2024 Toyota Camry

BY JONATHON RAMSEY

Overview

The Toyota Camry has done its job so well for so long that it isn’t merely a sedan, it’s an institution. Yes, it has lost sales ground in a market obsessed with SUVs and pickups, but for more than 20 years in the U.S., the Camry has been the best-selling sedan. The Camry has kept six-cylinder powertrains on the menu while its closest competition, the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Sonata, have gone to inline-fours only. That means the Toyota entices with a 301-hp V-6 at one end of the lineup and a hybrid four-cylinder trim delivering exceptional fuel economy at the other. What’s more, the current generation of the roomy five-seater has added stylish lines to the model’s well-earned reputation for reliability, especially when equipped with the Nightshade package’s cool bronze wheels. And while the TRD model is the sportiest Camry ever, none of the changes made under the Toyota Racing Development banner have altered its core personality. In other words, it’s still a Camry.

What’s New for 2024?

The sole change for 2024 is that Toyota has eliminated Amazon’s Alexa interface from its infotainment system. Otherwise, the Camry carries over from 2023 unchanged.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

We’d select the XLE Hybrid, because we think it is the trim that best reflects what the Camry is best at: being an easy-driving, family-focused sedan with a very tasteful cabin. The 208-hp four-cylinder hybrid doesn’t excite, but the XLE Hybrid gets good marks for steering and ride. fuel economy. The standard leather interior is handsome, roomy, and well-equipped. Driven gently, the Hybrid delivers excellent fuel economy.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The standard four-cylinder engine pairs with a silky eight-speed automatic, but its acceleration numbers are disappointing. In the hybrid trims, an even less powerful version of that engine is paired with a battery and two electric motors, the resulting sedan no more exciting to drive than the base powertrain. We’re also happy to say that we no longer hate driving the Camry, though, primarily because of the velvety 301-hp V-6 available on the XLE, XSE, and TRD variants. The steering is weighted correctly for the car’s purpose in life—substantial enough when cornering and light enough when maneuvering in parking lots. The dynamics have been tuned for a controlled ride and surprisingly responsive handling. We found the Camry’s brake pedal responsive and not too soft, even in the hybrid, in which it must meld friction and regenerative braking (where the energy from braking is used to recharge the hybrid’s battery pack).

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The whole Camry lineup performed extremely well in the EPA’s tests, and a four-cylinder model did brilliantly in our real-world highway testing. The most efficient nonhybrid Camry models are the LE and SE with the four-cylinder engine, which earned EPA estimates of 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway; the base LE hybrid earned ratings of 51 mpg city and 53 mpg highway. The hybrid’s upper trims sacrifice some efficiency at the altar of luxury, however, and models powered by the V-6 earned ratings of 22 mpg city and up to 33 mpg highway. A four-cylinder Camry SE returned 45 mpg in our highway test, beating its own EPA rating by 6 mpg—and making it the most economical nonhybrid car we’ve ever tested. It even beat the Camry XLE hybrid we tested by 1 mpg. For more information about the Camry’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Toyota Camry’s instrument panel and center console retain the same basic design no matter the trim, which is fine if you like its slightly convoluted lines and lots of buttons. However, for a vehicle boasting nine trims separated by just $8,000, there’s a there’s a surprising gap in the quality of cabin materials from the base SE to the ultimate XSE Hybrid. The lower trims are plebian and don’t pretend otherwise, while the XLE and XSE are downright luxurious for a $35,000 sedan. There’s nothing else to doubt about the roomy and comfortable accommodations. The Camry’s large footprint provides comfortable passenger space, plenty of interior storage cubbies, and lots of cargo space in the large trunk. The rear seats fold down for truly large objects. In the hybrids, Toyota relocated the big battery from the trunk to beneath the rear seats, so owners don’t have to sacrifice carrying capacity for the extra mpg.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Toyota’s touchscreen infotainment system—called Entune 3.0—is standard across the Camry lineup, with an enhanced version available as an option. Entune has loads of features and responded reasonably well to user inputs in our tests, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are standard.

afety and Driver-Assistance Features

We continue to applaud Toyota’s decision to make driver-assistance technology standard on all Camry models. For more information about the Camry’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

While rivals such as the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima have longer warranty periods in this class, Toyota holds its own with two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles

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