2026 Toyota Camry review

It’s no secret that we’re fans of the Toyota Camry here at CarExpert.

The current-generation model launched last year to high praise and was subsequently named Australia’s best affordable mid-size car in the inaugural 2025 CarExpert Choice Awards.

Because, while the Camry will never be cool, it’s an objectively excellent car.

Fleet operators and rideshare drivers are well aware of this, as commercial buyers accounted for 73 per cent of Camry sales last year.

And this – the base Ascent – is the most fleet-focused Camry of them all. With a sticker price south of $40,000 before on-road costs, the Camry Ascent is aimed directly at those wanting to extract maximum value out of their work vehicle.

WATCH: Paul’s video review of the 2025 Toyota Camry Ascent Sport

As such, it does without some of the niceties you get in models further up the food chain. However, the Ascent still promises the same mind-boggling hybrid efficiency and practicality of the flagship SL for nowhere near as much money.

So, is the Camry set to remain the talk of the taxi rank for the foreseeable future? We spent a week behind the wheel to find out.

How much does the Toyota Camry cost?

The Camry starts from less than $40,000 before on-road costs in Ascent trim – a fair chunk cheaper than most mid-sized sedans.

For example, you’ll need to fork out upwards of $55,000 for a Hyundai Sonata, and that figure jumps to $65,000 for the single-spec Honda Accord.

With that said, the BYD Seal and Skoda Octavia remain affordable alternatives to the Camry, although neither offer hybrid power.

To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What is the Toyota Camry like on the inside?

Not quite as premium as the handsome exterior styling suggests, at least in base Ascent guise.

We get it, the Ascent is aimed at budget-conscious fleet buyers rather than private purchasers, but it still feels quite basic inside for the money.

The steering wheel is trimmed in plastic – a treatment generally reserved for economy cars – while the screens are noticeably smaller than those in higher-spec Camry’s and external competitor models.

There’s nothing fancy about the seats either, despite the fact that Camry drivers typically spend hours upon hours behind the wheel. The base chairs feature cloth upholstery and manual adjustment levers, with luxuries like leather and seat heating reserved for the top-spec SL. However, the same seat shape carries across all grades, and it’s a good one – bolstering is plentiful, yet the base cushion is soft and forgiving over long journeys.

Another redeeming feature of the seating situation in this base Camry is that it offers excellent ergonomics. All key controls are within easy reach, whether it be the steering wheel, gear selector, infotainment screen, or climate controls.

The layout of the cabin makes a lot of sense, too – buttons relating to the driving experience are clumped together in front of the gear selector, while the climate controls are familiarly positioned below the centre screen.

The screen itself, however, is a weak point of this entry-level Camry. Unique to the Ascent is an 8.0-inch infotainment system that’s significantly smaller than the 12.3-inch item found in other variants, and more fiddly to use as a result. Futuristic features are also lacking, bar a navigation app that incorporates live traffic data.

Most users will undoubtedly favour Apple CarPlay or Android Auto over the native interface, as wireless smartphone mirroring is standard across the Camry range. Wired connectivity comes in the form of three USB-C outlets located at the base of the centre stack.

And despite its lack of size, the centre screen is at least responsive to user inputs most of the time.

Moving across, the Ascent also gets a 7.0-inch digital instrument display. Again, it’s less impressive than the tech offered in other variants. All key driving information is display clearly, just don’t expect groundbreaking graphics or much in the way of customisation.

Like other Toyota hybrids, the display features a neat gauge that visualises the flow of energy through the vehicle, so you can see how the hybrid system works in everyday driving.

Overall, the technology in this base Camry is serviceable, but it’s worth stretching your budget to access the 12.3-inch centre screen in the Ascent Sport.

The Ascent Sport also brings a leather-accented steering wheel, although the quality of other cabin materials is similar across both versions. That means lots of soft-touch plastic and woven cloth trim, with just a hint of faux-leather on the door cards – definitely on the cheaper side of things, but not deal-breaking.

And the Camry makes up for a lack of premium surfaces with an abundance of storage. Drink bottles, coffee cups, sunglasses and phones all get their own dedicated cubby, while the centre console and glovebox are large in every dimension.

The second row isn’t quite as practical, nor should that be expected for this segment.

Middle seat legroom is compromised by a bulging driveline hump, but both outboard seats are mostly adult-friendly, unless the adult in question happens to be exceptionally tall. Natural light is also a little lacking, and a sunroof is only available with the top-spec SL.

Kids, on the other hand, will be right at home in the back of the Camry. All three seats feature the requisite top tether anchor points for child seats, and amenities are in strong supply – cupholders, USB-C outlets, air vents, and map pockets are all standard, even on the Ascent.

A proper family sedan should also prioritise boot space, and the Camry does just that. The Skoda Octavia and Honda Accord boast more capacity, but the Camry can still swallow several suitcases or a couple strollers.

Taxi operators and parents alike will appreciate the absence of an annoying load lip, and the boot is wide enough that most bulky items can slide in without fuss. You can further expand the cargo area by folding the rear the seats forward.

Under the boot floor you’ll find a tyre repair kit, rather than a traditional spare.

To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

Just one powertrain configuration is offered with the Toyota Camry – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid system paired with an e-CVT transmission.

It’s a hugely efficient thing, both on paper and in the real world. We saw average fuel consumption of 4.5L/100km over a week of mixed driving, which included a long highway run from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula.

To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How does the Toyota Camry drive?

No wonder this is the choice of rideshare drivers far and wide.

As a comfortable and efficient means of transport, very few vehicles (let alone passenger cars) come close to the Camry. And when you’re spending several hours on the road every single day, that stuff matters.

The hybrid powertrain is almost silent in its operation, emitting only a faint whir under light loads. Electric power is prioritised where appropriate, but even when the petrol engine does engage, it’s remarkably quiet and refined.

Healthy electric motor outputs also contribute to peppy performance for a vehicle that’s never been lauded for its performance. The Camry will sprint from 0-100km/h in just 7.2 seconds – quicker than a Honda Accord or base BYD Seal – and there’s usable torque right through the rev range.

So despite its focus on efficiency, the Camry is responsive to throttle inputs and even, dare I say it, somewhat fun to drive.

Yep, that’s right, and I’m not just talking about straight-line ‘thrills’. The driving dynamics of this economical A-to-B far exceeded my expectations – it feels agile, nimble, and light on its feet, with a willingness to turn that inspires confidence. A hint of weight is baked into the steering, which communicates enough to give the driver a clear sense of what the front wheels are doing.

We’ve become so accustomed to roly-poly two-tonne SUVs that spending a week in the lower, lighter Camry felt like a breath of fresh air… or perhaps that was just the ice-cold air-con.

Regardless, it’d be foolish to dismiss the Camry as a boring choice. But at the same time, it sure does the boring stuff very well.

In addition to being effortlessly efficient, the Camry is also incredibly comfortable. Despite sitting lower to the ground than an SUV, the Camry isolates occupants from harsh impacts and radiates stability on most road surfaces.

The Camry’s low centre of gravity doesn’t hinder visibility an awful lot, either. There are no major blind spots and head checks don’t require gymnast levels of contortion. Parking is a relatively straightforward task as a result, and there’s a full set of cameras and sensors on hand for trickier manoeuvres.

Just as it thrives in the hustle and bustle of city driving, the Camry likewise shines on the highway. Wind and road noise remain subdued at higher speeds, reaffirming the Camry’s quiet and cosseting nature.

All variants feature a vast array of driver assist systems including adaptive cruise control with active lane centring, which further sweetens the deal.

Regional buyers will also welcome the standard fitment of LED lights with automatic high-beam functionality for improved visibility on dark roads.

To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

The Ascent sits at the bottom of the three-strong Toyota Camry range.

2025 Toyota Camry Ascent equipment highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights and tail-lights
• Automatic high-beam
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Black cloth interior trim
• Manual front seat adjustment
• 60:40 split/fold rear seats
• 7.0-inch instrument cluster screen
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Satellite navigation
  • DAB+ digital radio
• Dual-zone climate control
• Six-speaker sound system
• 5 x USB-C ports

Ascent Sport adds:

• High-grade LED headlights
• LED front fog lights
• 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar
• Leather-accented steering wheel and shifter
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Wireless phone charger
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen

SL adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Heated exterior mirrors with memory
• Front and rear camera washers
• Rear/side rear privacy glass
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• Leather seat trim
• Eight-way powered passenger seat
• Driver’s seat memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Paddle shifters
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Automatic rain-sensing wipers
• Power-adjustable heated steering wheel
• Head-up display
• Nine-speaker JBL sound system

To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

Is the Toyota Camry safe?

The Toyota Camry has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2024.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, oncoming vehicle detection
  • Intersection collision avoidance assist
  • Emergency steering assist
  • Wrong-pedal mitigation
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver attention monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane centring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Safe exit assist
• Speed sign recognition
• Emergency vehicle stop
• Surround-view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 8 airbags (front, front-side, front-centre, driver’s knee and full-length curtain)

To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

How much does the Toyota Camry cost to run?

Toyota Australia backs its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. That extends to seven years on the driveline if you service on time within the Toyota dealer network.

Maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000km, with capped-price servicing available for the first five years of ownership. Toyota charges $255 per service over that period, making the Camry an affordable ownership proposition for private and fleet buyers alike.

However, Toyota continues to charge an additional $99 per year for its roadside assistance service – a valuable extra that many competitors provide free of charge.

To see how the Toyota Camry stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Toyota Camry

Let’s hit pause on all the jokes and stereotypes for a second to give the Camry the respect it deserves.

A recent survey commissioned by CarExpert found that value for money, fuel-efficiency and safety are the three most important areas of consideration for Australian new car buyers, and the Camry excels in each. Meanwhile, it’s also peppy, plush, and practical.

In fact, the Camry Ascent tested here only suffers from one real weakness – underwhelming interior tech, a drawback that’s exclusive to the entry-level grade.

The cabin feels a little cheap in places, too, but again that’s excusable given the positioning of this variant as a fleet special. So, you probably guessed it, but the Camry still deserves its commercial car crown.

Private buyers should spend up a little for the Ascent Sport, which represents strong buying at $42,990 before on-road costs. It’s all the car most people will ever need, and more attainable than key rivals such as the Sonata and Accord.

The Octavia and Seal can be had for similar money, but neither are as well-rounded as this Toyota.

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