2025 Toyota Camry SL Review – the new hybrid benchmark, again?

One of the world’s best-selling vehicles and one of Toyota’s most important models, the Camry came from humble beginnings in the early 80s, only to become a household nameplate a decade later. It has spanned eight generations, with popularity continue to gain with each iteration, defying the odds of a shifting market trends toward SUVs.

What makes this medium-size sedan so successful? Simplicity and reliability. In other words, boring. At least that’s what it was like before. With the current generation Camry however, the formula included something else that would never have been used to describe any Camry in the past – desirability. This changes everything. The Camry is now interesting, not boring.

Just look at it. Updated recently, the design is sleek, contemporary and attractive. The current model has been around since 2018 and styling wise it’s been a major step up compared to previous Camry models. The latest refresh only elevated its appearance further.

The facelift may look subtle but in fact there’s been quite a substantive change. The front fascia is new, complete with redesigned headlights, bonnet and bumper. Down the side, the C pillar has been tweaked and is now slimmer and more tapered, which also resulted in the rear window frame being pinched further back for a sleeker look. At the rear, there’re new taillights and bumper. Unnecessary clutter in the front and rear fascias and side skirts have been cleaned up, with new 18-inch machined 5-spoke wheels (SL grade) tying everything together nicely.

Toyota Camry Australian pricing (excluding on-road costs)

• Camry Ascent: $39,990
• Camry Ascent Sport: $42,990
• Camry SL: $53,990

On the inside, the updates are even more extensive than the exterior. The entire dashboard has been redesigned, most notably the upsized infotainment touchscreen which now measures 12.3-inch (8.0-inch in the base Ascent trim), and the fully digital instrumentation cluster which also features a 12.3-inch display (7.0-inch in the Ascent and Ascent Sport). The latter still looks a bit dated though, in terms of display clarity and customisation options.

Ergonomics and ease of use are important Camry attributes and so Toyota has been careful not to migrate too many controls into the centre touchscreen. While the old button-galore centre console is gone, all climate adjustment functions retain their physical controls via a single row of buttons and toggle switches positioned just under the touchscreen. This is a much neater execution than before without compromising usability. And of course, the all important volume knob is also right there next to the touchscreen, not embedded in it. Thank you, Toyota.

Elsewhere, there’re new steering wheel, drive selector, smartphone charger, air vents, centre storage and door cards. In the SL trim, piano black trim pieces are now used more extensively in the new dashboard and centre console, lifting cabin ambience. Indeed, the vibe is pretty good in the Camry SL, with decent soft surfaces in most touch points and neat contrast stitchings in the leather upholstery.

Speaking of which, the seats are new as well and they’re as comfortable as ever. The Camry has always been one of the most spacious sedans on the market and this current model is no exception. There’s heaps of space in the front and back. Rear legroom especially, is pretty generous, more so than many medium SUVs. Boot space, at 524 litres with the seats up, is also comparable with its higher-riding counterparts. It’s no wonder the Camry is so popular amongst fleet and ride share operators.

Toyota Camry SL standard specification highlight

• 12.3-inch digital instrument display
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display
• Digital rear view mirror
• Head-up display
• JBL 9-speaker surround sound system
• Apple CarPlay (wireless) and Android Auto (wireless)
• AM/FM/DAB+ radio
• 5 USB C ports
• Satellite navigation
• Panoramic sunroof
• Power-adjustable front seats with driver’s memory function
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Power-adjustable steering column
• Leather seat trim

This round of update saw Toyota further streamlining the Camry’s powertrain offering. While the (much-loved) 3.5-litre V6 was dropped from the line-up back in 2021, the 2.4-litre normally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol got the axe this time around. This leaves the 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid as the sole remaining powertrain for the entire Camry range.

This isn’t a bad thing as the hybrid engine is most suited to the Camry and its buying demographic. It’s also a no-brainer for Toyota to go hybrid only for the Camry, as it strategises toward an electrified future.

On paper the elements of the hybrid power unit may seem the same as before – a 2.5-litre petrol engine running Atkinson cycle, paired with a single electric motor – but the fact is that nearly all aspect of it has been improved. Tweaks to the engine now see it produce 138kW of power, 7kW more than before, while the new electric motor now makes 100kW, a hike of 12kW. Combined, the system is rated at 170kW, up 10kW from before.

It’s not just more powerful, it operates differently as well. Thanks to a revised power control unit, the engine now runs 300-500rpm lower when in parallel hybrid mode (engine and electric motor running together). This new setup constitutes Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) system which will soon roll out to other hybrid models within the brand’s portfolio.

This new hybrid system once again put Toyota at the front of the pack when it comes to hybrid tech (though the Honda Accord e:HEV is a close second), as evident by the way the updated Camry drives. It’s quiet, seamless and efficient, just like how a hybrid should be. Because the engine now revs lower and is more muted in general, it’s not as intrusive as before when you tap on the power. The system also stays on electric power for longer and more often. The switch between electric and combustion is even more imperceptible now. Overall, it’s a much more refined driving experience, one that mimics those in luxury cars.

The added power is a plus, it’s a tad quicker off the line and the throttle is more responsive. The handling is neat and tidy as well, there’s a bit of roll around corners but it remains composed with plenty of grip. The smooth and precise steering only adds to the joy of driving the car. The ride is supple for the most part, with most bumps and ruts rounded off nicely for a comfortable ride.

Perhaps the most impressive is the fuel efficiency. Rated at a combined average of 4.5L/100km, the Camry’s thriftiness on fuel use is remarkable for a mid-size car. That figure isn’t overly optimistic either, as we managed a very close 4.6L/100km after 500km of mixed driving. That’s truly outstanding. The only downside is that it now requires the more expensive RON95 premium unleaded fuel, as opposed to RON91 accepted by the pre-update model.

Toyota Camry SL safety features highlight

• 8 airbags including driver knee and head front centre airbags
• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist and lane-centring assist
• Speed sign recognition and speed limit assist
• Front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree surround view camera

Verdict

2025 Toyota Camry SL pricing and specification

Pricing (Excluding on-road costs):	From $53,990
Warranty:	5 years/unlimited km
Country of Origin:	Japan
Service Intervals:	12 months/15,000km
Power Unit:	2.5-litre direct-injected 4-cylinder petrol: 138kW @ 6,000rpm, 221Nm @ 3,600-5,200rpm Electric motor: 100kW Combined Total: 170kW / 221Nm
Transmission:	eCVT automatic
Drivetrain:	Front-wheel drive
Combined Fuel Consumption (L/100km):	Claimed: 4.5/Tested 4.6
RON Rating:	95
Fuel Capacity (L):	50
Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B) mm:	4,920/1,840/1,445/2,825
Turning Circle Between Kerbs:	11.4
Kerb Weight (kg):	1,625
Boot Space (L):	524
Towing Capacity (kg):	Braked: 400/Unbraked: 400