2025 Toyota Camry First Drive Review: An Impressive Hybrid Sedan with Room for Improvement

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The 2025 Toyota Camry introduces a fresh look with a revamped front fascia, making it stand out in its segment. The bold grille and redesigned headlamps add a distinct and modern flair. From the side profile, the sedan maintains its saloon-type elegance, with chrome accents around the doors and body-colored door handles lending a premium touch. At the rear, the C-shaped taillamps and subtle chrome highlights further enhance its sophisticated design.

Inside, the Camry showcases a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an equally large touchscreen infotainment system at the center. The dashboard layout has been revamped with soft-touch materials, piano black finishes, and leather stitching, giving it a luxurious feel. Features such as wireless charging and electronic parking brakes add to the convenience. While the overall quality is premium, the use of hard plastics in certain areas slightly detracts from the luxury experience.

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The inclusion of Level 2 ADAS features enhances safety, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and collision warnings. These can be toggled through the intuitive instrument cluster.

It offers three drive modes – Eco, Normal, and Sport – along with a dedicated EV mode for short electric-only drives. The steering wheel, wrapped in premium leather, integrates controls for ADAS settings, voice commands, and volume adjustments, ensuring convenience.

The Camry offers two trims: the Elegance Edition and the Sprint Edition. While the Elegance Edition exudes sophistication, the Sprint Edition adds youthful flair with vibrant colour options and minor cosmetic changes. The boot space of 524 litres is commendable, with adequate depth and minimal loading lip, making it practical for everyday use.

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The 2025 Toyota Camry is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine mated to an e-CVT, working in tandem with an electric motor. India will only be getting the FWD version. The combined power output is 227bhp and 221Nm of torque, offering adequate performance for both city and highway driving.

While cruising on the highway, the Camry exhibits excellent stability and balance, making it a comfortable choice for relaxed drives. The suspension setup absorbs uneven roads and potholes with ease, delivering a smooth ride. Braking is equally impressive, with solid stopping power and minimal bite during sudden stops. However, the engine produces noticeable noise under hard acceleration, which affects the overall NVH levels, leaving room for improvement.

Fuel efficiency remains a key highlight of the Camry, with a claimed mileage of 25.4 km/l; real-world figures will be around 22-23 km/l, which is commendable for its size and segment.

Stepping into the second row, the Camry ensures a comfortable experience for rear passengers. The seat recline angle and thigh support offer excellent ergonomics, while the legroom and knee room are more than sufficient. However, the absence of a panoramic sunroof is noticeable and could have enhanced the experience for second-row passengers.

The second row also boasts dedicated AC vents, two USB charging points, and adjustable rear seat controls, further enhancing passenger convenience. Sunshades and a touch panel for three-zone climate control are additional thoughtful inclusions, making it a great choice for chauffeur-driven buyers.

The 2025 Toyota Camry strikes a balance between hybrid efficiency and premium comfort. Its refreshed design, modern features, and fuel efficiency make it a strong contender in the segment. The second row’s comfort and spaciousness add to its appeal, especially for those looking for a chauffeur-driven experience.

However, the absence of a panoramic sunroof and the use of hard plastics in certain areas slightly detract from the luxury quotient. Moreover, the engine noise under hard acceleration highlights the need for better NVH insulation. These shortcomings may influence buyers expecting more refinement at the price point of 48 lakh(ex-showroom).

In summary, while the 2025 Toyota Camry impresses with its design , comfort, and efficiency, addressing the NVH levels and material quality could elevate it further. It’s a solid choice for those seeking a reliable hybrid sedan with premium features.