Camry vary refines what was already an excellent drive expertise.
It’s a low-slung sedan, and that in itself is a little bit of a peculiar component to the way in which it drives. You slink into the driving force’s seat, and there have been various situations after I thought the bumpers would backside out on pace humps and driveways, however they didn’t.
There are lots of spectacular aspects to the drive, however I notably preferred the trip consolation and physique management.
Over blended surfaces and at totally different speeds, it by no means felt flummoxed or uncomfortable, and the way in which the suspension composes itself after a giant lump or small sharp-edged bump is de facto spectacular.
The steering is well-suited to the sort of automotive, too. It’s not tremendous quick or extremely intentful, however it’s correct, properly judged by way of weighting, and enjoyable sufficient for it to be a little bit of amusing on a windy stretch of highway, and even simply weaving via roundabouts.
The additional energy is noticeable from the powertrain. I spent a number of time within the final Camry over time, and you’ll really feel the additional oomph from the hybrid powertrain whenever you actually get into it.
However what’s extra spectacular is its bold use of EV mode – usually in previous-gen Toyota hybrids, the engine would kick in loudly after I reversed out of my driveway and down the hill earlier than taking off at residence, however on this occasion, it might do all of it in EV mode.
Toyota continues to be the benchmark for hybrid powertrain administration, too – the engine, transmission, electrical motor and battery all work collectively seamlessly, with a clean but nonetheless potent expertise whenever you want it. And it’s all quieter than it was within the earlier mannequin, too.
Truthfully, there’s not a complete lot to complain about with regards to the drive expertise, other than a bit of little bit of highway noise intrusion at freeway speeds on coarse-chip surfaces.
And even the protection techniques are fairly good. There’s a driver monitoring system that doesn’t get it mistaken and a lane-keeping system that isn’t overzealous. And the digital rear-view mirror digital camera system is a beautiful addition, too.
Possibly the one criticism is that the adaptive cruise management is a bit too cautious with its gaps; it even brakes to let individuals merge in which are a great distance forward of you. How dare or not it’s so courteous?!
What do you get?
This part will assist you determine whether or not this SL mannequin is the one to go for, or not.
Toyota Camry Ascent highlights:
17-inch alloy wheelsLED headlights and tail-lightsPower-folding exterior mirrorsBlack material inside trimManual entrance seat adjustment60/40 folding rear seat back7.0-inch digital instrument binnacle8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systemWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoSatellite navigationBluetooth connectivityDAB+ digital radioDual-zone local weather controlSix-speaker sound systemFive USB-C ports
Ascent Sport provides:
Excessive-grade LED headlightsLED entrance fog lights8-way powered driver’s seatPower driver seat lumbarLeather-accented steering wheel and kit knobAuto-dimming rear-view mirrorWireless smartphone charger12.3-inch touchscreen show
SL provides:
18-inch alloy wheelsHeated exterior mirrors with memoryFront and rear digital camera washersRear/facet rear privateness glassPanoramic glass sunroofLeather seat trimEight-way powered passenger seatDriver’s seat memoryHeated and ventilated entrance seatsPaddle shifters12.3-inch digital instrument clusterDigital rear-view mirrorAutomatic rain-sensing wipersPower-adjustable heated steering wheelHead-up displayNine-speaker JBL sound system
To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up towards its rivals, try our comparability software
Is the Toyota Camry secure?
You wager it’s. It has a five-star security ranking from ANCAP, based mostly on testing performed in 2024.
In that testing it acquired an grownup occupant safety ranking of 95 per cent, a toddler occupant safety ranking of 87 per cent, a susceptible highway person safety ranking of 84 per cent, and a security help ranking of 81 per cent.
Normal security gear contains:
Autonomous emergency brakingPedestrian, bike owner, motorcyclist, oncoming car detectionIntersection collision avoidance assistEmergency steering assistWrong-pedal mitigationAdaptive cruise controlLane-keep help with lively lane centringAutomatic high-beamSpeed signal recognitionEmergency car cease
All variations have a reversing digital camera, and a surround-view digital camera system, in addition to entrance and rear parking sensors. For those who spend as much as the SL you get digital camera washers entrance and rear, too.
There are eight airbags fitted – twin entrance, driver’s knee, entrance centre, entrance facet, and full-length curtains
How a lot does the Toyota Camry price to run?
It runs on the odor of an oily rag, by way of petrol consumption. Simply keep in mind that it needs to be the great gasoline…
However by way of the opposite ongoing possession issues, it guarantees a dependable expertise. This hybrid tech has stood the take a look at of time and terror over time, and Toyota backs its fashions with good guarantee cowl.
There’s a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee plan for personal consumers, and in case you service the car on time (at Toyota, or elsewhere), you’ll get seven years of powertrain guarantee cowl as properly.
Plus, in case you do determine to service with Toyota, you’ll get 10 years of high-voltage battery guarantee cowl, too.
There’s a capped-price servicing plan for the Camry, with the primary 5 visits lined at an impressively low charge:
The one factor that you just don’t get with Toyota is roadside help, which you’ll pay further for if you’d like.
The opposite price you may need to contemplate is the Toyota Linked Companies program.
There’s a smartphone app that may present you information like odometer, gasoline gauge, distance to empty, last-known car location, recall information, and extra, however in case you’d just like the benefit of stolen car monitoring, distant car locking and unlocking for the doorways/boot, plus distant engine begin, you’ll must pay further for it after your first 12 months of possession ($9.95 monthly!).
There’s additionally an internet sat-nav system with an online-connected voice assistant, which is free for 12 months, however prices $12.50 monthly thereafter. Impolite.
To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up towards its rivals, try our comparability software
CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota Camry
It’s onerous to not be impressed by the most recent Camry, and in case you are the type of purchaser who needs an environment friendly, properly geared up and pleasing automotive, the SL makes a rock-solid case.
It’s extra mature, comfy, thought-about and assured by way of its specs and tech, and for individuals who can dwell with the sedan physique type, it’s a winner.
All in favour of shopping for a Toyota Camry? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
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