The Toyota Camry is in its ninth generation internationally, and in that time it has become synonymous with a few things: comfort, reliability, efficiency, and value for money. Sportiness? Not so much. This time around, Toyota Kirloskar Motors is hoping to change that and make the Camry appeal to a younger audience. They are playing to their strengths, calling it ‘a sedan to the core,’ and judging by the initial reception, it seems to resonate with people who’ve grown weary of the constant influx of pseudo SUVs. However, Toyota isn’t about to alienate their existing audience by radically changing the Camry recipe. Lets see what this new generation is all about.
2025 Toyota Camry styling
The new Toyota Camry retains the same platform as the previous generation but sports a completely new skin. Yet, it remains instantly recognisable as a Camry. At the front, a distinctly Prius-like hammerhead nose is flanked by sleek LED headlamps that merge seamlessly into a slot-like grille. The front bumper features a much larger grille, inspired by Lexus’ spindle design, with integrated LED fog lamps that look like an afterthought. The side profile looks nearly identical to the previous generation, until you notice the sharper lines, the more rakish rear passenger window, and the more contemporary looking 18-inch wheels. The hammerhead motif carries over to the rear, where slim LED tail lamps complete the look.
The overall design isn’t groundbreaking, but it is sharper, more modern, and less cluttered, making it quite pleasing to the eye. However, whether or not it will appeal to the Gen-Z crowd is up for debate. To help matters, the Camry is now offered in the Sprint Edition you see on these pages. It features a matte black (read: unpainted plastic) front splitter, rear diffuser, and boot lid spoiler, all of which are dealer-installed accessories. While they look quite striking from six feet away, the fit and finish leave much to be desired. Matte black wheels, mirror caps, and a blacked-out roof complete the look, providing a sharp contrast to the bright Emotional Red of our test car.
2025 Toyota Camry interior
The interior features a yellow-brown theme, regardless of whether you opt for the Sprint Edition or not. The dashboard layout is completely new, thoroughly modern, and thoughtfully designed. It includes a 12.3-inch screen for both the driver’s multi-information display (MID) and the infotainment system, both of which are bright, crisp, and highly legible. The MID is customisable, allowing you to choose the information displayed in each of its three sections, while the infotainment system connects wirelessly to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and is paired with a 9-speaker JBL sound system. The infotainment is responsive and intuitive, but importantly you don’t need to rely on it for key functions like climate control, drive modes, or the 360-degree camera – physical buttons for the win.
The front seats are ventilated, power-operated, and armchair comfortable, but many owners will likely prefer the rear seats – and for good reason. The rear bench is wide enough to seat three, with ample headroom and legroom, which can be further increased using the boss mode control. My favourite feature, however, is the touch controls on the centre armrest. These allow you to recline the seat back, operate the sunblind, and even control the rear air-conditioning and audio – not a bad way to be chauffeured around, especially when you factor in the hybrid system’s smooth operation at low speeds.
2025 Toyota Camry engine and performance
With this generation, Toyota has moved from nickel-metal hydride to lithium-ion batteries, which are inherently more energy-dense, and the benefits are not hard to see. The Camry can now spend more time in pure EV mode, only waking the engine above 45kmph. This naturally means better fuel efficiency, with Toyota claiming an 25.49kmpl – remarkable for a large saloon. The engine remains a 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit, slightly revised to produce 184bhp and 221Nm, along with improved efficiency. The total system output is now 227bhp – a useful bump from the previous car’s 215bhp – providing more than adequate performance for a vehicle of this size. However, spirited driving isn't really its forte. The engine becomes vocal when pushed to the redline – somewhat out of character for a car that is silent most of the time – and the e-CVT’s rubber band effect does it no favours. The Camry is at its best when driven using about a third of the throttle. It will still cover ground swiftly, but being hurried isn’t its natural disposition. High-speed cruising manners, however, are impeccable. Even at triple-digit speeds, the engine feels relaxed, and overtakes are almost effortless.
2025 Toyota Camry ADAS
Enhancing its ability to cover long distances with ease is the inclusion of Toyota Smart Sense 3.0 – ADAS to you and me. Key features include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist, all of which perform superbly on well-marked motorways. The system is remarkably unobtrusive – no abrupt interventions or unnecessary beeps and bongs – it simply works silently in the background.
2025 Toyota Camry Ride and Handling
Despite the damping being slightly firmer than before, it feels plush at all speeds. Expansion joints pass under the 18-inch wheels without unsettling the car, and even on rippled concrete, it remains composed. Low-speed ride comfort hasn’t been compromised by the firmer suspension either – if anything, it has actually improved. The previous model had a tendency to sag on its springs when fully loaded, occasionally scraping its belly on speed breakers. The new Camry, however, is much better at maintaining its ride height, even with four passengers on board, and clears all but the worst humps without making the driver wince.
Despite its appearance, the Sprint Edition doesn’t include any mechanical changes to transform the Camry into a corner-carver. Our drive route was largely confined to highways, so I couldn’t fully explore its handling capabilities, but initial impressions suggest a safe, neutral balance. That said, body control has noticeably improved, with the Camry remaining impressively flat during hard cornering. Grip from the 235-section Bridgestones is adequate, though involvement is noticeably lacking. The steering feels somewhat lifeless – a common complaint with modern systems, to be fair – but on the plus side, it is fairly direct, allowing you to place the car accurately.
2025 Toyota Camry price and rivals
Even after a short drive, it’s quite clear that the Camry’s intent is far from sporty. So, why do I still adore it? Because it knows its role and excels at it – perhaps this is why most of its competitors have gone the way of the dinosaur. It isn’t trying to be something it’s not; it’s honest about its focus on comfort, and that’s why I’d skip the Sprint Edition and stick with the Elegance, priced at ₹48 lakh (ex-showroom). That price is only around ₹2 lakh more than the last generation car, which is good value considering the additional kit on offer. The Skoda Superb, at ₹54 lakh, and the Audi A4 ₹46 lakh are the only immediate rivals, both of which are now nearing the end of their lifecycle. While they may be more involving to drive, in my opinion, the Camry is the superior sedan. If a daily driver is what you are after, then few vehicles ace that role the way the Camry does. The only thing it can’t do is thrill.