Is there a purpose to purchase a luxurious automobile in a world the place the 2026 Toyota Camry XSE all-wheel drive (AWD) exists?
A number of. However you may want to clarify your self.
Toyota’s basic midsize automobile was redesigned from tip to tail for 2025, so it enters the 2026 mannequin 12 months principally unchanged. The large information final 12 months, when it was new, was that you possibly can now not get a Camry that wasn’t hybrid.
Toyota, lengthy the corporate finest recognized for hybrid automobiles, has been slowly going all-hybrid. The Camry and the RAV4 are now not obtainable with out hybrid energy.
Little modifications for 2026, with simply the choice of a darkish trim Nightshade Version and a few new shade choices. In any other case, the 2026 Camry is the 2025 Camry. I spent per week driving it round Washington, D.C., and its suburbs, and walked away considering that, certain, there are a number of causes to spend extra on a luxurious automobile.
However my take a look at mannequin of Toyota’s midsize sedan had AWD, leather-based seats, heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, trendy aluminum pedals, and lots of different options you may affiliate with luxurious manufacturers – all at a worth greater than $5,000 lower than the ultimate sale worth of the common new automobile.
You’ll be able to fall in love with one thing else. I’d settle for that. However this can be a implausible selection for nearly anybody at a worth that’s exhausting to imagine. It’s additionally our Greatest Purchase winner in its class.
Which Trim Stage
Toyota will promote you a 2026 Camry in 5 trim ranges – LE, SE, Nightshade, XLE, and XSE. The corporate loaned me the top-of-the-line XSE model with the non-compulsory Premium Plus bundle, which provides seat air flow, a site visitors jam help system that eases fatigue in bumper-to-bumper driving, and some different niceties. At KBB, we’re typically annoyed that automakers favor to mortgage us their most well-equipped vehicles once we ask to check the best-sellers. However this time, I couldn’t recover from how this one value lower than the common new automobile and had practically each function you may want.
New 2026 Toyota Camry Costs
|
Retail Value
|
Truthful Buy Value (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$30,295
|
$30,000
|
|||
|
$32,795
|
$32,800
|
|||
|
$33,795
|
$33,800
|
|||
|
$35,495
|
$35,500
|
|||
|
$36,695
|
$36,700
|
Favourite Characteristic
It’s exhausting to choose a standout function in a automobile so well-balanced. So I’ll go along with the shock.
This, probably the most luxurious model of the 2026 Camry, is rated for 43 mpg and is as environment friendly on metropolis streets as on the freeway. Much less well-equipped variations rise up to 51 mpg.
There was a time if you traded away some efficiency or each day livability for gasoline financial system like that. However this automobile has loads of energy, practically each creature consolation, and may bypass the bump fairly typically.
This model will get as much as 559 miles between fill-ups.
What It’s Prefer to Drive
Below the hood waits a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electrical motor, with the mixture good for 225 horsepower. That’s sufficient to cross on the freeway with none hesitation. Yow will discover extra powerfu l vehicles, however that energy is only for play – that is loads for many drivers.
The automobile’s suspension is a real shock. Like most household vehicles, it’s tuned for consolation. However engineers gave it only a couple shakes of Cholula – it’s somewhat sportier than I anticipated, even having pushed nearly each era of Camry.
I discovered the brakes a bit delicate on the primary day, however I received used to them rapidly.
Inside Consolation and Expertise
Camry XLE and XSE fashions get a 12.3-inch driver’s instrument show, and the XSE consists of the choice of a head-up show. The same 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen sits within the heart, dealing with local weather and infotainment features in addition to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It’s just like the setup you discover in most present SUVs and luxurious vehicles. Decrease trims get smaller screens for each the motive force and the middle stack, and I believe you’d discover the smaller dimension.
The entrance seats are snug, although barely flatter than a well-bolstered sport seat. Three ranges of air flow and three ranges of heating assist preserve them snug in excessive climate.
If I had a disappointment, it’s that probably the most premium sound system obtainable on the Camry remains to be simply good. The non-compulsory Premium Plus Package deal upgrades you from six to 9 audio system, which feels a bit outdated in 2026. I’d anticipate 9 within the base bundle and an improve to 12 or 16.
It sounded wonderful. But it surely’s one factor that makes this an expensive mainstream automobile, not a luxurious automobile.
Rear seat room is snug for adults, although you’ll discover extra within the 2026 Honda Accord.
Limitations
Toyota has begun experimenting with subscription providers. These experiments are mild at this level – no BMW-style pay-monthly-for-your-heated-seats surprises right here. However should you just like the linked app that allows you to remotely unlock it together with your telephone and monitor the place you parked, or the “Hey, Toyota” voice assistant, these are included for less than the primary 12 months. After that, there’s a price for every.
Key Concerns
The Camry has been preventing a duel with the Accord for generations. Each stay wonderful decisions. However the Accord has grown extra, and simply wins the rear-seat house battle now. The Camry has driving refinement down barely higher, and we discover it barely sportier.
