The Toyota Camry has been America’s best-selling passenger car for the past 23 years, and it’s easy to see why. Since it is a midsize sedan, its size is just right for the American demographic, and since it’s a Toyota, it’ll stand the test of time. Since the 2025 model year, the Camry has been redesigned to now come solely as a hybrid, thus helping Toyota achieve its goal of democratizing hybrids in the North American market.
- Base Trim Engine
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2.5L Dynamic Force I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
184 HP @6000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
163 lb.-ft. @ 5200 RPM
- Fuel Economy
-
53/50/51 mpg (best: LE FWD)
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
53/50/51 MPG
- Make
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Toyota
- Model
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Camry
Key to that democratization is offering a broad range of variants to suit varying budgets and needs. Want something affordable? That’s where the LE comes in. Feeling fancy and couldn’t settle for anything less? The Camry Hybrid XSE’s sophisticated style and premium feel make it feel like a proper Lexus ES alternative. But the question now is, is going for the range-topping model worth it, or are you better off with something else in between?
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including the EPA and J.D. Power.
The “Standard” Camry Comes In Various Trims
Unofficially, the 2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid can be subcategorized into two versions. The LE and XLE are the “standard” models, while the SE, Nightshade, and XSE are the “sport-oriented” models. The subcategorization is due to two defining factors—their overall designs and slightly sportier driving feel. Let’s begin with the standard Camry variants, shall we?
The Base LE Is Your No-Frills Option
Kicking things off with the 2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid is the base LE. With a starting price of $29,000, this is the most affordable hybrid midsize sedan in the United States. Fundamentally, the Camry Hybrid is a reasonably stylish midsize sedan, though due to its sheer popularity, you won’t stand out on the road. The LE is also the most popular variant for fleet buyers and value seekers, as it already offers everything you need. It’s also the most efficient due to the smaller wheels, with the front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) versions having a 50 and 51 MPG combined EPA efficiency rating, respectively.
2026 Toyota Camry Performance Specs
|
Camry FWD |
Camry AWD |
|
|
Engine |
2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid |
|
|
Horsepower |
225 hp |
232 hp |
|
Torque |
N/A |
|
|
Transmission |
e-CVT |
|
|
Drivetrain |
FWD |
AWD |
|
Fuel Economy (Combined) |
51 MPG (LE) 46 MPG (SE, Nightshade XLE, XSE) |
50 MPG (LE) 46 MPG (SE, Nightshade, XLE) 43 MPG (XSE) |
|
Base MSRP |
$29,000 |
$30,525 |
Some of this model’s exterior features include partial LED headlights and taillights, as well as 16-inch wheels. The interior is also reasonably modern and likewise has everything you need, including:
- A seven-inch digital gauge cluster
- An eight-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment display
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Fabric upholstery
- Push-button start
- Rear air conditioning vents
- Acoustic windshield
- Wireless charging
- Two rear USB fast-charging ports
The optional Convenience Package adds smart entry on the front doors, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a universal garage door opener. Meanwhile, the Cold Weather Package adds a heated steering wheel and front seats.
Premium Appointments In The XLE
Serving as the second-highest variant in the Camry Hybrid lineup is the XLE. Building upon the design of the LE, the XLE adds full LED exterior lighting, 18-inch wheels, and a subtle blend of chrome and gloss-black exterior trims. Due to the 18-inch wheels, the XLE (and also the SE and Nightshade) takes a fuel economy hit, dipping to a combined EPA rating of 46 MPG for both FWD and AWD versions.
The car’s electrified drivetrain is not only smooth and quiet, but it delivers excellent fuel economy and provides all the performance you could really ever need from a family-friendly car.
– Craig Cole, TopSpeed Journalist
The XLE gets the benefit of leather and microfiber upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating, a large 12.3-inch fully-digital gauge cluster, a 12.3-inch main infotainment touch screen, acoustic side glass, white ambient LED lights, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. This variant’s luxury feel is taken to a higher level when you opt for the Premium or Premium Plus Package and the panoramic glass roof. Both packages add a nine-speaker JBL sound system, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, Digital Key capability, rain-sensing wipers, and two-person memory. Unique to the Premium Plus Package are additional Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) features, which include:
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Front Cross-Traffic Alert
- Lane Change Assist
- Front and Rear Park Assist with Automatic Braking
- Rear Cross-Traffic Braking
- A Driver Monitor Camera
- A 360-degree camera system
The “Sport-Oriented” Camry Variants Add Some Heat
We now finally move on to the SE, Nightshade, and XSE, which represent the sportier options for the Camry lineup. These three variants are characterized by their sportier front ends that feature a mesh grille, a more aggressive front bumper chin, twin rear exhausts, and slightly sportier suspension tuning.
SE Undergoes The Nightshade Treatment
The SE is positioned one step above the base LE, and it features 18-inch black alloy wheels. Returning to the Camry model range for the 2026 model year is the Nightshade trim, which is essentially the SE, but with Midnight Black Metallic design elements around the vehicle, including the front grille, air curtains, side canards, door handles, mirror caps, shark fin antenna, rear lower sport diffuser, and rear spoiler. Also included are 19-inch satin-black wheels and gloss black badging.
As for their interior features, both variants merely build upon the LE by adding SofTex synthetic leather upholstery with a power-adjustable driver’s seat, along with a leather steering wheel with paddle shifters—a sign of its sportier orientation. From here, you can start ticking a few optional extras to somehow match the equipment levels of the XLE and XSE, such as the 12.3-inch version of the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment, along with a sunroof. The same Convenience Package and Cold Weather Package are also available in the Camry SE and Nightshade.
XSE For The Ultimate Camry Experience
Lastly, if you want the luxury of the XLE, but with a bit of a sporty flair through its looks and handling, the range-topping XSE blurs the line between the Camry and the Lexus ES—at least when appropriately specced. Building upon the XLE, the XSE adds two-tone 19-inch wheels and an available black contrasting roof. Oddly enough, while the XSE also has 19-inch wheels like the Nightshade, opting for AWD results in a further three MPG penalty to its combined fuel economy figure, bringing it down to 43 MPG.
Interior-wise, the XSE is largely similar to the XLE, but adds pure leather upholstery. The XSE also features the same optional packages as the XLE, namely the Premium or Premium Plus Package, and the panoramic glass roof. Now, if you want your Camry XSE to really stand out, the XSE can be fitted with 19-inch multi-spoke gloss black wheels and additional LED accent lighting on the exterior.
Our Trim Recommendation: The Sporty Midfielder
For buyers on a tight budget, the base Camry LE and its 50 MPG efficiency are already good enough. Besides, most of your modern-day needs, such as a basic digital gauge cluster and a nice infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, are already fitted into the base LE. Anything above the LE is all about fulfilling wants. However, for most people, they may want a Camry that balances needs and wants, so here’s how we’d specify ours.
Select The SE For Its Added Sportiness
Offering the best balance between needs and wants is the Camry SE (as shown). Since the Camry LE is already a fundamentally modern car, we’d probably want our balanced Camry spec to still look reasonably sporty. The SE at least gives you nicer alloy wheels, a SynTex synthetic leather interior upholstery, all for a $2,300 price difference. Theoretically, it’s also slightly nicer to drive, thanks to the slightly sportier suspension tuning. We’d definitely skip the optional AWD, since tires play a bigger role with regard to your vehicle’s grip levels. Unless you live in a region with treacherous weather, then sure, AWD might be worth considering.
Consider The Upgraded Infotainment
Finally, one optional extra that we think is worth ticking off, as it futureproofs the Camry SE’s modernity and connectivity, is the upgraded 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment for $735. Now, this isn’t a must-have, since functionality-wise, it is very similar to the eight-inch version. If you are thinking of this optional extra, it will no doubt significantly modernize your Camry’s interior, especially since infotainment tech sees the biggest upgrades in vehicle technology every year.
Sources: EPA, J.D. Power