Midsize sedan sales aren’t as strong as they used to be in the midst of the SUV boom, but there have been a few survivors in this segment, most of which are from Asian automakers. That’s because, while the overall demand for sedans did decline, it didn’t disappear completely, as there’s still a segment in the market that wants a low and sleek way to travel around. As American automakers have abandoned the segment, Asian automakers have remained committed to whatever demand that’s left.

Case in point, the new 2025 Toyota Camry. While sales have remained mostly flat throughout the years, the mere fact that it’s the seventh best-selling car in America, and it even outsells a number of popular SUVs and crossovers like the Nissan Rogue says a lot about the Camry’s popularity among sedan buyers. Along with the perennially good Honda Accord, the Camry remains at the pinnacle of sedan sales, which is why Toyota isn’t wasting any time in redesigning the new Camry.

Related: Comparison: 2024 Toyota Camry Vs. 2024 Lexus ES

Sharper Looks, Plusher Interior

Now in its ninth generation, the new 2025 Toyota Camry debuts a sharper yet more elegant look, though one that looks quite familiar. That’s because while this may be a new generation model, a lot of the previous model’s foundations have been inherited by this new Camry. This includes the TNGA-K platform, which is what a host of other Toyota also use.

Two Distinct Flavors To Choose From

Actually, if you take a look at the design, one look at the proportions gives you a sense of déjà vu, though all the exterior panels are new to the Camry. Up front, the new 2025 Camry adopts the so-called “Hammerhead” front fascia that first debuted in the new Prius, which is characterized by C-shaped LED daytime running lights. Just like before, the Camry comes in two distinct flavors, the elegant LE and XLE, while those wanting more sportiness out of their Camry can opt for the SE and XSE. The XSE comes with an optional black contrasting roof, sportier wheel designs, as well as sportier front and rear bumpers.

From the A-pillar and back, though, and that’s where the familiarity with the outgoing Camry is evident. The A-pillar section looks carried over from the previous generation, while the roofline and C-pillars have been given a sleeker treatment to give this midsize sedan a lowered stance. Wider LED taillights and a new “Beyond Zero” horizon-style badge complete the transformation.

More Sophisticated Than Ever

Moving inside, the transformation of the Camry is much more prominent. There’s a new, thicker, and heavily sculpted dash which consists of a canopy effect that visually separates the driver from the front passenger. Material quality has also been improved from the previous model, with a greater use of soft-touch materials and leather upholstery on the lower sections of the dash. XLE and XSE variants also get upgraded interior upholstery, wherein the XLE uses leather and Dinamica® microfiber-trimmed seats, while the sport-oriented XSE comes with Black with blue lined perforations or Cockpit Red leather upholstery.

On the tech front, the LE and SE models come with a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia System, while XLE and XSE come with a pair of 12.3-inch screens for both the gauges and the infotainment screen. A nine-speaker JBL sound system is optional regardless of the variant. While the infotainment system is new, using it to its full potential requires an active available Drive Connect and Remote Connect trial or subscription. The former adds an intelligent personal assistant to the infotainment that can be summoned by saying “Hey Toyota”, while the latter lets you use the Digital Key–a feature that lets you use your smartphone as a key via the Toyota app.

Related: Why The Toyota Camry Hybrid Offers The Best Bang For Your Buck

You’ll Be Missed, V-6

The Camry is a major contributor to Toyota’s heavy push on hybrids, and in this ninth-generation model, this is the only powertrain you can get. Yes, that means saying goodbye to the V-6, another casualty of ever-stricter emissions regulations. More crucially, the hybrid-only lineup comes with an added appeal because of one crucial addition to make this attractive to those living in challenging conditions.

But An AWD Hybrid Is Now Available

That’s because while the V-6 went the way of the Dodo, the 2025 Toyota Camry now comes with optional all-wheel drive (AWD) for the hybrid drivetrain. On top of the new, fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System, which consists of a familiar 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors, the AWD version adds a third electric motor to power the rear wheels when more traction is needed.

Without the AWD, the Camry makes 225 horsepower, which is already a 17 horsepower gain from the outgoing model. When you add the AWD, the third electric motor adds seven horsepower to the system’s output, bringing the figure up to 232 horsepower. Do note, however, that the AWD system is an on-demand system, which means that it’s only producing the full 232 horses when additional traction is needed. In addition, Toyota does not disclose the total torque figures of its hybrid drivetrains.

Handling And Safety Improvements Across The Board

While the 2025 Camry seems to carry over its TNGA-K platform, we do think that this will come with chassis upgrades to improve comfort and handling. Actually, speaking of handling, Toyota touts that the Camry has re-engineered suspension for more responsive and agile handling. This is implemented on all variants of the Camry, but the SE and XSE benefit from an even sportier tune for the suspension that improves stability and handling over the standard models even further.

The new Camry also gets an upgraded Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and the major highlight is the new Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). PDA basically enhances the already-existing adaptive cruise control by providing steering and braking support during curves and even the detection of obstacles when going through such curves.

Related: 2023 Mid-Size Sedan Battle: Toyota Camry Vs. Honda Accord Vs. Hyundai Sonata

America’s Best-Selling Sedan Continues To Shine

The 2025 Toyota Camry’s changes seem to be incremental from a technical standpoint, especially since the exterior design seems to be a heavy facelift from the outgoing model, but these changes are enough to maintain its dominance in the midsize sedan segment. What’s more, that hybrid powertrain did become more powerful, and, with the added appeal of optional AWD, the Camry will be even more attractive to those living in climates with frequent snow or rain.

Electrification Plays A Major Role

Remember Akio Toyoda’s “I told you so” moment? Electric vehicle (EV) sales have slowed down (albeit still growing) in recent months, while hybrids are becoming more popular than ever, spending shorter times sitting in dealer lots. Now that the Camry is purely offered as a hybrid, Toyota will continue its streak as one of the most popular electrified brands in the world despite not having a competitive EV in its lineup.

The highly-popular Camry is also a perfect vehicle to put more Americans in the seat of an electrified vehicle as ownership lifestyle concerns continue to hinder Americans from buying pure EVs. Just how good the new Camry is compared to the previous generation model? Here’s a handy chart to help you see how it has changed from a technical perspective.

Arriving In Dealers In Spring 2024

However, if you want one already, there will still be quite a wait as the Camry isn’t expected to arrive in dealers until Spring 2024. The new Camry has been primarily designed and developed in North America since this is also where the Camry is highly popular. Pricing and full specifications are expected to be announced by then.