by Aiden Eksteen
Once a best-seller in the USA, the 2021 Toyota Camry drops to third position as Toyota's own RAV4 and Honda's CR-V win preference amid the crossover SUV trend. It remains the number one selling midsize sedan, however, with its attractive pricing, eye-catching looks, and Toyota's proven reputation for safety and reliability. Toyota also presents this 9-generation of the Camry with two peppy and refined powertrain options including a 301-horsepower 3.5-liter 6-cylinder in upper-tier trims. For those who want the Camry's aesthetic to match its performance potential, there's even a TRD variant sporting gloss black exterior accents and red interior traces. There's something for just about everyone in the Camry sedan line, but alternatives such as the Honda Accord, Kia K5, and Hyundai Sonata may offer more character, and they are just newer cars. Even so, the Camry is a sporty-looking, fun, and moderately capable 4-door sedan that's pragmatic and fuel-efficient enough for everyday use.
After adding Android Auto, AWD, and the sporty TRD model to the lineup in 2020, the changes for the 2021 Camry are comparatively minor. This year, the base L trim is culled from the range - LE is now the base - and all models' frontal styling is revised. New wheel designs and paint hues become available as well, the latter being Blueprint, which replaces Blue Streak Metallic. The Brownstone hue is discontinued for 2021. The infotainment touchscreens have been revised, seven- and nine-inch options are offered, and Apple CarPlay has made an appearance. XLE trim gets standard leather upholstery and all models get updated driver-assistance features that now include improved pedestrian and cyclist recognition. Finally, the XSE trim is now also available as a hybrid; we review the hybrid Camrys separately.
See trim levels and configurations:
Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
---|---|---|---|---|
LE |
2.5L Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
|
$25,045 |
SE |
2.5L Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive
|
$26,560 |
SE Nightshade Edition |
2.5L Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$26,870 |
Hybrid LE |
2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$27,270 |
Hybrid SE |
2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid
|
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$28,785 |
For a vehicle that occupies a drastically dwindling classification, the 2021 Toyota Camry is still surprisingly popular. This can be attributed mostly to Toyota's reputation for creating some of the most dependable, safe, and affordable family sedans but the Camry does carry some of its own special qualities. It may look a little polarizing to some but you can't deny its sporty good looks have it stand out from the typically humdrum three-box sedans, especially in TRD guise. This trim, in particular, with its enhanced styling and sweet V6 engine also has the Camry line stand out. Unfortunately, at the lower end of the spectrum, you are subject to some blatant cost-cutting measures such as the diminutive touchscreens and hard-touch plastics strewn throughout the cabin. Nevertheless, at the 2021 Toyota Camry sedan's price of only $24,970, there's still plenty of value to enjoy. Of course, the NHTSA and IIHS review of the 2021 Toyota Camry resulted in consummate scores that met with leading reliability expectations. It's difficult to go wrong with a Toyota, especially a modern one, and the Camry is certainly one worth considering.
With its added cosmetic flair and the fact that it's the most affordable Camry sedan with the 3.5-liter V6 engine, the TRD is the model we'd recommend. Over all the other Camrys, this one comes with some sweet exterior and interior enhancements including a more aerodynamic gloss black front splitter, rear spoiler, and rear diffuser, as well as cat-back dual exhausts with chrome tips. Within the cabin, its black fabric seating upholstery, red contrast stitching, and red seat belts give it a sportier impression, too. A sport-tuned suspension also gives it some improved handling dynamics. While it does lose out on some driver assists and luxury features, the TRD is still the best value for money of the lot.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Toyota Camry: