Remember the time when midsize sedans was one of the more aspirational cars? The market for it was still relatively healthy about 15 years ago, and just about every automaker had one in their lineup in the ‘90s. Today, that segment isn’t just stagnant, it’s on the verge of extinction.
In fact, if you want a traditional midsize sedan in the local market, you literally only have one choice left. That would be the Toyota Camry, the sole and designated survivor of its segment.
Think about it, all of its competitors are no longer sold here. Its long time rival, the Honda Accord, was discontinued a few years ago. Nissan dropped the Altima after it barely made a ripple in the local market, and Mitsubishi has been out of the game for a very long time. That said, Mazda still offers the 6, but only as a wagon…not that we’re complaining.
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Being the only car in its class might sound like a welcome relief for the Camry, but it’s far from that. If anything, it has to be better than ever to prove to the market that the midsize sedan deserves to hang around for a longer time.
For that, the Camry received a host of welcome changes in late 2023 with that version eventually landing here in December 2024. Interestingly, Toyota insists on calling it a new generation and even gave it a new chassis code (from XV70 to XV80), despite it being largely a reskin of the current model. The thing is, the changes are more than skin deep, and we have to say that’s for the best.
Let’s just say that Toyota didn’t have to make its midsize sedan this good, but we’re glad they did.
Styling
Admittedly, this might not be the Camry’s strongest suit. The 2025 Camry adapts several styling cues from Toyota’s newer offerings. Those C-shaped headlights are proof of that, along with the redesigned tail light clusters. Some folks might not like the more aggressive look, but we say it still looks pretty cohesive with the rest of the car’s otherwise smooth lines.
Save for a few more changes to the fenders, the rest of the car is unchanged from the previous version. As far as we can tell, the door skins appear the same, right down to the creases and character line. The wheelbase has been lengthened by a few millimeters, barely noticeable to the naked eye.
We wouldn’t call the new Camry a stunner, but in the local context, it does have presence. Sure, it’s a taxi and a common ride-share vehicle in other countries, but the Camry has a totally different image in this side of the globe. Besides, no one really dismisses a Mercedes-Benz for being a cab in its home market.
Interior
The exterior may lead people to believe that it’s merely a facelift, but it’s totally the opposite inside. Toyota went to great lengths in redesigning the interior, from its dashboard to the door panels. For those coming from the earlier model, it looks and feels like an all-new car.
As one expects from something billed as an executive car, the cabin is filled with soft and rich textures. Yes, there are some hard plastics, but it’s where hands rarely go. Build quality, as well as fit and finish, are excellent. Then again, this is a premium Toyota product so there’s no surprises there.
Unsurprisingly, space is abundant as the Camry is primarily designed for the North American market, you know, where 5’8” is still considered short. The result of that is generous legroom at the front and rear, along with good amount of hip and shoulder room. Despite the addition of a panoramic sunroof, headroom isn’t that compromised.
For trunk space, this sedan has 524 liters available. As the Camry is a rather common sight in the country club, it’s good to know that its cargo capacity can fit up to four golf bags with ease. Even better is the fact that there’s even a full-sized spare wheel back there – a rarity these days.
Engine performance
We’ll make it clear that the hybrid system is no replacement for the 3.5-liter V6 from two generations ago. However, the electrified arrangement isn’t what we’d call slow, either. Its 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle engine is mated to two electric motors, giving a combined output of 225hp. That’s good enough for a claimed 0 to 100kph of under 7.5 seconds.
The thing is, we think that claim is actually on the conservative side. While it doesn’t fly off the line like the old six-cylinder, the immediate response from the electric motors gives the Camry a nice slug of torque from a standstill. On the move, it’s strong enough to give it confident passing abilities.
If there’s one point for improvement, that would be refinement. No, it’s not noisy in there, but when the engine is recharging the batteries, there is a hint of vibration felt – and heard – in the cabin. It’s not too bad by any means, but we wished it did that task with a little less noise.
As this is the hybrid, the highlight would be fuel economy. Even in diabolical traffic conditions, we never saw the car dip below 12km/L. The lowest figure displayed on the trip meter was 12.1km/L, and that was with a pathetic average speed of 9kph. Tell a Camry owner from 10 years ago that their bargy sedan could do that in gridlock traffic, and they’d think you’re nuts.
Ride and handling
Well, here’s a surprise for you: this Camry can be hustled through the corners. Of course, it’s no Lexus IS, but past versions of the car were far from engaging. Granted, the previous generation turned the tide, but this new one is a greater pleasure behind the wheel.
Granted, steering feel is a little muted, but it’s communicative nonetheless. There’s good roadholding despite the comfort-oriented tires, and there’s never a sense of floppiness on the bends. Sporty, it ain’t but it’s surprising that the chassis has a more dynamic edge to it. We’ll admit that the Mazda 6 is still a more fun car to steer, but the Camry can still impress.
What’s more surprising is the fact that it comes with no penalty to the ride comfort. It’s still as supple as one expects from a Camry with body motions kept in check with little to no unnecessary movements. A soft ride doesn’t make for a competent executive sedan, but rather, a level and composed one.
Extra features
Given its equipment levels, we might as well call this car a Lexus-lite. Yes, there’s the usual infotainment features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but we’re glad to report that it also comes with niceties such as seat coolers and memory seating. As one expects from a Toyota, ergonomics and user-friendliness are as easy as breathing.
Advanced driver assists are present, but that’s to be expected. Adaptive cruise is standard, along with autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, and cross traffic alert. If there’s one thing we noticed about its assists, it’s that they’re not too panicky. We’ve experienced ‘phantom braking’ on a few occasions with other brands, but the calibration of Toyota Safety Sense in this model is spot on.
Rear seat passengers will appreciate some of the features back there. Window shades are standard, along with a power sunshade for the rear windshield. Rear occupants also get a control panel integrated into the armrest, allowing them to change climate settings, the aforementioned sunshades, and even recline the backrests. Yes, previous generations already had it, but the novelty (and convenience) doesn’t wear off.
Verdict
As we said earlier, the new Camry didn’t have to be this good. But for those who often accuse Toyota of resting on their laurels, this car is evidence to the contrary. While easy to dismiss as a facelift, the folks from Aichi took an already solid platform and polished it to near perfection. As we said, it’s a Lexus-lite.
Given its features, performance, efficiency, and capability, its price tag of P2,677,000 is reasonable. Unfortunately, that also means more people would rather get something that’s larger and higher off the ground like a midsize SUV, even if it’s at the expense of comfort, handling, and efficiency. It’s understandable, but far too many people are missing out on how much of a gem this new Camry is.
But for those dead set on getting one of these, they won’t regret it one bit. While not perfect, and no car is, pointing out its flaws is a matter of nitpicking. Because of that, it’s one of the few cars we won’t hesitate to give a 10 out of 10. The sole survivor of its segment definitely deserves more years ahead of it.
Specs: 2025 Toyota Camry 2.5 V HEV
Price: P2,677,000
Engine: 2.5-liter gasoline I4 + dual electric motor
Power: 225hp (combined)
Torque: 221Nm (engine only)
Transmission: eCVT
Layout: Front wheel-drive
Seating: 5
Score: 10/10
