Toyota is reintroducing the Nightshade Edition as part of the 2023 Toyota Camry update.
The Nightshade package has been highly successful for Toyota, offering a stylish design package straight from the factory at a reasonable price.
For 2023, the main aim was to give the Camry the look and stance of a premium sports sedan. The Nightshade trim can't be paired with the naturally aspirated V6 engine, which is the most powerful of the lot. Instead, you can only get it with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder or hybrid powertrain.
The 2.5 four-cylinder produces 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque in the front-wheel-drive and 202 hp in the all-wheel-drive guise. The XSE's power output is slightly higher at 206 hp/186 lb-ft, thanks to a dual exhaust. Both FWD and AWD models use an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Hybrid models add a 118-hp electric motor and CVT transmission to the 2.5-liter mentioned above, resulting in a combined power output of 208 hp. This particular model comes with an EPA-estimated combined consumption of 52 mpg. It's the main reason why it's so popular with Uber drivers.
The Nightshade package adds the black mesh grille from the Camry TRD trim, a black rear spoiler, mirror caps, and exterior badges. Toyota even extends the black treatment to the headlights, which does the most to elevate the front of the Camry.
To us, the standout feature is the set of 19-inch matte bronze aluminum alloy wheels. It's a bold choice considering it's a humble Toyota sedan. We can only assume it's why the Nightshade is only available in Midnight Black, White, and the Reservoir Blue you see here.
According to Toyota, the previous Camry Nightshade accounted for about five percent of sales, and it estimates it will grow to seven percent in 2022. These figures make it clear there is demand, but most people still prefer their Camry on the bland side.
The Camry continues to be a strong seller for Toyota, despite the market demand for SUVs and crossovers. It offers a lot of space and features at a price, one of which is the standard fitment of Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+.
It includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road sign assist, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane-keep technology, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing, and automatic high beams. Every year the IIHS gives the Camry a Top Safety Pick + award, applicable to all models in the range.
The pricing of the 2023 Camry Nightshade is not available yet, but it should align with the 2022 Nightshade models. Pricing for the 2022 models starts at roughly $28,000 for the SE four-cylinder and goes up to $33,420 for the XSE Hybrid Nightshade.