Used 2021 Toyota Camry

Winner: 2021 Best Resale Value Award
#2 in Best Midsize Cars for 2021

The Toyota Camry remains one of the most popular and most recommendable sedans you can buy. Long the default choice for those seeking a reliable, comfortable, and inoffensive midsize car, this latest-generation Camry arrived packing stylish looks and a strong roster of safety features. The recipe worked, enabling the Camry to be No. 1 in its segment to outsell longtime rival the Honda Accord and fend off other notable midsize sedans like the Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion.

Last year Toyota introduced all-wheel drive to the Camry and the model’s first TRD performance variant. This year Toyota continues to improve this bestseller with freshened looks, the debut of Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, and a revised infotainment system.

The 2021 Toyota Camry is available with three powertrains. A standard 4-cylinder, an optional V6, and a gasoline-electric hybrid (reviewed separately). The 2021 Camry is the last mainstream midsize sedan to offer a V6.

Compared to the Honda Accord, the Camry still isn’t quite as nimble, but it’s close. And as it’s long been, we think the Camry is slightly more plush riding than its Honda archrival. We are also fans of the Camry’s precise steering feel and smooth 8-speed automatic transmission, which you can also shift via paddles in some models.

The standard 4-cylinder engine that powers the majority of Camrys will suffice for most buyers and has a satisfying blend of performance and efficiency. The optional V6 making over 300 horsepower can easily chirp the front tires.

The Camry TRD, developed in conjunction with Toyota Racing Development, has another personality entirely. It uses the Camry’s 301-horsepower V6 engine and has a lower ride height and a host of suspension upgrades. The tweaks are noticeable, and the ride is stiff to the point that it can be jarring on rougher roads. We recommend giving it a good test drive first to see if it’s your cup of tea. If it is, you’ll be rewarded with the sharpest handling yet for a Toyota Camry.

For drivers in cold-weather states or where traction can be compromised, the Toyota Camry can be had with all-wheel drive (AWD) on 4-cylinder LE, SE, XLE, and XSE models. In good driving conditions, you’ll never know this Camry has AWD because it drives just like a standard front-drive Camry. But in slippery wintry conditions, the AWD system helps this sedan move away from stoplights with ease while also contributing to improved stability when powering out of corners.

From 0 to 15 mph, the Dynamic Torque Control system, via an electromagnetic coupling in the rear differential, sends as much as 50 percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels, even before any front-wheel slip is detected. This coupling disengages at higher speeds to improve fuel economy but automatically re-engages the moment AWD is needed.

A couple of downsides: AWD drops the Camry’s EPA Combined fuel economy rating by about three mpg, and the fuel tank – reconfigured because of the driveshaft – shrinks from 16.0 gallons to 14.4.

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The 2021 Camry’s 5-passenger cabin is an excellent blend of comfort, technology, style, and practicality. As a whole, it functions very well with no unnecessary fluff. The Camry has a boldly designed dash composed of asymmetrical swoops and curves, a set of nicely bolstered front bucket seats, and a spacious rear seat. Controls are straightforward and easy to use.

We like that the Toyota Camry has a traditional transmission selector, not potentially confusing buttons or a knob like the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion. New for 2021 is a revised infotainment setup with a “floating” display. The 7-inch or optional 9-inch touchscreens now rise prominently from the middle of the dash. We like that the Camry retains easy-to-use buttons and knobs for common functions like volume, tuning, and changing audio tracks. One longtime feature of the Camry is now gone with the new setup: The CD player has officially exited the Camry.

Note that in the Camry TRD model, the rear seat doesn’t fold as normal because of its additional rear bracing. Rear-seat air vents are standard on XLE and above models, or optional beginning on LE trims.

The latest version of the Camry is its most daring yet, and certainly the most design-forward. From front to back, the 2021 Camry aims to show off its dynamic athleticism and attitude. Its large front grille is hard to miss, and the Camry’s sleek low aluminum hood shows off interesting creases. For 2021, Camry models have slightly revised front fascia, with LE and XLE trims getting more defined lower intake areas. The sportier SE and XSE grades have a honeycomb-style grille and new side vent accents.

One of the most standout features found on the XSE models is the four — count ’em, four! — chrome exhaust tips. One of the most distinguishing style elements is the 2-tone Midnight Black Metallic roof, available on XSE and TRD models. The 2021 Camry Nightshade model, based on the SE, has blacked-out aesthetics, including black emblems and badges, and 18-inch black alloy wheels.

The performance-oriented Toyota Camry TRD is the most outrageous in the lineup. It also has blacked-out treatments, sits 0.6 inches lower, and is festooned with a black, boy-racer wing mounted to the trunk.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE 2.5+
The 2021 Camry is the first vehicle to receive Toyota’s new standard safety system. It bundles forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, radar cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and now can detect vehicles or pedestrians when making a left-hand turn at an intersection.

For 2021, Toyota has dropped the L trim, leaving the LE, SE, XSE, and XLE. The SE and XSE are sportier pair, and the Camry TRD returns as the performance-oriented Camry. As the new entry model, the Camry LE is a solid value and comes with an 8-way power driver’s seat, 60/40-split/folding rear seats, an alarm system, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The newly updated standard infotainment system bundles a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integration, and Wi-Fi hot spot (subscription required after trial). Also standard is Toyota’s full suite of active safety systems known as Safety Sense 2.5+ (see favorite features). Toyota Care (two years/25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance and 24/7 roadside assistance) is standard.

The Toyota Camry SE brings more aggressive, darkened exterior aesthetics, 18-inch wheels, paddle shifters, sport front seats, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Camry Nightshade model is based on the SE and features additional darkened aesthetics, trim, and black rear spoiler.

XSE and XLE versions have dual-zone climate control, 7-inch configurable instrument display, and the new 9-inch central touchscreen, leather seats, selectable drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport), blind-spot monitoring, panoramic glass roof with moonroof, and electric parking brake. New for the XLE this year is a herringbone seat pattern.

The Camry TRD is based on an SE model, but comes with the V6 engine that’s optional in XSE and XLE models, plus a host of suspension and handling upgrades. Among the major options are a JBL premium audio system with navigation, full-speed radar cruise control, bird’ s-eye camera, ventilated front seats, Qi-compatible wireless phone-charging cradle, and a head-up display.

All grades of the AWD Toyota Camry are available with a Cold-Weather Package that includes heated seats and mirrors on the LE, plus a heated steering wheel on the XLE and XSE.

The 2021 Toyota Camry offers a choice of three powertrains. Most popular is the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 203 horsepower (206 in XSE models). EPA figures are still to be released, but the 2020 model earned up to 41 mpg. The most powerful Camry is the 301-horsepower V6, available in XSE and XLE trims and standard in the new TRD model.

As with most new cars and certainly most family sedans, the Camry offers only an 8-speed automatic transmission. The AWD Camry is available only with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and the 8-speed automatic.

2.5-liter inline-4
203 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm (XSE: 206 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm)
184 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm (XSE: 186 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/39 mpg (LE, SE), 27/38 mpg (XLE, XSE), 25/34 mpg (AWD LE, SE, XLE, XSE)

3.5-liter V6
301 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm
267 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/33 mpg (XLE), 22/32 mpg (XSE), 22/31 mpg (TRD)