The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling sedan in the U.S. for over two decades, and for good reason. It’s a sedan that does its job rather well. Sure, it isn’t the most exciting car out there, but is also the most powerful hybrid in its segment. So, is it a mixed bag then? Not quite! We drove the newest Camry on the roads of Dubai to tell you just why.
What’s New?
Now in its ninth generation, the 2025 Camry represents an evolution rather than a revolution. For the new model year, Toyota has refreshed the design while making more significant changes under the skin. The beloved 3.5-liter V6 has been discontinued globally — a bittersweet moment for enthusiasts. The Camry now relies on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system.
In the Middle East, buyers still have the choice between a hybrid and a non-hybrid 2.5-liter engine. In the U.S., however, it’s hybrid-only now. The GLE trim we drove in Dubai, which closely matches the U.S. XSE spec, pumps out a healthy 227 hp, a nearly 20 hp increase over the old model. This also makes it the most powerful in its segment.
The new Camry also features a revamped interior with 8.0-inch touchscreen units on the base variants. The top-spec trims like the one we drove come with a 12.3-inch instrumentation display and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The overall layout, which is akin to the one found in the Prius, makes it feel a lot more premium than the older Camry.
Design & Styling
View it from the side profile, and you might confuse the 2025 Camry for its predecessor, as they’re almost identical in dimension. Look closer, and the details of the new refresh stand out. We think the new headlamp and taillamp designs lend it a more premium, upscale look.
The dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires, fit the sporty yet elegant vibe perfectly. There’s just the right sprinkle of chrome across the car — the window frames, side skirts, mirrors, and badging are all decked in chrome — enough to add a premium feel without being tacky.
In our opinion, the Bronze color option on our test car is an absolute stunner under Dubai’s sun. It’s a shame this particular color isn’t offered in the U.S. market. We also loved the haptic touch driver’s door lock/unlock feature — a small touch that feels thoroughly modern.
In-Cabin Experience
Step inside, and the Camry greets you with a familiar and comfortable, yet subtly updated cabin. We found the dual-tone interior to be genuinely premium-looking, especially with the soft-touch materials sprinkled across the dashboard and door panels.
The 12.3-inch TFT driver’s display is crisp, clear, and displays nice graphics when you flick between Eco, Normal, and Sport modes — a little detail, but something we genuinely appreciated. Switching drive modes also changes how the information is laid out, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging.
Infotainment is handled by a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The stock operating system is a little plain Jane with just the basic features and a vanilla layout. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto improve the layout greatly. However, we feel Toyota missed a trick by omitting wireless Android Auto in this market. It’s wired-only for Android users, while iPhone users get wireless CarPlay — weird for this price bracket.
Our test car was equipped with a 6-speaker audio system offering a brilliant soundstage. However, the U.S.-spec Camry does it better, with a 9-speaker JBL audio system. Seat comfort is excellent. After three days of city runs and highway cruises, we can confidently say that the revised seats offer fantastic support for both short commutes and slightly longer road trips.
Rear-seat passengers are pampered too, with excellent legroom and a comfortable seating position, although they get only an airflow adjustment dial for the rear AC vents and no separate temperature controls.
Convenience features are aplenty. This includes one-touch window operation for all four windows, a cooled center console, multiple USB Type-C ports (two each at the front and rear), a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a cavernous boot that will easily swallow your family’s weekend luggage.
Powertrain & Driving Experience
Under the hood, the 2025 Camry hybrid packs a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors for a combined output of 227 hp. The electric drive motor now produces 134 hp, 16 hp more than the previous generation. Therefore, it lends a much punchier feel off the line and up to the 80 km/h (49.7 mph) mark.
Compared to competitors, only the Kia K5 GT and Hyundai Sonata N Line, with their performance-spec 290hp turbocharged engines, outmuscle it on paper. But in our experience, the Camry’s hybrid torque-fill actually makes it feel quicker and more responsive around town. It certainly surprised us with a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in just under 7 seconds. For a car that averages around 18 km/l (42.3 mpg), that’s frankly incredible.
We really noticed the extra spring in its step during city driving, where it simply surges ahead with little effort. The hybrid system shuffles seamlessly between electric and petrol power, and unless you stomp on the throttle, the petrol engine often remains dormant.
Interestingly, our EV driving ratio over the test period hovered at around 78% — seriously impressive! You can drive in pure EV mode up to around 65 km/h (40 mph) if you’re gentle on the throttle. Floor it in Sport mode, though, and the Camry doesn’t shy away — it builds speed rapidly and feels almost athletic.
Toyota claims the additional sound insulation cuts down cabin noise, and while overall refinement is excellent, we did notice some tire and road noise filtering in at highway speeds. Not enough to be a dealbreaker though.
Ride quality is plush, even with the sportier 18-inch wheels. Handling is predictable, and while it won’t thrill you like a sports sedan, it feels nimble enough to enjoy some spirited cornering. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and emergency braking support further enhance daily driving ease. In our opinion, this new fifth-generation hybrid powertrain is one of Toyota’s finest. It’s smooth, powerful when needed, and exceptionally efficient — a trifecta that’s hard to beat.
Verdict
After spending three days behind the wheel, we feel the 2025 Toyota Camry hits the sweet spot between performance, comfort, efficiency, and reliability better than almost any other sedan out there. The only other sedan that comes close is the Lexus ES, which, in essence, is the Camry’s premium cousin. In fact, the new Camry produces 12 hp more than the current Lexus ES Hybrid.
Toyota & Al Futtaim Motors retail the top-spec Camry in the UAE at AED 136,900 (around USD 37,271). In the United States, though, the top-spec XSE trim is available with a base price of USD 34,900. At this price point, the Camry hybrid offers genuinely outstanding value. Sure, you’ll need to pay extra for features like surround-view camera, lane change assist, and parking assist with automatic braking — features our test car was not equipped with. However, the fundamentals here are rock solid.
In our opinion, if you’re looking for a quiet, spacious, reliable family sedan that’s also surprisingly quick and economical, the 2025 Toyota Camry remains an absolute no-brainer. It’s also the go-to vehicle if you don’t want another SUV. It may not shout for attention, but it wins your respect quietly every single day you drive it, and for us, that’s what truly matters.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.