2022 Toyota Camry Road Test and Review

2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid ・ Photo by Toyota

The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in the country for years now, and there is a reason for that. Starting with a solid platform ideal for transporting up to five adults, the Camry has added a variety of models that tailor it for various buyer types. If you want a conventional gasoline-powered sedan at a low price, you can get it. If you want a hybrid to minimize on fuel cost, you can get it. If you want a performance sedan, you can get it. If you want a sedan that delivers virtually every feature a luxury brand mid-size sedan offers, you can get that, too. So while in the past the Toyota Camry was the automotive equivalent of plain vanilla, these days, it can be purchased in a variety of flavors. And the factor that unifies them all is value. You don’t get to be a best-seller without offering extra value, and the Toyota Camry does that, no matter which version you choose. The 2022 Camry offers 18 different choices: three V6 grades, five 4-cylinder-powered front-drive grades, five 4-cylinder all-wheel-drive grades grades, and five hybrid grades. The last group includes the only new model for 2022, the SE Nightshade Hybrid. Here is our road test and review of the 2022 Toyota Camry.

Exterior Style

Though the Toyota Camry has gone several years without a major makeover, it still turns heads. And that’s something previous-generation Camrys were never good at. Toyota has tailored the exterior designs to match the personalities of the various trim levels. So the conventional and cushy LE and XLE trims have styling that differs from the sport-oriented SE and XSE. One obvious difference: the front fascias of the LE and XLE trims have a more defined lower intake area. The non-hybrid LE has 17-inch alloy wheels, while the XLE gets 18-inch alloys. The SE and XSE have bolder lower fascias featuring a honeycomb grille and side vents. The performance-oriented Camry TRD, which debuted as a 2020 model, has a look all its own featuring aero-inspired details all around. The XSE continues to offer the two-tone body and roof color combinations with a black metallic roof and rear spoiler. For 2022, the hybrids don’t trumpet their existence too loudly with Toyota Hybrid badging on the trunk lid only.

Photo by Toyota

Powertrains

As noted earlier, the 2022 Toyota Camry gives its buyers the choice of several powertrain options — conventional V6, conventional 4-cylinder, and hybrid drive. All the 4-cylinder trims can be equipped with all-wheel drive. The basic Camry configuration is front drive. The base engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that delivers 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of peak torque in most installations. (In the XSE grade dual exhaust enables it to offer 206 horsepower.) The all-wheel-drive-equipped Camrys have one fewer horsepower than the front-drive versions of each grade. Those seeking added go-power will appreciate the fact the Camry still offers a V6. The 3.5-liter naturally aspirated engine produces 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. And for the fuel thrifty, the Camry offers a hybrid system that combines a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric drive motor. The combined horsepower rating is 208. The conventional gasoline engines are coupled to 8-speed automatic transmissions, while the hybrid employs a continuously variable transmission. In the SE and XSE trims, the CVT can be “shifted” using paddle shifters.

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Driving Impressions

For decades, the Toyota Camry has been known for its comfort and quiet. Now with the addition of the TRD version, you can add fun-to-drive to the list. The TRD certainly looks the part with an aerodynamic body kit that includes a front splitter, side skirts, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser. While in the past the fun might have ended right there, the TRD also features a TRD-tuned suspension that lowers the sedan by 0.6 inches for a reduced center of gravity. Stiffer coil springs and sway bars increase roll stiffness by 44 percent in front and 67 percent in the rear. The suspension also employs a unique set of TRD shock absorbers, 19 x 8.5-inch black alloy wheels, and larger front brakes with 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers. Combined with the 301-horsepower V6, the Camry TRD is involving. That said, most Camry buyers will opt for the more comfort-oriented trims. Both conventional 4-cylinder and hybrid versions offer about the same driving dynamics, while the V6-powered XLE and XSE trims deliver a pleasant combination of comfort and handling.

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Interior Design

As the dazzling array of trim levels implies, the 2022 Toyota Camry offers buyers the opportunity to choose a style that matches up to their desires. One thing that is clear across the line is that Toyota is paying much closer attention to delivering world-class interiors. The well-laid-out instrument panel is confined to a nacelle in front of the driver while the dash also includes a centrally mounted infotainment screen. There is nothing revolutionary about the design, but the details are impressive for a mass-market car. For instance, the interior features dark wood inlay or patterned metal trim depending on the grade. Seating in the Camry is top-notch. In addition providing excellent comfort, the seats also look good with real stitching on both front and rear seat surfaces. Ventilated front seats are available on the XLE and XSE, and the XLE seats sport a textured herringbone motif. Automatic dual-zone climate control is standard throughout the lineup. Rear-seat vents are standard on the XLE and XSE Hybrid trims, and they are available in package on the LE and SE.

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Infotainment & Technology

In the past couple of years, Toyota has improved its infotainment and audio systems markedly. For 2022, the base Toyota Audio system features an easy-to-use 7-inch touchscreen display mounted high in the center of the dash. It includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa compatibility plus AM/FM, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and hands-free phone capability. The voice recognition system works well, supplementing the on-screen controls. The more expensive trims (XLE and XSE) have Toyota Audio Plus with a 9-inch touchscreen display. Audio Plus is also offered with JBL 800-watt, 9-speaker premium audio. The top-of-line Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation includes the JBL audio system plus the ability to receive over-the-air updates. The Camry’s Remote Connect provides remote start and door unlock capability, vehicle status notifications, a guest driver monitor, and vehicle finder. The optional Wi-Fi Connect allows up to five mobile devices to hook up using 4G LTE. A 10-inch color head-up display enables driver’s to customize the info they see.

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Safety & Driver Aids

The 2022 Camry offers a variety of electronic active safety and driver-assist features. Toyota Safety Sense (TSS 2.5+) is standard across the lineup. It includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection enhanced with intersection support, road sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, sway warning system, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert is optional on LE and SE and standard on the other trims. Rear cross-traffic braking is available with clearance sonar as part of an optional package. Hill-start assist, automatic engine shut off, and rear-seat reminder are standard across the board. In total, the typical Toyota Camry has much more advanced driver’s aids than many luxury-brand sedans.

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Fuel Economy

The Toyota Camry’s fuel economy ranges from about average for the conventional V6 to excellent in the hybrid versions. Not surprisingly, the Camry Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient in the lineup. In LE trim it is rated at 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway/52 mpg combined by the Environmental Protection Agency. The other hybrid trims aren’t quite as fuel-thrifty — 44 mpg city/47 mpg highway/46 mpg combined. Toyota Camrys with the V6 engine are significantly thirstier. According to the EPA, a front-drive 2022 Camry with the 3.5-liter V6 engine will deliver an estimated 22 mpg city and 33 mpg highway for a 26 mpg overall figure. The base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder delivers EPA-rated fuel economy of 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg combined. With all-wheel-drive that dips to 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The performance-oriented TRD trim has EPA numbers of 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway/25 mpg combined.

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Cargo Capacity & Towing

The 2022 Toyota Camry has 100.4 cubic feet of passenger volume, making the interior extremely comfortable for the five occupants. There is plenty of room for luggage, too. In fact, the luggage space outdistances several luxury sedans. The Camry has 15.1 cubic feet of luggage area in its trunk, and the space is quite accessible through the trunk opening. Toyota does not list a towing capacity for the 2022 Camry, and as a front-drive platform it is not well-suited for towing. With its spacious interior, comfy seats and wealth of driver aids the Toyota Camry is an exceptional cross-country cruiser.

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Competitive Value

With a base price of around $25,000 plus the destination fee, the 2022 Toyota Camry has a lower entry price than the Honda Accord and a slightly higher entry price than the Nissan Altima. In comparison to those well-respected sedans, the Camry is offered in a wider array of models including several hybrid versions that offer significant savings in fuel costs. The current Camrys also have infotainment systems and interiors that are among the best in the mid-size sedan segment, something we would not have said five years ago. When you also add Toyota’s reputation for high resale and dependability, the 2022 Toyota Camry becomes an excellent choice.

Photo by Toyota