Cars can certainly be tools. While that’s not how I view the automobile, many people use them merely as appliances to get from point A to point B. Ideally, a car can be more than that, but sometimes, it simply fulfills your needs at the moment. During my last review, I took a new Genesis on a trip to say goodbye to my sister. Or so I thought.
2025 Toyota Camry Overview
The ninth-generation (XV80) Camry is built on the same GA-K platform as the last-generation Camry. Of course, it has an all-new look. The revised front end looks very similar to the Toyota Crown, which is generally good, as that’s the Crown’s best angle. The other big news is that the Camry is only powered by hybrid powertrains now. A good move in a sea of uncertainty regarding electric vehicles. The plug-in-hybrid remains a great middle ground, but prices are still significantly higher than the now-routine hybrid powertrain.
Toyota Camry trim levels are nothing if not consistent, and for 2025, you can choose from the base LE, the sporty SE, the mid-range XLE, and the top-spec XSE. As you can see below, our tester is well-equipped. It includes AWD ($1,525), the Premium Plus package ($4,075), and a few miscellaneous items, resulting in an out-the-door price of almost $43,700. The Camry is assembled in Georgetown, Kentucky, but it naturally uses parts from overseas, so the actual post-tariff pricing is still to be determined.
These days, $43K and change is no higher than the average price of a new car. If recent projections are correct, it’s actually well below that mark, which is creeping closer and closer to $50,000. Let’s find out if the new Camry is any good.
2025 Toyota Camry XSE AWD Inside & Out
It is indeed beautiful. From almost any angle, the Camry is quite attractive. While the Crown introduced some elements of this design, the latest Prius has a similar vibe. Despite the Crown’s unfortunate rear end, the overall implementation is very good across the board. The additional cost for the 19″ dark metallic wheels is definitely worth it. The split-spoke design is intriguing and justifies the $1,500 price. However, I would prefer to see them in a brighter color.
The interior is quite typical of Toyota, featuring a well-integrated 12.3-inch screen set within a sweeping dashboard. The materials feel solid, and you have some actual buttons- thank the maker! On the tech side, I connected quickly to Apple CarPlay, and it remained connected throughout the entire loan period.
2025 Toyota Camry XSE AWD On the Road
You never choose what you’re doing, or where you are, when you receive bad news. During my last loan, I got a panicked call from my brother-in-law, telling me I needed to say goodbye to my sister in the hospital. After a series of misfortunes, she wasn’t doing well. My fiancé held on for dear life while I shaved a good 40 minutes off a 2.5-hour drive. Fast forward to the following week, and she was improving. I’m not going to trade on tragedy for clicks, but I received another call that required another rapid drive. This time, it was just me alone in the Camry.
Once again, the route was primarily on the highway, but this time a little snowy. The adaptive cruise mode in the Camry works exceptionally well. It smoothly decelerated when approaching a slower-moving car and accelerated back to speed after passing. If you don’t have to change lanes too often, it’s even better. I was on a two-lane divided highway for most of the journey, and I just set the cruise control to follow the car in front of me, and it performed excellently. In normal traffic, it behaves like an electric vehicle. You can take your foot off the gas, and it will slow to a full stop without touching the brake pedal, solely depending on the actions of the car in front of you.
Critiques were minimal. I sometimes tend to drive with one hand at 12 o’clock, and I kept receiving notifications that the driver monitoring system is unavailable, prompting me to sit up and face the camera. It’s ironically distracting. Also, when it’s in all-electric mode, you really notice when the engine kicks on. That’s about it; the average buyer will likely enjoy the new Camry very much.
Summary
That weekend turned out to be the last time I saw my sister. Her condition deteriorated to the point where the doctors could no longer help. Thankfully, they found a way to bring her home. She passed away a few days later, and I miss her all the time. I was surprised by how the cars I drove impacted the experience. They were merely a means of transportation, but the Genesis and the Camry were frustration-free, which I needed at the time. Miss you, Elaine.