0
0
Is there a motive to purchase a luxurious automobile in a world the place the 2026 Toyota Camry XSE all-wheel drive (AWD) exists?
A number of. But you would possibly want to elucidate 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 massive information final 12 months, when it was new, was that you may 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 not obtainable with out hybrid energy.
Little adjustments for 2026, with simply the choice of a darkish trim Nightshade Edition and a few new colour choices. Otherwise, the 2026 Camry is the 2025 Camry. I spent every week driving it round Washington, D.C., and its suburbs, and walked away considering that, certain, there are just a few causes to spend extra on a luxurious automobile.
But my check mannequin of Toyota’s midsize sedan had AWD, leather-based seats, heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, fashionable aluminum pedals, and plenty of different options you would possibly affiliate with luxurious manufacturers – all at a value greater than $5,000 lower than the ultimate sale value of the common new automobile.
You can fall in love with one thing else. I’d settle for that. But this can be a improbable selection for nearly anybody at a value that’s laborious to imagine. It’s additionally our Best Buy winner in its class.
Which Trim Level
Toyota will promote you a 2026 Camry in 5 trim ranges – LE, SE, Nightshade, XLE, and XSE. The firm loaned me the top-of-the-line XSE model with the non-obligatory Premium Plus package deal, which provides seat air flow, a visitors jam help system that eases fatigue in bumper-to-bumper driving, and some different niceties. At KBB, we’re usually annoyed that automakers desire to mortgage us their most well-equipped automobiles after we ask to check the best-sellers. But this time, I couldn’t recover from how this one value lower than the common new automobile and had practically each characteristic you may want.
New 2026 Toyota Camry Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LE
|
$30,295
|
$30,000
|
||
|
SE
|
$32,795
|
$32,800
|
||
|
Nightshade
|
$33,795
|
$33,800
|
||
|
XLE
|
$35,495
|
$35,500
|
||
|
XSE
|
$36,695
|
$36,700
|
Favorite Feature
It’s laborious to select a standout characteristic 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. Less well-equipped variations rise up to 51 mpg.
There was a time once you traded away some efficiency or each day livability for gasoline economic system like that. But this automobile has loads of energy, practically each creature consolation, and may bypass the bump fairly usually.
This model will get as much as 559 miles between fill-ups.
What It’s Like to Drive
Under 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 move on the freeway with none hesitation. You can discover extra powerfu l automobiles, however that energy is only for play – that is a lot for many drivers.
The automobile’s suspension is a real shock. Like most household automobiles, it’s tuned for consolation. But engineers gave it only a couple shakes of Cholula – it’s slightly sportier than I anticipated, even having pushed virtually each era of Camry.
I discovered the brakes a bit gentle on the primary day, however I received used to them rapidly.
Interior Comfort and Technology
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. An analogous 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen sits within the middle, dealing with local weather and infotainment capabilities in addition to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It’s just like the setup you discover in most present SUVs and luxurious automobiles. Lower trims get smaller screens for each the motive force and the middle stack, and I feel you’d discover the smaller measurement.
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 hold 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-obligatory Premium Plus Package upgrades you from six to 9 audio system, which feels a bit outdated in 2026. I’d count on 9 within the base package deal and an improve to 12 or 16.
It sounded high quality. But it’s one factor that makes this an opulent 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 companies. Those experiments are gentle at this level – no BMW-style pay-monthly-for-your-heated-seats surprises right here. But for those who just like the related app that permits you to remotely unlock it along with your cellphone and observe the place you parked, or the “Hey, Toyota” voice assistant, these are included for under the primary 12 months. After that, there’s a charge for every.
Key Considerations
The Camry has been preventing a duel with the Accord for generations. Both stay glorious decisions. But the Accord has grown extra, and simply wins the rear-seat area battle now. The Camry has driving refinement down barely higher, and we discover it barely sportier.
Source link
#Driving #Toyota #Camry #XSE #AWD
