After six years in its eighth generation, the trusty Toyota Camry has received a redesign that ushers in major changes for the nameplate — some expected, others more successful in eluding the soothsayers of the automotive press leading up to its release at the 2023 Los Angeles International Auto Show.
The news? The 2025 Camry is hybrid-only. That’s right, the base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and the class-exclusive 3.5-liter V6 are no longer. The Camry was the last entry in its segment to hold onto the six-cylinder engine, but the time has finally come to say goodbye.
See: The 2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid review: The reliable, roomy midsize sedan gets 52 mpg
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How major is this redesign?
Because the 2025 Camry continues to ride on the previous car’s TNGA-K platform, this is not technically a “full redesign.” The exterior could be mistaken for the previous model in the side profile, with certain elements reminiscent of that car including the wheelbase, the side mirrors, the cut line across the doors, and its general silhouette. However, this is considered a second generation of the platform and includes a suspension that has been tweaked to deliver more responsive and dynamic handling, according to Toyota.
?Like the outgoing car, the sporty SE and XSE grades have unique designs from the LE and XLE grades. All of them look sharper and more aggressive than before, with LED front lighting on all models. The difference between the sporty and non-sporty grades is not as drastic as it was before, though.
Inside, you’ll find a completely new environment that draws inspiration from the Crown, Prius, and Grand Highlander, including design elements such as the optional 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia display and digital instrument cluster. You can see it even borrows a couple of elements from the Lexus lineup if you look closely enough.
See: The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid: A no-brainer, fuel-sipping hybrid with even more space
Where is the V6 replacement?
Toyota has not announced a second hybrid powertrain option for the Camry at this point in time. Many speculated that the Hybrid Max 2.4-liter turbo powertrain from the Crown and Grand Highlander would fill those shoes in the form of a GR Camry or Camry TRD. If either of those are, indeed, still in the cards, Toyota is not ready to play its hand just yet.
What comes standard on the 2025 Toyota Camry?
The Camry now comes with a lot more standard equipment than before. Convenience features that used to require an upgrade to higher trim levels are now standard, such as a dual automatic climate control with rear seat air vents, a Qi wireless phone charger, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.
Of course, there’s the standard hybrid powertrain as well.?
What’s new with the Toyota Hybrid System powertrain?
This is the fifth generation of the venerable Toyota Hybrid System (THS) running a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder paired with two electric motors. For the first time in the Camry, this powertrain can be had with all-wheel drive, and not just on the top trims. All four grades get that check box in the configurator.
Front-wheel drive models develop 225 horsepower, while AWD bumps that up to 232 thanks to a rear axle electric drive motor that supplies on-demand power to those wheels.?
Fuel economy figures won’t be available until closer to launch, but the current Camry Hybrid with front-wheel drive garners as much as 52 mpg combined, for reference. A photo you’ll find in the gallery below of an XSE model shows 49 mpg in the digital instrument cluster.
When will the 2025 Camry go on sale?
As far as availability, Toyota says the ninth-generation Camry will go on sale in the spring of 2024.
Pricing has not been announced, but considering the 2024 Camry LE Hybrid starts at $28,855 before the added standard equipment for 2025, we may be looking at a $30,000 starting price, excluding destination charges.
This story originally ran on?Autotrader.com.
